Your Buddy Carl

Catches heated messages before you send them and offers a calm pause. Works in Gmail, Slack and more. Stays on your device.

Your Buddy Carl notices when a message you're writing reads as heated and offers a short, friendly pause before it goes out. You have the option of taking a break or getting back to it! We all write things in the heat of the moment that we wish we hadn't sent. Carl is a small buddy who sits quietly in your browser. When a draft sounds angry, rude or passive-aggressive, he checks in from the corner of your window. Send it anyway, or take a minute first. You're always in control, and Carl never sends anything for you. FEATURES • A pause at send: when you press Send (or Enter in chat) on a heated message, Carl asks if you'd like a minute first. "I'm good, let's go" sends your message exactly as you wrote it. • Understands tone: catches swearing or insults aimed at someone, strong swearing, shouting in capitals, passive-aggressive phrases like "per my last email", and rapid back-and-forth. An "I swear casually" option goes easy on swearing that isn't aimed at anyone. • Checks as you type (option): when you pause typing in a message box, comment, check-in answer or other text field, Carl checks it and checks in if it reads as heated. • Take a minute your way: breathe with Carl (in for 4, out for 6), a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise, three chair stretches, a reminder to step away, or a short "I need a minute" note added to your draft. • You choose where he works: Gmail, Outlook, Slack, and other common personal and workplace web applications! • Four buddies to choose from: Carl, Carol, Carlos, and Carla. • Low, medium, or high sensitivity, your choice of corner, light or dark mode, and a one-hour break button. HOW TO USE 1. Click the Carl icon in your toolbar (pin it from the puzzle-piece menu). 2. Turn on the sites where you want your buddy Carl to help out. 3. Write as usual. If a message reads as heated, Carl checks in from the corner of your window. PRIVACY Everything happens on your device. Carl reads what you type only on the sites you turn on, scores it inside your browser, and never stores or sends your messages anywhere. There are no accounts. No analytics. No ads. The only things saved are your settings and simple daily counts (like how many times you paused), kept on your device for 30 days. You can erase them anytime with "Reset all data." PERMISSIONS • "Read and change your data" on the supported sites: needed to read the message you're writing on those sites and to show Carl's pause. Carl does nothing on a site until you turn it on.