有了微信以后，我們就很少發短信了，有些人甚至都不愛打電話了。微信信息來來往往，有時候因為回復得太快，真正想表達的意思可能并沒有傳遞出去，有時候還可能產生誤會。所以，在信息發送之前“暫停5秒”或許是個不錯的建議。

Some of us are sending up to 50 or even more text messages per day. This is concerning because as we know lots of information can be lost or misinterpreted in a text. There are no faces to read, no eyes to look into, no sighing and no crying to hear.
有些人每天發送的信息要超過50條。而讓人擔憂的是，在這些信息的發送過程中，很多信息都會遺失或者被誤解。因為我們看不到面部表情，也無法讀到眼神，聽不到嘆息聲或者哭聲。

Maybe we can try the "Five-second Rule" before sending a message:
或許，我們在發送信息之前可以試試“5秒原則”：

1. We should pause for five seconds to re-read a message before sending it. We might catch something that would be hurtful.
在信息發送之前，我們應該暫停5秒，重新讀一遍信息，或許會發現信息里有些可能傷人的話。

2. Perhaps, we can use these five seconds to see if our feelings last for that long.
或許，我們可以利用這5秒鐘讓自己的情緒平復一下。

3. During those five seconds we can make sure that the text is going to the right person. I have personally gotten into trouble with this one. I sent an "I love you" message intended for my daughter to a male co-worker. YIKES.
這5秒鐘的時間里，我們也可以檢查一下信息的接收方是不是你要發送的那個人。我曾經把本來要發給女兒的“我愛你”錯發給了一位男同事。太尷尬了。

4. During these five seconds we can select an emoticon that might help clarify the tone of our message.
我們也可以在這5秒鐘里選一個可以恰當表達自己當前情緒的表情符號。

5. We can use these five seconds to consider whether or not the message should be delivered via a phone call rather than a text.
我們也可以利用這個時間想一想，這個信息通過電話說會不會更好。

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）