Opinion
Based Article – Responding to ‘Don’t Fear the Tweeter’
It is a common belief that
technology is affecting the way that the youth of today write and potentially
speak…but in actual fact, this isn’t necessarily true. Those who have been consistently
snapped at by parents as youngsters: “ain’t ain’t a word!” should know that to
say ain’t in a formal situation isn’t probably going to contribute any further
to them getting a job. More likely the opposite.
Take LOL. Once meaning
lots of love, now more commonly used as laughing out loud. Neither are you
going to say verbally (unless you’re a top class idiot or being overly
sarcastic.) Your Nan hugs you goodbye; neither you nor her are going to
declare: ‘lol’ as you go to leave the house. Your pal cracks a classic joke in
class. Have you ever seen the entire class jump up in enthusiasm screaming:
‘lol’ at the top of their voice? No. Lol is just one example of a term that is
simply used for communicating online. There is absolutely no questioning that
there is a divide between technology and how the youth of today communicate
vocally.
Texting was invented for
convenience and quickness, not to carefully articulate and construct your
messages using perfect grammar, paragraphs and punctuation. You’re meeting
someone for lunch. Are you really going to say: “Hello,” *insert new paragraph*
I hope you are well. I am five minutes away. *new paragraph* see you soon.”
When, in reality, you could simply put: “hi five mins away c u soon.”
No one in their right mind
is going to physically write the
latter but for texting, it’s ideal. Texting is supposed to be short and snappy.
Having said this, evidently you will get those individuals who are ‘old-school’
and will want to write and construct everything perfectly but it’s often just
not necessary. If the desperation to send everything perfectly is there, then
send a letter. You have to keep up with the ever-changing world that now
consists of consistent changes in technology. Goodness knows what will be
around in fifty years’ time, or what could be introduced tomorrow. We should
embrace it, instead of shunning it. Experiment, instead of coming up with all
of this nonsense that technology is affecting the way the youth of today
communicate. Go back to the days before computers, and the chances are, there
still would’ve been criticisms of the way children spoke. Technology is simply
being used as the target, the target in which the blame is falling upon. It’s
an exceptional existence in our world today and the negativity surrounding it
should be overlooked.
