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The Moving Hand Writes, And Having Writ, Moves On.
Posted by
monza gorilla
,
02 November 2006
·
137 views
The transmission fluid is safely back in the box, but the driver's window has disappeared into the door and won't come out............
Hot on the heels of the last entry, here's another installment from the World of Strange!
I completed another entry a few days ago, but I'm not sure I'm ready to post it yet as it contains stuff that is making me very angry and frustrated just recently. When I've stepped back a bit, put things into some sort of perspective and sorted out the crap in my head it will get posted. But until then:
Today I had a little tantrum about the use of abbreviations and text language in posts. The idea, it seems, is that this sort of thing saves time. Sorry, but I just don't buy that, not in relation to using a full size keyboard anyway. On your mobile phone it's fair enough (I don't do the same though) as you probably have a character limit and you may be in a hurry. But on the forum? Are you really going to save more than a couple of seconds in the post? Is life so short that you need to shave seconds from your entries? If you're going to abbreviate something then at least make it worth the effort. I just don't see the point in shortening an already short word. Now of course language evolves through use otherwise we wouldn't speak and write the way we do today. I'm not against that at all. But that is a slow and organic process, not something invented as a reaction to a Nokia. Maybe I really am an old fart, because it just looks so damned clunky and illiterate to my eyes.
Which leads me neatly on to handwriting. Why is it so neglected these days? Or am I only seeing the failures? I don't for a moment think that everyone should have perfect copperplate handwriting but it would be nice if I could actually read it! In my opinion the English language is a lovely, expressive, tool and handwriting, in whatever language, can be an art in itself. I was quite shocked when I saw my 12 year old nephew's handwriting recently. It reminded me of my own (and my contemporaries) handwriting at the age of 6...................He tells me that it just isn't considered very important. Not important??? How can clear communication by written word not be important?? It makes me sad. Maybe I should just shuffle off into the sunset. Another old duffer.
More next time.
Russ
Hot on the heels of the last entry, here's another installment from the World of Strange!
I completed another entry a few days ago, but I'm not sure I'm ready to post it yet as it contains stuff that is making me very angry and frustrated just recently. When I've stepped back a bit, put things into some sort of perspective and sorted out the crap in my head it will get posted. But until then:
Today I had a little tantrum about the use of abbreviations and text language in posts. The idea, it seems, is that this sort of thing saves time. Sorry, but I just don't buy that, not in relation to using a full size keyboard anyway. On your mobile phone it's fair enough (I don't do the same though) as you probably have a character limit and you may be in a hurry. But on the forum? Are you really going to save more than a couple of seconds in the post? Is life so short that you need to shave seconds from your entries? If you're going to abbreviate something then at least make it worth the effort. I just don't see the point in shortening an already short word. Now of course language evolves through use otherwise we wouldn't speak and write the way we do today. I'm not against that at all. But that is a slow and organic process, not something invented as a reaction to a Nokia. Maybe I really am an old fart, because it just looks so damned clunky and illiterate to my eyes.
Which leads me neatly on to handwriting. Why is it so neglected these days? Or am I only seeing the failures? I don't for a moment think that everyone should have perfect copperplate handwriting but it would be nice if I could actually read it! In my opinion the English language is a lovely, expressive, tool and handwriting, in whatever language, can be an art in itself. I was quite shocked when I saw my 12 year old nephew's handwriting recently. It reminded me of my own (and my contemporaries) handwriting at the age of 6...................He tells me that it just isn't considered very important. Not important??? How can clear communication by written word not be important?? It makes me sad. Maybe I should just shuffle off into the sunset. Another old duffer.
More next time.
Russ
Now the only skill you need is the ability to click on a pre-made typeface and clip-art. Hell, most designs we get in are thrown together by someone's secretary! I'm the only one in my department that knows how to draw and it's damned depressing! We got an old bit of adwork the other day to scan and use as part of a current ad. This old ad was painted in gauche and it stunned the whole department. Except for me. I almost wept right then and there.
I shall still fight the old fight! My daughters will know how to use proper handwriting techniques and they will know how to get along without these magic, electronic Pandora's boxes we call computers!
Up the Revolution!!