The Joy of Brevity

  

    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 plethora of social media, the shrinking size of keyboards, and strict tweeting stipulations have reduced word counts. Some have claimed this phenomena has also diminished reading abilities.  Popular classical authors, like me, humbly and intensively labor to construct well-worded sentences that insure interest in lengthy treatises. But editors request abbreviated format for publication, promulgating they know readers’ preferences for simplicity! 

     See if you agree with any of the following arguments for list utilization.  

1.   Creating or reading a list doesn’t take much time, and yet it will enable you to cite an impressive bullet point during coffee shop conversation.

2.  Baby Genius phone apps and continuous video gaming has rewired our brains to prefer short attention span requirements (thus lists) for any task.

4. You feel a satisfying sense of accomplishment when reading or writing a list. Who has time to complete a 150 page novel?

5.  An interesting series of brief facts improves social life: It’s speedy to “like” and “share” lists to “friends/followers/#fellowtweeters”

6.  Since most take up only one screen shot or less, utilizing short lists will prevent repetitive mouse movement injury and curser click fatigue.

7.  Lists condense massive speeches, unabridged histories and exhaustive physiological studies into precise sound bites that concisely explain our complicated universe. They demonstrate how easily the many dimensions of our lives can be explained.  That attribute improves mental health, giving list-readers great comfort and security.

9.  Anyone can fulfill the “learn something new every day” requirement to postpone memory loss by reading a list or rereading one they’d forgotten.  

10. List writing/reading provides a sense of accomplishment during boring phone conversations, movie-watching marathons and other obligations.  

11. Lastly, reading or writing brief, but important lists is often a needed physical health requirement during intensive athletic training. (Now if you will excuse me, I need to get back on the elliptical.) 

NOTE: For integrity purposes, I admit this is a rewrite of a previous post.  IF ANY OF MY STUFF adds a smile to your day, signing up to FOLLOW my blog (below) will keep them coming.  Thanks for your smiles and shares!