Why do I write this way?
This post is thanks to a couple of people on a list (Yahoo group, not lj) who decided that it was OK to dogpile me for (of all things!) my writing style. I'm not talking about fanfic, theatre reviews or journal articles. What got up their noses was my e-mail, list and even lj writing style.
So here I am discussing why I write this way.
I'm dull. I know that. I write about everyday things, I use capital letters and punctuation, I try to spell things correctly, and most heinous of all, I am apparently circumspect and glib among many other things. It's quite possible that they don't know what either of those words mean. :-) OK, they're right. I'm circumspect but the accusation of glibness really hurts.
My e-mail style differs depending upon who I'm writing to - DH, darling friends L. and N., sweet aunts in AZ, my brothers and my mum all get quick, off-the-cuff, off-the-wall Tilley-speak. They know me well and they know my bizarre sense of humour and A-grade nuttiness. There is less chance of me being misunderstood, we have a shorthand of shared memories and we know and respect each others' POVs.
OTOH I use e-mail for nearly all official communication at work. It's my first communication with many new students, it's how I inform continuing students of important deadlines, news, etc., I write to corporate clients, and more. In my previous job it was the same - writing to the minister's office, etc. It's second nature to be cautious, polite, weigh up words before typing them, and yes, on occasions to be completely non-committal and that bleeds through to my list mails and my livejournal entries and responses. Does that make me a wuss? Not necessarily.
I was less cautious when I started using e-mail at work in 1994. By 1995 nearly all intra-office written communication was electronic. I also got my arse kicked for 'inappropriate' e-mail usage (ha ha!) by a director with a bug up her butt. On online forums I learnt little smileys and similar crap in a desperate attempt to try to be 'me' in a foreign environment. Australian forums were fine generally unless there was an SCA testosterone fight online, but ones that had mainly North American members were very hard. Fights, bitchiness, hostile ganging-up on anyone who had a .au or .nz on their e-mail address, intentional misunderstanding of language, tone or slang ... I'm surprised I still bother to go online.
But I do and I'm glad I do. In the past 3 or 4 years I've met new friends, learnt stuff about other countries, fandoms, areas of interest and more, I've been comforted and supported by people I've never met face to face and who live thousands of kilometres away. A lot of that is by being selective about the venues I go to. I've had my share of shit - don't need any more at my age.
Nevertheless it isn't all sunshine, roses and puppy dogs. Obviously I can't please everybody and I don't see that I should. I'm sorry that those acquaintances in that list think my sincere care is glib or thoughtless. I'm sorry that they would prefer me to express myself differently, and I know they'd be sorry if I did: they'd probably have no chance of understanding me. Oh well. That's life.
So here I am discussing why I write this way.
I'm dull. I know that. I write about everyday things, I use capital letters and punctuation, I try to spell things correctly, and most heinous of all, I am apparently circumspect and glib among many other things. It's quite possible that they don't know what either of those words mean. :-) OK, they're right. I'm circumspect but the accusation of glibness really hurts.
My e-mail style differs depending upon who I'm writing to - DH, darling friends L. and N., sweet aunts in AZ, my brothers and my mum all get quick, off-the-cuff, off-the-wall Tilley-speak. They know me well and they know my bizarre sense of humour and A-grade nuttiness. There is less chance of me being misunderstood, we have a shorthand of shared memories and we know and respect each others' POVs.
OTOH I use e-mail for nearly all official communication at work. It's my first communication with many new students, it's how I inform continuing students of important deadlines, news, etc., I write to corporate clients, and more. In my previous job it was the same - writing to the minister's office, etc. It's second nature to be cautious, polite, weigh up words before typing them, and yes, on occasions to be completely non-committal and that bleeds through to my list mails and my livejournal entries and responses. Does that make me a wuss? Not necessarily.
I was less cautious when I started using e-mail at work in 1994. By 1995 nearly all intra-office written communication was electronic. I also got my arse kicked for 'inappropriate' e-mail usage (ha ha!) by a director with a bug up her butt. On online forums I learnt little smileys and similar crap in a desperate attempt to try to be 'me' in a foreign environment. Australian forums were fine generally unless there was an SCA testosterone fight online, but ones that had mainly North American members were very hard. Fights, bitchiness, hostile ganging-up on anyone who had a .au or .nz on their e-mail address, intentional misunderstanding of language, tone or slang ... I'm surprised I still bother to go online.
But I do and I'm glad I do. In the past 3 or 4 years I've met new friends, learnt stuff about other countries, fandoms, areas of interest and more, I've been comforted and supported by people I've never met face to face and who live thousands of kilometres away. A lot of that is by being selective about the venues I go to. I've had my share of shit - don't need any more at my age.
Nevertheless it isn't all sunshine, roses and puppy dogs. Obviously I can't please everybody and I don't see that I should. I'm sorry that those acquaintances in that list think my sincere care is glib or thoughtless. I'm sorry that they would prefer me to express myself differently, and I know they'd be sorry if I did: they'd probably have no chance of understanding me. Oh well. That's life.