Thomas Petzinger Jr. (tom@petzinger.com) invites dialog:
>All thoughts welcome, in private or via the list. Apropos of this subject,
>I must say that the high quality of the writing on this list(none more
>than At de Lange's) is one of the pleasures that keeps me reading.
I would second your comments about the quality on this list and also add
that the supreme efforts of the moderator, although invisible on a daily
basis, are a major factor in the quality of the dialog. I like the analogy
that Rick is the host and we are at "the party" by his good graces,
whereas many Internet gatherings are more like pep rallies, debates or
demonstrations.
[Host's Note: Thank you, Keith. I do appear from time to time. ...Rick]
I agree with Tom that the written word is becoming a more pervasive medium
because of the growth of both eMail and Forums such as this one. Also the
globalisation facilitated by the Internet is making papers and reports
more widely available and widely read. It is emphasizing the cultural and
educational differences as well as the fundamental shortcoming of the
written word to communicate about complex notions.
>... I am wondering whether people are now beginning to make a conscious
>effort to improve the technical or artistic quality of their writing as an
>occupational or competitive necessity....
I think that the interactive nature of this Internet medium is enabling
people of all disciplines to become educated regarding the shortcomings of
writing for expressing what they desire. I am not sure that anyone has
figured out how to fix this yet, let alone teaching about it...
I am working with Malaysia at present and much of our work is through
eMail and Concept papers (from Canada). My interest in this particular
issue is very high. The main obstacle that I identify is what I call the
"common sense gap" because it is difficult to even be aware when the gap
is happening.
Keith Cowan
kcowan@orion.GlobalDEN.com (CIS:72212,51)
--"Cowan, Keith" <kcowan@ORION.GLOBALDEN.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>