June 20, 2007

Words

When I'm chatting with people online they often ask to not discuss a topic because they think that it is not easy for them to express their ideas online.

I don't understand this.

It's easier for me to express myself in writing than it is in speech because my writing isn't interrupted with pauses for me to think or say "um" or "like" or "you know."

I usually think that when people make this excuse that they don't really know what it is they think on a topic. It's OK to not know about something, but I don't like that some blame the medium for their inability to communicate what it is they think.

Posted by Flibbertigibbet at June 20, 2007 02:09 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Not wanting to express an opinion for fear of clarity issues indicates that that person's thoughts are not clear on the subject.

I agree: writing, whether on the internet or any other medium, is the best way to express exactly what you mean to say. You have all the time in the world, and a language of over 550,000 words to use to your desired level of precision.

Posted by: Justin at June 20, 2007 04:05 PM

Reverse that theory about blaming the medium, though. A lot of us can write a sentence or two, but couldn't say them out loud without sounding like dimwits.

Those who may be able to speak with ums and ahs but can't write a damn thing: at least they can shout out when they need a new roll of TP. We writers, we despair about it for awhile and then go get it ourselves.

Posted by: Jeff St Real at June 21, 2007 12:36 AM

Speaking extemporaneously naturally lends itself to less complex communication, but I wouldn't say that simply because it's less complex that it is dimwitted.

I'm very good at hollering myself.

Posted by: Flibbert at June 21, 2007 05:06 AM
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