Send Me To Google And I‘ll Never Read your Posts Again
By M.-L.
@MALUSE (69416)
Germany
October 17, 2020 3:43pm CST
I can‘t say how many posts I‘ve read over the years which show that the writers have a limited world view. For them the place where they live is the navel of the world. They know it well and see no reason to explain anything.
I read newspapers, listen to the news on the radio and watch TV. This does not mean, however, that I know the names of, say, all important politicians or celebrities of the 195 states of the world.
If a member from Indonesia, Kenia or Ecuador (to name but three) mentions a name and tells us something laudable or scandalous about an important citizen of their country, chances are good that I haven‘t got the foggiest idea what to make of this news.
The same would be true for sports. I know nothing about US baseball stars or Russian ice skaters. I‘m not ashamed about that. I know other things which I find know-worthy which you may never have heard of.
Whatever. When I chance on a post and don‘t get who or what it is about, I may ask the member in question for an explanation and also suggest to add it to the post because I know that other members are also at a loss.
Here are my three favourite replies:
“Nah, too lazy.“
“Search his name and you will find plenty to learn about him.“
“Use common sense. You could look him up!“
Indeedy, I could do that. I could look him up. But you know what? I could stop being a member on a writing site for good and forthwith spend my free time on google where I can find the answers to nearly everything.
It happens occasionally that I go to google after reading a post, but the reason for this is that *I* decide to look something up. I object to being sent there by lazy or insolent writers.
---
Google logo, free download
12 people like this
8 responses
@porwest (78761)
• United States
17 Oct 20
Especially when it comes to someone trying to make an argument, as soon as they tell me to look somewhere else I tend to think, "this person really has not formulated their own opinion." Because too much of what is on the Internet is not true, half true and so on and so forth.
I try to remind people that an opinion is something one comes to based on a VARIETY of data that helps one to form that opinion. It's never, and should never be, something on the basis of one source.
In other words, when I share an opinion, the story one SHOULD be able to read between the lines of it is, "I have read several things on the topic and as such, my opinion is formed on the basis of a variety of information ON said topic."
I WILL admit to sometimes telling someone to "look it up." BUT, usually when I say that to someone, based on what THEY are saying on the matter, it seems clear to me they are only referencing one source and have not really formed an opinion, but are simply "regurgitating the one source."
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (457195)
• Switzerland
18 Oct 20
Most of the time I am not at all interested to know more of people I never heard or do not know. If I ask and the reply is to look on the web, well it means that no discussion is possible with that member and I will never read another of his/her posts in the future.
3 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Oct 20
I've not run into that before but if I did I would feel the same way.
3 people like this
@innertalks (20944)
• Australia
26 Oct 20
This is an interesting piece, with some interesting reader's comments too.
I started writing here after another site folded too. I just write what I used to write before, as I get my own kicks from writing stuff, like what I write.
I am not really into the social stuff, overly much, but I do take your point, about explaining stuff better, so that others might better understand what I have written.
I do not think that this applies to all types of writing though, as a poem is written, by some, not to explain stuff, but more to get others thinking, appreciating, or just enjoying the writing, rather than worrying about anything much else.
@innertalks (20944)
• Australia
27 Oct 20
@MALUSE Yes, I thought that was what you were talking about, but I just added that bit in, as an additive line too, to explain why I write as I write too.
Actually, sometimes when I write a poem, I do give an explanation of sorts, as there are specific types of poems, for example, a Haiku poem. I explain that this is a Japanese form of poetry, written in three lines, and usually referring to nature.
Some explanation does aid the understanding of all/most forms of writing, I expect too.
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29260)
• Sonora, California
17 Oct 20
I am from the U.S and know virtually nothing about U.S Baseball as for politics it’s hard to keep up with what is going on in my own country to look up what is going on in dozens of other countries. I definitely agree with you on this, if there is something I find interesting I’ll look it up on my own...
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29260)
• Sonora, California
17 Oct 20
@MALUSE You are most welcome.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155285)
• United States
18 Oct 20
I try to remember to explain things that might be foreign to some members.
1 person likes this
