@bmaxv I think I'm following. I suppose when I say "some of the same social mechanisms", to me this modifies the statement enough that it's not saying ONLINE IS EXACTLY REAL LIFE CONVO! THE SAME! I would never walk up to you on the street and have this convo. I also would leave this comment hanging and go get food with no guilt. Different rules that way!

But my example is more like: a thank you online still has a social impact on the hearer. A blunt query still carries information.