Whatever the case, I've learned it's always wise to remember how easy it is for online words to have barbs. We may have no ill will, but often if we say something online that has any sort of negative tone, it comes off sounding hurtful. Or, if we work too hard to remove the hurtful tone, it sounds condescending.
When I'm writing online, I always make a concerted effort to convey a friendly, upbeat tone. When I READ online messages, I make an effort to understand what I'm reading in a positive tone.
-Joe Offer-