The Perils of Lousy Writing

People can't write. They're beyond horrible. The simplest thought transferred to the written word is virtually impossible for so many. Why? Because we don't write anymore. We simply don't craft ideas or thoughts in writing. We've lost handwriting, a personalized signature. We write in upper and lower case. If we write at all. We don't craft letters, love letters, billets-doux. Nada. Niente. Nihil.

We'll jot or dash a Morse Code, hieroglyph replete with an emoticon or the increasingly nauseating LOL. But I've changed my mind about LOL. LOL has more often than not saved a message from the wrong interpretation. And why?

Whether I'm "write." I'll admit something that I never thought I'd say: Emoticons actually serve a purpose. Because people are such lousy writers. I can't count the number of times I've read something with a sarcastic tinge when in fact it was a harmless email but pathetically written. And you'd think that as we write more, naturally our writing would improve. But it doesn't.

"A computer terminal is not some clunky old television with a typewriter in front of it. It is an interface where the mind and body can connect with the universe and move bits of it about. (from Mostly Harmless)" -- Douglas Noel Adams

And I'm not talking about books or articles or anything of note or length. I'm talking about just conveying a thought. How many times have you read an email from someone in a way that made the writer seem to be rude or snide when in fact nothing of the kind was intended? This is precisely why hearsay is eschewed as an evidentiary tool because inter alia

"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world... The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way ... people look at reality, then you can change it." -- James Arthur Baldwin

Social "nutworking." Enter Twitter. Now, if you really want to read some real beauts, just get a Twitter account. Please note the Tweet I received from someone who'll remain nameless. Tell me what he/she means.

@LionelMedia Your dumbSimply putIf Obama wasnt born in USA he wouldnt be able to even run 4 PresPlease dont tell folks where u went 2 school

Here's another one. Tell me what this person's saying or asking.

@LionelMedia Are you that big an idiot? You're bashing @BarackObama for not providing a document that HAWAII ADMITTED they wouldn't provide.

OK, maybe it's the 140 character limitation. Though, I doubt it. Perhaps its the size of the keyboard. Or, here's a shot in the dark, maybe it's because THESE PEOPLE CAN'T WRITE! Maybe they've absolutely no idea how to take a thought and write it. That simple. But that never gets in the way of the message's hubris.

Let's not leave Facebook out of the equation. This was a private message I received. I've redacted this person's name, but I'm not even sure that was necessary. I swear this is what was sent to me.

Hi, mr. Lionel. Im _____. Im ___, n, I live, in bklyn, 53yrs. I hv seen, ppl. come, n go, live, n die. Im a well, respctd, edu, n dicipline pers. I just join, pix 11, cuz, I lk, d way, they deal, w d prob. of d comunity, in n.y. So, I consider my self, part of d fam. I lk d way, u, present, ur show, on tv. Im a fan, of u. So, in d future, Ill lk to hv, more, comunication, w u, cuz, u r, a very smart pers. I hope, u, accept, my frndship. tnk. u.