Creative writing teachers and
English majors are up in arms (or at least, pens) about the demise of exceptionally
well-written articles and scholarly statements on the World Wide Web. The
phenomena of instant social media, small keyboard texting and tweeting
stipulations have reduced word counts and, (some would say) reading ability
requirements. Popular
authors, like me, humbly and intensively labor to construct well-worded sentences
that insure interest in lengthy treatises. Yet editors want abbreviated format
for publication, promulgating they know their readers’ preferences for
simplicity! Skim the following list of reasons
for reading merely lists, to see if you agree.
1. Reading a list doesn’t take much time, and you can
remember an impressive point to bring
up later in conversation.
2. Preparing (or at
least ordering) food and eating while reading a list is do-able.
3. Watching Sesame
Street as a baby and playing video games during childhood has wired our brains
for short attention reading.
4. There is a sense
of accomplishment when you read anything to its conclusion. (And who has time
for a 350 page novel?)
5. Skimming improves
social life: It’s speedy to “like” and “share” lists to “friends/followers/#fellowtweeters”
6. Since most are
only one screen shot or shorter, reading lists prevent mouse roll fatigue.
7. Lists condense
massive speeches, unabridged histories and exhaustive physiological studies
into precise sound bites that explain our complicated universe.
8. They also
demonstrate how easily the many dimensions of our lives can be explained, which
gives great comfort and security.
9. It fulfills the
“learn something new” requirement to postpone memory loss.
10. List-reading
grants a sense of accomplishment during on-line games and boring phone
conversations.
11. Lastly, reading short lists is a
needed physical break during intensive athletic training. (Now, get off the
computer, and back on the bike!)
Comments
Post a Comment
Your comments appreciated!