As for larger conclusions: I blame post-modernism. No, really.
Post-modernism taught that statements are only true or false within a community, not true or false in any larger sense. It also taught that all speech is really about power, not about truth. These college students are living that out. Seeing if I'm going to play soccer? That's really a power play, not a request for information.
And it must really stink to have to live like that. Choose not to play soccer for a semester because somebody used the wrong word in an email asking if you were playing? Enjoy your nice sense of victimhood, because that's about all you're going to have. You aren't going to have much of a social life, or much of an open mind, or much peace and contentment...
As for larger conclusions: I blame post-modernism. No, really.
Post-modernism taught that statements are only true or false within a community, not true or false in any larger sense. It also taught that all speech is really about power, not about truth. These college students are living that out. Seeing if I'm going to play soccer? That's really a power play, not a request for information.
And it must really stink to have to live like that. Choose not to play soccer for a semester because somebody used the wrong word in an email asking if you were playing? Enjoy your nice sense of victimhood, because that's about all you're going to have. You aren't going to have much of a social life, or much of an open mind, or much peace and contentment...