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Tone of Voice

Since common computers can't portray the inflection or tone in a person's voice, how articles are worded can directly affect the response to them. If you say

 	Anybody using a Vic-20 should go buy themselves a life.
 

you'll definitely get some responses--telling you to take a leap. Rather than be inflammatory, phrase your articles in a way that rationally expresses your opinion, like

 	What're the practical uses of a Vic-20 these days?
 

which presents yourself as a much more level-headed individual.

Also, what case (upper or lower) you use can indicate how you're trying to speak--netiquette dictates that if you USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, people will think you're "shouting." Write as you would in a normal letter to a friend, following traditional rules of English (or whatever language you happen to speak).

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Copyright © 1998, Software Engineering Laboratory
National Technical University of Athens