Get to Class! -Blogging in IP30

Reading Assignment 1: This passage touches on a number of issues that have been on my mind as I set up and worked on this blog and this course. Thank you Jurrai for contributing it. My comments are numbered, and follow at the end.

“Spelling and grammar are totally not a huge deal to me when typing a blog. I don’t care if people think of me different because i can’t spell a word, it’s just a word i can’t spell. Aslo, i look at the change in language today from the past… if you use a chat program youll notice that there are so many was to say some thing. some examples: b/c, etc., u, r, 2day, 2night, 2, btwn, br, lol, lmao, rofl… These are only some things that “chatter’s” may be common to, and is that really proper spelling and grammar???! I think it’s cool that you can edit someones work, but honestly who cares…. why not write a blog about how people don’t use proper grammar if you care so much. “

Note: This comment also appears in the Comment section of the post “Getting the Bugs Out”

1) People shouldn’t judge others by things like their ability to communicate clearly, but they do. And it is good not to take it personally when it happens, but it does affect how others interact with you (anyone); from grades on a written assignment, to getting a job, to making a good impression on someone you are interested in having a relationship with.

2) Even though blogging is pretty new, especially as a “popular” pastime, it already has a reputation, mainly for being informal, personal, and not relevant to people other than the blogger and maybe a few friends. I think there is much more potential than this, just as writing on paper can be informal and unproductive (writing and passing a note to a classmate in elementary school) or useful and informative (writing down directions on how to get to a job interview). The intent of this blog is to be productive, and promote clear comunication.

3) Language does change over time, usually slowly, but it probably changes the most in small groups that for various reasons, have specific communication needs  (like “chatters”, “rappers”, Ph.D. scientists, etc). In fact, within these groups, you would stick out if you stuck to proper high school level English. 

5) One thing that I think is very difficult is how to clearly communicate in a something like a blog? In some ways it is like speaking (this entry is more like a transcript of a conversation than an essay or a report). But when you are speaking, there are many of other clues besides the words to let you know what the speaker means (nonverbal clues like facial expressions, as well as tone of voice). When you type your thoughts, it is more difficult to tell what the person really meant. For example,

“I think it’s cool that you can edit someones work, but honestly who cares…. why not write a blog about how people don’t use proper grammar if you care so much. ”

This could be taken in different ways, from a general statement about anyone attempting to blog, to a comment directed at a specific person. If it was taken as directed at a specific person, that person would still have to decide for himself (or herself) if the statement “if you care so much” was meant as advice or sarcasm, rude or helpful, or just reflective the communication style of the person.

Even this entire response could be taken in different ways. It could be seen as discussion for general instructional purposes if part of a course on communication and information processing (which it was meant to), but without knowing this, someone might take it as a criticism, or dismiss it as useless rambling. After all, it was a pretty lengthy reponse. Thanks for thinking about these issues,and please add your comments if you would like (to the post that referred you here, since pages do not accept comments)

Thank you,

-Mr. Stinson