It is 3AM and my unpredictable work schedule and the remnants of the flu I am fighting have conspired to deny me the sleep that is my due. I have no recourse other than to write.
I realize that I have been lax in keeping this blog current. All I can say to that is, “Get used to it.” I still have to inhabit the space of a drudge on a daily basis in order to feed myself and pay my rent, so my writing is, unfortunately, secondary.
Also, I might have said something about continuing/concluding a cell-phone rant. Well, that will happen at some point…I am sure.
What I want to talk about today is writing. Or, more specifically, the lack of clarity that most people exhibit in their frequent attempts to communicate with each other textually. (My own garrulity is, of course, above reproach.)
Now, while I am sure this problem does not exist EVERYwhere (that is, on all levels of written communication) it has seriously affected (if not infected) almost all levels of electronic writing. Here I mean specifically e-mails, text messages and internet postings, be they profiles, blogs or simply web page content.
I realize that, at least as far as text messages are concerned, some amount of leeway can be allowed, simply because many phones do not have full keyboards and certain phone plans are set up in such a way as to make the cost of “texting” prohibitive. It is far easier (and cheaper) to type “r u go 2 bar” on a cell phone than “Are you going to be joining us at the bar this evening?” Also one saves wear and tear on one’s thumbs. This consideration, however, cannot and must not be extended to computer communiqués.
(And frankly, with the advent of full-keyboard phones – of which I have owned two; they are not that expensive – I do not really see any excuse for it to be tolerated amongst phone users for much longer).
Too many people have become lazy and chosen the easy way to do things. While Shakespeare’s Polonius firmly believes that, “…brevity is the soul of wit…” I believe, in this case, it is more an indicator of stupidity.
For the ill-informed, allow me a moment to edify:
sup – a small amount of liquid or food OR the consumption of such
ur – an ancient Sumerian city
peeps – small marshmallow candies shaped into baby chickens and rabbits and sold in the United States
cu – symbol for copper on the periodic table of elements
I do not doubt that it is fun and even oft-times necessary to communicate in code and/or slang. This should only be attempted, however, once the writer has at least a basic grasp of the language that he or she is attempting to manipulate.
Recently, I was perusing the web pages and “works” of a self-proclaimed “notorious” horror author; one who professed to write in a classic-yet-hardcore style. What I found did indeed horrify me, but I am sure it was not in the way the author intended: his grasp of the language was almost at the level of the 7th grade ESL students I worked with several years ago.
I had no problem explaining to a 13- or 14-year-old why “should of” was improper even though it “sounded” right. The thought of having to explain it to a published author (who, incidentally, has a very high – yet unwarranted – opinion of himself) makes me rather ill.
Just because computers and cell phones have made communication a great deal easier, those who wish to write should not shut off their brains before doing so. Actually, computers make it easier to write properly. Most word processing programs have a built-in dictionary and thesaurus. And, if those are too small or limited, there is a plethora of dictionary and word-related web sites that even the least computer-literate person can find.
I see no excuse for poor writing and I believe that those who do so should be punished soundly. And here I mean any with the ability to purchase a computer/cell phone and the knowledge to use such properly.
(My little disclaimer: I will often advocate harsh responses/consequences for those who are unable or, worse, unwilling to comport themselves, especially in public. However, I fervently believe that truly horrible punishments must be reserved for lying, filthy scumbags like George W. Bush and his kind. Something along the lines of the last circle of Hell. So, please know that I DO keep things in perspective.)
One final note. Regarding people who say things like, “My bad,” and “Where you at?”…if I had my druthers, George would be keeping a spot warm for them…
But more on that later…
