you could get really mad about how it's impersonal and means nothing... but that would feel rather like you were shitting in the pot to spoil it for everybody, wouldn't it? ;D
It's healthy to show appreciation, even if it is impersonal. It moves in the direction of goodness. It has the potential to push back the dark, even if it is just the poster's dark. So while we're at it, you are specifically great! Just for showing up and expressing some thoughts here. and keifermiller is too. So much to say, so little time. Luckily hubski is great. I am marking final exams and while it's kinda great to see that some of my students actually learned things, it does get tedious. The question I am marking now is admittedly weird, but sums up so much of my course that I can't help but ask it. Here it is: 1) How does this phrase affect the interaction? 2) What happens to you when you say that phrase? 3) What is the effect on the other person when he or she hears the phrase?Before responding to or criticizing a partner’s suggestion, this course suggests that you say, “Tell me more” or paraphrase the suggestion and add, “Is that it?” Answer each of the three questions below with reference to each of the phrases ("Tell me more." and "Is that it?")
Yes. Repeat what you believe you are hearing, and ask, "Is that about right?" or "Am I understanding correctly?" or etc. "Do I understand you correctly, or is there something I'm getting wrong?" I commented on something on Reddit and someone responded saying, "Why does everyone assume that when they disagree with someone else, the other person must not understand them correctly?" - implying that at the base, me and this other poster simply did not agree and would not. I didn't bother responding, because reddit, but if it were here and a serious question, I would say -- because assuming there is a misunderstanding between the two of us, perhaps I can clarify on my side provides so much more room for eventual unification and agreement than You don't agree with what I am saying in this one-off comment where there is nothing of nuance or subtlety hashed out between the two of us, so therefore we must be at diametric odds and doomed to forever disagree. "Maybe we don't understand each other" recognizes there is a disagreement, but opens the door for the possibility of discussion and understanding, if not eventual alignment -- while "Well we certainly do not agree, and I am sure I am right, so therefore you must be wrong" shuts the same door very firmly - in fact, in my opinion, it slams it.
Maybe. I remember you teach CS students. I got As in more than a few computer science classes I only showed up for tests for, the answers I'd give to those questions would depend very much on the tone of the class and I'd have been very worried if I hadn't actually attended the classes.