Emphasis

Emphasis or lack of, can quite easily alter the meaning on the word and this is even more obvious when the words are written or typed. Without facial expression or tone it is really quite common for people to get the wrong end of the stick and that i am afraid is usually where problems begin. Then trying to sort out the mistake, again, by the written word the mistakes are compounded and one is likely to just dig a bigger and bigger hole for oneself. It sometimes feels like it would be best to say nothing rather than take the risk of being misunderstood.
The computer and more specifically, chat rooms and instant messengers have a lot to answer for sometimes, not always giving people a good medium in which to express themselves as they would if they were standing in front of the person having a face to face conversation. Trying to say the right words along with the appropriate meanings is not that easy without the use of the tone of voice that we are all so accustomed too. The use of the little emotes do help sometimes, if used in the right context, it can be possible to add a smiley face or a wink along with the written word in order to express the mood in which the joke, lets say, was intended.
You would have thought tho, that those who use these mediums on a regular basis would be aware of this problem and counteract it, taking into account and maybe pausing a bit before they jump to wrong conclusions about a misunderstood emphasis.
i have been on the wrong end of this on many occasions in the 5 years + that i have been using my computer to stay in touch with friends and acquaintances and have had a few occasions when what i may have thought i said has been totally mis-received by the person to whom i was chatting. These mistakes have cause me some difficulties as i have tried to correct them with little effect as by that time, the damage may well already have been done. Its difficult to take back what has already been said and just as hard to try and make people believe that you really didn't mean it that way and that had they read it, in the tone in which you had typed it, there would be no problem...too late tho, the words have gone along the internet highway and no amount of trying to chase them down and correct them is going to make things any better. May just as well throw your hand up in the air and admit defeat. Try to make amends and hopefully..start again...if you have the chance..!!