Professionalism

Extinguishing Flamers

February 26, 2007

 

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the NEXTers, those born in 1982 or later, is their absolute comfort with technology. This generation does not know a time when the Internet did not exist. They constantly work on-line, e-mailing and text messaging their friends and associates.
 
As the NEXTers enter the workplace, this relaxed attitude towards electronic communications may cause some problems. A number of studies suggest that the same young people who wouldn’t think to say something hostile or offensive in a face-to-face conversation feel absolutely no discomfort in sending toxic messages once on-line.  Sending hostile messages, also know “flaming,” may be caused by any number of factors, including: the anonymity of the Internet; the time-lag between sending an e-mail message and receiving feedback; and the lack of on-line authority figures that might keep offensive messages from being sent.
 
Some have proposed that “flaming” might be curtailed if not ended by replacing typed messages with video. The assumption is that recipients of a videoed message may be more likely to pick up conversational nuances, for example, tone of voice and facial gestures, which cannot be adequately communicated via a simple typed message. Once the nuances are detected, it is believed, it is unlikely that a normal conversation will quickly escalate to a toxic conversation.
 
Until that day, employees are best reminded of the old axiom: Don’t write anything in an e-mail that you would not feel comfortable reading on the front page of your local newspaper. 

 




 



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