'Why is my teacher role playing with me in a formal email?': Internet debates if using 'stage directions in asterisks' is professional or cringe

The internet is always up in arms about some silly nonsense *shrugs ambivalently*. There are obviously many serious and big issues going on in the world, and it's nice to take a break from those important things to ponder the silliest and tiniest debates going on. 

This debate was flagged by a subreddit just for drama in the comments section, aptly named r/subredditdrama. The drama du jour was started after u/Justthisdudeyaknow posted a Tumblr meme from 2020. In the post, a student is surprised at how their teacher is addressing them. The teacher starts off their "checking in" email by writing, "*Nods* I hear you. One of the things about linear time[…]". The student posted this goofy email with a question: why in the world was their teacher roleplaying with them in a formal email? 

In the comments, people had a wide variety of reactions. Many thought that it was quite strange for the teacher to add stage directions. There's no need for the nodding, because it's implied by the next sentence where the teacher affirms that they're listening. Other people noted that emojis and gifs are similar to the asterisk style of stage directions, but they seem much more natural to the online conversation than the awkward *asterisks*. Some users even explained that despite being millennials or Gen Zers, they find the whole stage direction talk to be off putting. It's surprising there's even a debate over this---I don't know anyone who would engage with someone using stage directions in conversations, because the cringe would repel us a mile away. There's no faster way to get a conversation blocked than by starting out with something like, "Hello there *waves shyly*." 

Check out today's slice of super silly internet drama. Then, read about this software developer who accidentally cut his six-figure salary in half. 

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Author image for Remy Millisky Remy Millisky
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