That “I Posted This and Forgot to Include an Explanation” Moment: Why It Happens & How to Fix It (For Good!)
We’ve all been there. You share a fascinating article snippet, a cryptic meme, a complex diagram, or maybe just a simple question into the digital void – social media, a work chat, an email thread. You hit send, post, or share with a satisfying click. And then… it hits you. That sinking feeling. “Oh no. I posted this and forgot to include an explanation!”
Maybe it was a rush of enthusiasm, maybe you assumed the context was blindingly obvious, or perhaps you just got distracted mid-thought. Whatever the reason, the result is often the same: confusion, misinterpretation, a flurry of clarifying questions (or worse, silence and misunderstanding), and a distinct wave of digital embarrassment washing over you.
This seemingly small oversight happens constantly across our online interactions, from casual chats to professional collaborations. It’s more than just a minor annoyance; it can derail conversations, create unnecessary work, damage credibility, and even cause real friction. Let’s dive into why this forgetfulness plague strikes so often and, crucially, how we can build better habits to prevent it.
Why Do Our Explanations Go Missing in Action?
Understanding the root causes is the first step to fixing the problem:
1. The Curse of Assumed Knowledge: Inside our own heads, the context is crystal clear. We know why we’re sharing that specific graph, what thought triggered the meme, or the background to our sudden question. We mistakenly project this internal clarity onto our audience. We assume they are operating with the same information, the same mental framework. Spoiler alert: They almost never are.
2. The Rush Factor: In our fast-paced digital lives, we often operate on autopilot. Scrolling, skimming, reacting, posting. We see something interesting, hit share, and move on without pausing for the crucial extra 10 seconds needed to frame it for others. Speed trumps clarity.
3. Distraction Overload: We’re juggling multiple conversations, notifications, tasks, and browser tabs. It’s incredibly easy to start composing a post, get interrupted, and then hit “post” when you return, forgetting you hadn’t actually finished adding the crucial “why” or “what this means” part. Your brain was already three tasks ahead.
4. The “It’s Obvious… Isn’t It?” Trap: Sometimes, the thing we’re sharing feels self-explanatory to us. A technical term in our field, an inside joke reference, a chart we’ve stared at for hours. We lose perspective. What’s obvious to the expert is often gibberish to the novice or even the informed colleague from a different department.
5. Underestimating the Medium: Different platforms have different norms. What might fly as a cryptic tweet (sometimes part of the genre!) lands poorly in a formal project update email or a team collaboration channel where clarity is paramount. We forget to adjust our communication style for the context.
The Ripple Effect of the Missing Explanation
So you forgot the explanation. Big deal? Actually, it can create significant ripples:
Confusion Reigns: The most immediate impact. Your audience is left scratching their heads. “What is this?” “Why is this relevant?” “What am I supposed to do with this?” Instead of sparking the intended engagement, you create a barrier.
Misinterpretation: Without context, people will make up their own. They’ll project their assumptions, biases, and current concerns onto your ambiguous post. That graph shared without context could be misinterpreted as terrible news instead of an interesting anomaly. That meme could seem offensive instead of ironic.
The Clarification Avalanche: Get ready for the “What does this mean?”, “Can you explain?”, “Is this related to X?” messages. This eats up your time and everyone else’s, undoing any efficiency gained by posting quickly. It creates unnecessary noise in the channel.
Wasted Effort: If you’re sharing something actionable (like a task link or a document review request), the lack of explanation means people either won’t act or will act incorrectly, leading to rework and frustration.
Credibility Erosion: Consistently posting unexplained content makes you seem rushed, careless, or lacking consideration for your audience’s time and understanding. Over time, people might start tuning out your posts altogether.
Missed Opportunities: That brilliant insight or crucial point you wanted to highlight? It gets completely lost if no one understands the context in which it’s presented.
Building the “Explanation Reflex”: Practical Strategies
The goal isn’t perfection – we’re all human. The goal is to make adding context a natural, habitual part of your sharing process. Here’s how:
1. Embrace the “Why?” Mantra: Before hitting any share/post/send button, pause. Ask yourself: “Why?” Why am I sharing this right now? Why is it important for this specific audience? What is the one key takeaway I want them to have? Jotting down this “Why” (even mentally) immediately clarifies what explanation is needed.
2. Channel Your Inner Journalist: The 5 Ws (and H): It’s a classic for a reason. Quickly run through:
What? (What exactly am I sharing? Name it clearly. “Link to the Q3 sales report draft,” “Article about AI in early childhood education,” “Meme about Monday meetings.”)
Who? (Who is this relevant for? “Hey Marketing Team,” “For those working on Project Phoenix,” “Folks interested in sustainable gardening.”)
When? (Is there a deadline? “Feedback needed by EOD Friday,” “Discussion in tomorrow’s meeting.”)
Where? (If it’s a link or reference, state it clearly. “See section 2.3,” “Link in comments.”)
Why? (The MOST crucial! “Sharing for initial feedback on the new layout,” “This relates to our debate last week about screen time,” “Thought this was a clever take on the challenges we discussed.”)
(How?): Sometimes needed. “How should they respond? (“Please add comments directly,” “Just sharing for interest,” “Vote in the poll attached.”)
3. Implement the “Grandma Test” (or the “Newbie Test”): Imagine explaining your post to someone completely unfamiliar with the topic – a colleague from another department, a new hire, or yes, your grandma. What background would they need to understand it? This forces you to surface unspoken assumptions.
4. Create a Pre-Post Checklist: For critical communications (emails, major project updates, important Slack announcements), literally have a small checklist visible: `[ ] Context Clear? [ ] Action Stated? [ ] Deadline Included? [ ] Relevant Link Attached?` Tick them off mentally or physically before sending.
5. Leverage Platform Features Wisely:
Alt Text: Always add descriptive alt text to images. This isn’t just for accessibility; it forces you to concisely explain the image’s content and purpose.
Threads: On platforms like Twitter/X, use threads to build context before sharing the main point or link. On others, use the first comment to add explanation if the main post format is limited.
Captions & Headlines: Don’t just drop a link; use the caption field or headline to state why someone should click. “Must-read analysis on recent policy changes impacting our sector” is infinitely better than just the raw link.
6. Schedule Brief Pauses: Build in a literal 5-10 second pause between finishing your post and clicking send. Use this time to re-read it solely looking for missing context. Ask: “If I saw this cold, would I get it?”
7. Cultivate Post-Post Awareness: Get comfortable with the “oops” moment! If you realize you forgot the explanation after posting, don’t just ignore it. Quickly add a comment or reply: “Realized I didn’t add context!”, “Apologies, should have explained: This relates to…”, “Key point I meant to highlight:…”. Owning it promptly is far better than letting confusion fester.
Turning “Oops” into Insight
That familiar pang of “I posted this and forgot to include an explanation” isn’t just a minor slip-up; it’s a valuable signal. It highlights the gap between our internal world and the shared understanding we need to create with our audience. By recognizing why it happens – the assumptions, the rush, the distractions – and actively implementing strategies to build the “explanation reflex,” we transform communication from a potential source of friction into a powerful tool for connection, clarity, and collaboration. Make adding context your default, not an afterthought. Your audience (and your future, less-flustered self) will thank you for it. Next time you go to share, take that extra breath – your explanation is the bridge between your idea and their understanding. Don’t forget to build it.
Please indicate: Thinking In Educating » That “I Posted This and Forgot to Include an Explanation” Moment: Why It Happens & How to Fix It (For Good