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Oct. 29th, 2008
Writer's Block: The Internet
Oct. 29th, 2008 11:04 am[Error: unknown template qotd]
The biggest problem I see which the Internet has at the very least not helped is the devolution of the language. I will readily admit that my writing/typing/etcetera skills are not what they once were, and I make a point of making most of my writings in public venues compliant with the majority of the grammar rules most of us learned in school. Aclot of the written communication between people online is not formal, true, so yes, we end our sentences with prepositions, use misspellings to indicate vocal inflections, and for the most part, I have no problem with such. However, we do not actually talk in L33T or Text speak. We are not LoLcats. It's fine if you're chatting in IM and you're being a bit silly, or what not. However, chat/text speak is so widespread that we have kids graduating high school thinking it's okay to fill out a job application in text speak. And no, I am not kidding.
Yes, it's faster. Yes, it's "easily read" (unless you are using a translator program). But none of that changes the fact that an individual using text/chat speak come off sounding like a 15-year-old kid. I cannot take anything I read that is formatted as such seriously, be it a comment in a forum, a journal entry, a Wiki update, an e-mail, or gods-forbid an eBay auction. Please, you want me to buy your items, to trust you with my money, to trust that I am getting what I pay for, and you can't be bothered to spell out the word "you"? Sorry, I'll pass, thanks.
Having so much information at our fingertips doesn't actually help that problem. There's a joke that starts, "Dude, they should, like, have a place where, like, people can go an borrow books, like, for free. That would be awesome!" It isn't a joke. The idea of having to actually go someplace to look up information or articles is a foreign concept to most kids now. The problem is that not everything on the Internet is acceptable sources, most textbooks (and teachers) are not up-to-date enough to give students a standard for picking and choosing, let alone citing such sources. There is (or was) a standard, actually, which I used back when I was still in college. Ironically, I had to look up the APA standard up online, because I couldn't find it in hardcopy.
Humanity evolved from oral/pictorial tradition to written tradition. We're moving back toward a more visual society, less intellectual, and yes, I equate intellectual with written tradition. Kids use different parts of their brains now, they aren't stimulated by written words. It must be visual, visual, visual. Some schools are giving out CD's instead of textbooks now- because kids process the information better if it's on a computer screen.
It's a sad thing, I think. I'm not opposed to visual learning. I'm not opposed to change in learning style. It just hurts when I see people I know to be competent, intelligent, often well-spoken adults get dismissed because they can't be bothered to type full sentences or even use full words. Using chat/text speak in the appropriate forums? Go for it. I have no problem with it. I still hate it when overused, won't lie, but it's the nature of the beast and all that. I even use such shortcuts from time to time, though I'm trying to break from doing so. Why? Because LMK, and BRB have replaced "Let me know" and "Be Right Back" in my mind. I think the acronym, not the phrase, and for me, that is unacceptable.
The biggest problem I see which the Internet has at the very least not helped is the devolution of the language. I will readily admit that my writing/typing/etcetera skills are not what they once were, and I make a point of making most of my writings in public venues compliant with the majority of the grammar rules most of us learned in school. Aclot of the written communication between people online is not formal, true, so yes, we end our sentences with prepositions, use misspellings to indicate vocal inflections, and for the most part, I have no problem with such. However, we do not actually talk in L33T or Text speak. We are not LoLcats. It's fine if you're chatting in IM and you're being a bit silly, or what not. However, chat/text speak is so widespread that we have kids graduating high school thinking it's okay to fill out a job application in text speak. And no, I am not kidding.
Yes, it's faster. Yes, it's "easily read" (unless you are using a translator program). But none of that changes the fact that an individual using text/chat speak come off sounding like a 15-year-old kid. I cannot take anything I read that is formatted as such seriously, be it a comment in a forum, a journal entry, a Wiki update, an e-mail, or gods-forbid an eBay auction. Please, you want me to buy your items, to trust you with my money, to trust that I am getting what I pay for, and you can't be bothered to spell out the word "you"? Sorry, I'll pass, thanks.
Having so much information at our fingertips doesn't actually help that problem. There's a joke that starts, "Dude, they should, like, have a place where, like, people can go an borrow books, like, for free. That would be awesome!" It isn't a joke. The idea of having to actually go someplace to look up information or articles is a foreign concept to most kids now. The problem is that not everything on the Internet is acceptable sources, most textbooks (and teachers) are not up-to-date enough to give students a standard for picking and choosing, let alone citing such sources. There is (or was) a standard, actually, which I used back when I was still in college. Ironically, I had to look up the APA standard up online, because I couldn't find it in hardcopy.
Humanity evolved from oral/pictorial tradition to written tradition. We're moving back toward a more visual society, less intellectual, and yes, I equate intellectual with written tradition. Kids use different parts of their brains now, they aren't stimulated by written words. It must be visual, visual, visual. Some schools are giving out CD's instead of textbooks now- because kids process the information better if it's on a computer screen.
It's a sad thing, I think. I'm not opposed to visual learning. I'm not opposed to change in learning style. It just hurts when I see people I know to be competent, intelligent, often well-spoken adults get dismissed because they can't be bothered to type full sentences or even use full words. Using chat/text speak in the appropriate forums? Go for it. I have no problem with it. I still hate it when overused, won't lie, but it's the nature of the beast and all that. I even use such shortcuts from time to time, though I'm trying to break from doing so. Why? Because LMK, and BRB have replaced "Let me know" and "Be Right Back" in my mind. I think the acronym, not the phrase, and for me, that is unacceptable.
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wood_artist is an amazing artisan. The projects he takes on his wood shop continue to boggle me with their beauty and intricate details. I can get rather intense on a project myself, pick things that require take full advantage of my anal retentiveness, but really, nothing like what he does.With his permission, I'm re-posting this video from his journal of one of his most recent pieces in action, a rather intricate gravitram. There are some great shots of all the little twists, turns and switches, and for me at least, the beauty and amazement comes from realizing that all the tracks and such are turned wood. Gorgeous, delicate turned wood. Enjoy, because I sure as hell did.