OPEN LETTER 2.0+++++++++++
Dear That-Guy:
You really don't need to write every headline in ALL CAPS, !!!ADD PUNCTUATION!!!!, and make your body type text size +2.
BORING PEOPLE TRY THE HARDEST TO STAND APART ++++++++++
And why do you increase your font size for EVERYTHING?
When your message is grossly larger than everything else on the page, you look like you're saying, "OMGUGAIS>>>>>PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!"
Here's an idea: Just write something interesting or important with little to no formatting. The quality of your message will set you apart -- not how much bigger your emails are than everyone else's.
I shouldn't have to turn down the text display on my screen so I can read your two paragraphs without scrolling. You don't need to format business correspondence in "LARGER AND EASIER TO READ!!!!!" style, ever. It looks disgusting and makes me want to stop knowing you. [/end mockery]
It's the same thing with forwards from my older family members. Wouldn't their jokes be just as not funny if written in default, not size=7 with each paragraph a different color? If I wanted to read your email in Comic Sans, I would set my browser to display text that way. No, instead I have it in Verdana 9pt, because I have excellent reading vision and care about aesthetics.
I wonder if it's a problem with their own text viewing settings? Perhaps someone needs to teach them Control-Plus and Control-Minus -- so if they need huge text to read, they can make their own screen accessible and leave mine the fuck alone.
See also: Community mods who shrink everything to be cute, when sometimes, it's mildly annoying.
[/end cranky typography rant]
"Those who can afford the most, own the least."
When you're wealthy, showing off how much you can afford becomes less important. Only people with something to prove (I'm not poor!) are obsessed with visual cues to their wealth. You see enough bling and you start to roll your eyes.
Similarly, people who are listened to tend to speak softer and slower - because they don't need audible cues to how important their speech is. Only people with something to prove (I'm worth listening to!) speak too fast or loudly. You tune them out.
When I see an ad on craigslist in all caps with the line filled in with punctuation, I don't think, "Wow, this one sets itself apart!" ... I think, "I'd rather you be accurate and descriptive, douchebag."
In The Language of Gender communications class in college, we were taught that women use more modifiers and clauses than men (or in general, feminine equals weak and washy while masculine equals strong and direct.) If you have balls, you don't need to say, "I think that..." -- you just say what you think. If you have balls, you don't need to qualify your opinions, ask for permission, or add extra description.
"I think I deserve $70."
"I deserve $100."
"Would it be possible for me to receive $70?"
"Give me $100."
Annoyed by these lessons, and after complaining that the class was stupid and they shouldn't be propagating misogynistic bullshit about what pussies women are, I looked at my own speech and added some balls to my own language style. I'd been taught years ago to knock it off with the audible pauses. (Ah, um, and other noises between words.)
It should have been called The Language of Power, because my genitalia shouldn't have anything to do with how persuasive and commanding my language is. Than again, I shouldn't be able to tell someone's race by their writing either, but there are flags, folks. Is it wrong to de-gender and de-race your communication, denying your self? Or is it smart to use those tools?
I think It is.
You really don't need to write every headline in ALL CAPS, !!!ADD PUNCTUATION!!!!, and make your body type text size +2.
BORING PEOPLE TRY THE HARDEST TO STAND APART ++++++++++
And why do you increase your font size for EVERYTHING?
When your message is grossly larger than everything else on the page, you look like you're saying, "OMGUGAIS>>>>>PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!"
Here's an idea: Just write something interesting or important with little to no formatting. The quality of your message will set you apart -- not how much bigger your emails are than everyone else's.
I shouldn't have to turn down the text display on my screen so I can read your two paragraphs without scrolling. You don't need to format business correspondence in "LARGER AND EASIER TO READ!!!!!" style, ever. It looks disgusting and makes me want to stop knowing you. [/end mockery]
It's the same thing with forwards from my older family members. Wouldn't their jokes be just as not funny if written in default, not size=7 with each paragraph a different color? If I wanted to read your email in Comic Sans, I would set my browser to display text that way. No, instead I have it in Verdana 9pt, because I have excellent reading vision and care about aesthetics.
I wonder if it's a problem with their own text viewing settings? Perhaps someone needs to teach them Control-Plus and Control-Minus -- so if they need huge text to read, they can make their own screen accessible and leave mine the fuck alone.
See also: Community mods who shrink everything to be cute, when sometimes, it's mildly annoying.
[/end cranky typography rant]
"Those who can afford the most, own the least."
When you're wealthy, showing off how much you can afford becomes less important. Only people with something to prove (I'm not poor!) are obsessed with visual cues to their wealth. You see enough bling and you start to roll your eyes.
Similarly, people who are listened to tend to speak softer and slower - because they don't need audible cues to how important their speech is. Only people with something to prove (I'm worth listening to!) speak too fast or loudly. You tune them out.
When I see an ad on craigslist in all caps with the line filled in with punctuation, I don't think, "Wow, this one sets itself apart!" ... I think, "I'd rather you be accurate and descriptive, douchebag."
In The Language of Gender communications class in college, we were taught that women use more modifiers and clauses than men (or in general, feminine equals weak and washy while masculine equals strong and direct.) If you have balls, you don't need to say, "I think that..." -- you just say what you think. If you have balls, you don't need to qualify your opinions, ask for permission, or add extra description.
"I think I deserve $70."
"I deserve $100."
"Would it be possible for me to receive $70?"
"Give me $100."
Annoyed by these lessons, and after complaining that the class was stupid and they shouldn't be propagating misogynistic bullshit about what pussies women are, I looked at my own speech and added some balls to my own language style. I'd been taught years ago to knock it off with the audible pauses. (Ah, um, and other noises between words.)
It should have been called The Language of Power, because my genitalia shouldn't have anything to do with how persuasive and commanding my language is. Than again, I shouldn't be able to tell someone's race by their writing either, but there are flags, folks. Is it wrong to de-gender and de-race your communication, denying your self? Or is it smart to use those tools?
I think It is.