Blogs are ruining the world's abilites to properly write.

misswriter · Oct 9, 2006

As are messenger systems. Think about it. I read blogs thinking "This isn't writing..it's words splashed on a paper to tell us how life is without teaching us anything." It's like poser writing. Plus, people are using leet speak more commonly. Why, my friend put "LOL" in a school paper! Things like "LOL" I can deal with, but BFF4EVACHICA or insane things like that? And what is the point in TyPiNg In ToGgLe or the whole "i LiKE "WRiTiNG" (look at the "i"s) trend? Pathetic. I especially hate it when people (usually teenage boys) type things like "t3h l33t hax0rzz" or something like that.

Your thoughts?

mdin · Oct 9, 2006

I think SMS is the worst culprit. I do see a lot of it on blogs, especially Myspace blogs and Livejournal, but I think most of what you see is coming from people who twenty years ago would simply not be writing anything at all. There's plenty of stuff out there from Junior High and High school aged people that is pretty articulate.

misswriter · Oct 9, 2006

Irony of all ironies, I mistyped the title. Time to PM a mod, I believe.

Deleted member 42 · Oct 9, 2006

I don't think you're reading the right blogs, frankly.

See Making Light, for instance.

Peggy · Oct 9, 2006

I don't think blogs are a cause of poor writing at all. I think it simply exposes some people's poor writing skills to the general public. Before blogging became an easy way for even the technology-unsavvy user to share her thoughts and ideas online, poor writers probably didn't ever write anything at all after they left school. Easy blogging and emailing has given many people the incentive to try writing. It's true that there is a lot of crap out there, but I have seen people's writing skills improve significantly over time, apparently due to the fact that a blog allowed them to practice writing. L33t speak is annoying, but it's like slang you share among friends - it's a way of being part of the club. I suspect most people grow out of it, or learn to only use it where it's appropriate.

(Instant Messaging on the other hand, is a whole different story).

Dawno · Oct 9, 2006

Hiya misswriter! Welcome to AW and to the Blogging forum.

I have to agree with Medievalist - you may be reading the wrong blogs! Check out the links in our AW Bloggers thread - check out the links in the sidebars on those blogs - there is a wealth of wonderful writing out there on blogs...and some real crud too. Let's not condemn all blogging based on the bad stuff.

Shadow_Ferret · Oct 9, 2006

Am I the only one who types in complete, gramatically-correct (or as near as possible) sentences when he instant messages?

Bk_30 · Oct 9, 2006

I use some of the online slang, because I spend much time talking to others in an on-line game. When trying to get information across quickly and clearly they do help. I also keep a blog. Sometimes I used standard on-line slang and in ( ) will but the translation, for those readers of mine that don't use the slang often. That is not where I do the majority of my writing, and my writing stlye versus how I text or blog are different. Just as how I talk is different from how I write.

mdin · Oct 9, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
Am I the only one who types in complete, gramatically-correct (or as near as possible) sentences when he instant messages?

i dnt no. r u?

veinglory · Oct 9, 2006

People are sentient enough to have different modes of communicating, not talking to your lover like you would to your grandmother, not writing txt like you would an essay. I think it's a failure in courtesy not ability.

MidnightMuse · Oct 9, 2006

I blog in full sentences

I love words too much to crop them down to their lowest common denominator.

SMG · Oct 9, 2006

misswriter said:
Irony of all ironies, I mistyped the title. Time to PM a mod, I believe.

Heh! You didn't make a mistake, you were simply demonstrating what can go wrong

misswriter · Oct 9, 2006

First off, I guess by blog I should have been more specific. I don't mean blogs like yours, or ones that people take seriously. I mean blogs like my friends' where they go on and on about nothing...even I used to do that, I remember. Sad, no? And SMG, you are COMPLETELY right...heh...

Deleted member 42 · Oct 9, 2006

Why is it sad? It's not hurting anyone. It even be helping other people, not just the writer.

sassandgroove · Oct 9, 2006

Personally, I think if anything is breaking down, it is email. Emailing LOL to my BFF (I don't, but hey...) and using all lowercase and slang is fine. But I use email a lot for work, and I very purposefully use proper grammer and decorum. It irks me when I send an invoice to a client, who then emails back saying the amont is wrong and I politely point out that the invoice includes freight and tax. His response to my proper business communication: "Oh, my bad."

*sigh...grumble....mumble....learn when to use what mode of language....mumblegrumble....*

As for annoying blogs, I just don't read them. There are a lot of good ones. Especially among AWers. There are so many, though, I dont' read many regularly. Heck, I don't even update mine very often.

Sassenach · Oct 9, 2006

On the contrary, I'm frequently amazed at the excellence of writing in many of the blogs I read.

Of course, avoid MySpace, Xanga, and most anything written by young teens.

veinglory · Oct 9, 2006

Even in places on the young end of the spectrum, like Deviantart, there is a lot of good stuff--so long as you are selective.

cree · Oct 9, 2006

I think it is a fascinating evolution of communication.

A bit sad for us old fogies, but so it goes.

Talia · Oct 9, 2006

I don't think that blogging has anything to do with people's ability to write. Most of the blogs I read are well written, other than a few typos. However I've yet to read a book without typos!

As for deterioration in language I put that down to:
- text/SMS (as matt pointed out)
- short cuts in MS Word. e.g. in word it automatically capitalises the first word in every sentence so I often forget to do that when I'm typing on msg boards. It also autocorrects common spelling mistakes. I have mine set up to type words based on short cuts. I type yday for yesterday and it automatically changes the words. I often use the same short cuts in mbs
- schooling. Grammar is not given the same emphasis imho

Lyra Jean · Oct 9, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
Am I the only one who types in complete, gramatically-correct (or as near as possible) sentences when he instant messages?

I do my best to write coherently in Instant Messages. One time I didn't and the person I was talking to thought someone else was chatting and asked for their name.

They didn't teach grammar when I was in high or college that I can recall. I graduated High school in 1998 and college in 2003 (Associate in Arts.)

oswann · Oct 10, 2006

The rules for good blogging are the same as for good writing. Readers become loyal readers if the writing is consistently good and interesting.

Os.

robeiae · Oct 11, 2006

Dawno said:
...and some real crud too. Let's not condemn all blogging based on the bad stuff.

That's a low blow, Dawno. But don't worry, you'll get yours...

Now:

1) What the helll is SMS, Nav? In response to a complaint about shorthand, you give us shorthand?

2) Blogs, blogs, blogs...I enjoy the ideas more often than the actual writing. If I want to read well-edited literary works, I'll buy a book...published at least 30 years ago.

3) Of course, as Os said, good writing is definately a plus (though I can consider it more of a bonus, intellectual snob that I am).

sassandgroove · Oct 11, 2006

robeiae said:
1) What the helll is SMS, Nav? In response to a complaint about shorthand, you give us shorthand?

Exactly.

icerose · Oct 11, 2006

It's an instant message system. Kind of like chat but more one on one, or you can do group.

ChaosTitan · Oct 11, 2006

Shadow_Ferret said:
Am I the only one who types in complete, gramatically-correct (or as near as possible) sentences when he instant messages?

I try my best. If I'm in a hurry and don't feel like hitting the backspace key, I'll leave a few errors and hit Send. That's how some of my favorite catchphrases have come about.

Wrong fingers on keys produced "plau" instead of "okay," and now we use it in a specific IM chat. Same thing with "no porbs" instead of "no problem."

Blogs are ruining the world's abilites to properly write.

The late, the great XThe NavigatorX

Deleted member 42

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