Facebook claims that the written word is dying

[crich70]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Not sure what you are trying to say with this.

Has anyone implied that writing words in a computer program rather than on paper (or hand-illuminated vellum) is killing the written word?
The OP referred to "Facebook makes a claim that text is disappearing".

NOT:
"Facebook makes a claim that printed text is disappearing".

...

Pictures on the walls of churches is a very good example of "people were illiterate". Granted, it was the effect rather than the cause, but AFAIK you are the only one who suggested that anyone might think it was the other way around.

More pictures don't hurt (and didn't hurt the churches, I suppose). Pictures replacing words does hurt. Especially when that change is in the primary method of communication these days.
Not that I see any such change happening, outside limited and foregone spheres of influence.

What I meant was that probably some feared that writing would decline if people didn't have to write each letter out by hand. Each culture has had a different way of transferring knowledge to the people. It still continues to be conveyed though.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by crich70

What I meant was that probably some feared that writing would decline if people didn't have to write each letter out by hand. Each culture has had a different way of transferring knowledge to the people. It still continues to be conveyed though.

But that has nothing to do with this discussion.

We aren't afraid that the transfer of knowledge will decline. On the contrary -- videos transfer the same knowledge as per the discussion.
And yet, the OP's implication was that writing as a method of conveying knowledge will be or is declining.

So it really doesn't matter what people a long time ago thought about the switch from one type of writing to another, when in this day and age the (misplaced ) concern is that we will switch from writing to videos/other.
Therefore... I don't have a clue what you are trying to say.



(Is it just me, or am I repeating the same thing over again in so many different words? Well, hopefully I won't have to go for round three. )

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

And yet, the OP's implication was that writing as a method of conveying knowledge will be or is declining.

Well, OP wasn't implying anything, Facebook was. I was curious what the rest of you thought about their claim. I already know what I think and it seems that the rest of you share that sentiment.

Twitter is to communications as haiku is to literature.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Well, OP wasn't implying anything, Facebook was. I was curious what the rest of you thought about their claim. I already know what I think and it seems that the rest of you share that sentiment.

Twitter is to communications as haiku is to literature.

OP in this case stands for original post. Not the original poster.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

Well, OP wasn't implying anything, Facebook was. I was curious what the rest of you thought about their claim. I already know what I think and it seems that the rest of you share that sentiment.

Twitter is to communications as haiku is to literature.

As Cinisajoy said:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

OP in this case stands for original post. Not the original poster.

It can be used to mean either one -- not the most precise of terms I guess.
Sorry for the confusion.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

But that has nothing to do with this discussion.

We aren't afraid that the transfer of knowledge will decline. On the contrary -- videos transfer the same knowledge as per the discussion.
And yet, the OP's implication was that writing as a method of conveying knowledge will be or is declining.

So it really doesn't matter what people a long time ago thought about the switch from one type of writing to another, when in this day and age the (misplaced ) concern is that we will switch from writing to videos/other.
Therefore... I don't have a clue what you are trying to say.



(Is it just me, or am I repeating the same thing over again in so many different words? Well, hopefully I won't have to go for round three. )

There is more than one meaning implied when talking about the written word eschwartz. Both are relevant in terms of technology changing things. First through printing and things like typing people had to do less actual 'writing' and now Facebook is supposed to be claiming that words are being replaced by what amount to high tech pictograms. The first change didn't get rid of the written word so I doubt the newest change will either.

[eschwartz]

I cannot fathom what supposed logic you used to describe a video as a "high tech pictogram".
Regardless, you are performing highly perverted abuses on the English language.

Anyway, my point seems to have flown right by you. And I have decided I don't particularly care to go for round three.

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

OP in this case stands for original post. Not the original poster.

That seems rather arbitrary to me.

Balbutio ergo sum

[LadyKate]

For "how to" instructions give me a written set of instructions, possibly with some illustrations or photos to augment it rather than a video. I find videos take too long to get to the point.

As for the written word disappearing because of video (we can add movies to that I'm sure), well, movies have been around for over a century (talking ones about 80 years) and we still go to books for enjoyment and information.

I find it hard to imagine Facebook, Twitter and other such forums as the final word on literacy.

I must admit, I do find it rather discouraging that I have never seem my roommate's 20 something son with a book or ebook other than when he was in school and for his courses. I hope that isn't common for his generation. Mind you, he seldom pulls himself from his games to watch a movie either.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Maybe it's an edifying change for someone looking for (or needing) edification. I'm quite tired of the "eliminating social media (whichever one the curmudgeonly crowd currently hates the most) will make the world smarter/better" mantra, myself. Some people are idiots, and some are not. Joining or quitting Facebook doesn't generally de-smarten or un-idiot anyone.

Intellectual content (or lack thereof) is only a tiny part of why Facebook has become so much of a stinking cesspool. Professional propogandists for every cause and advocates for every commercial product now find employment advancing someone's pet political cause or hawking some snake old product continuously. All while pretending to be just another poster.

Facebook has become a twenty-four seven infomercial, yet at the same time - a relentless political rant that never shuts up. I certainly don't need every topic that can be spoken of regurgitated from political angles, or used as an example of how my life could be better if I followed some diet plan or took some nauseating supplement . That is unavoidable on Facebook.

Yes there are both bits of wisdom and buckets of stupidity, but it is the other aspects of Facebook that are revolting.

[meeera]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Maybe it's an edifying change for someone looking for (or needing) edification. I'm quite tired of the "eliminating social media (whichever one the curmudgeonly crowd currently hates the most) will make the world smarter/better" mantra, myself. Some people are idiots, and some are not. Joining or quitting Facebook doesn't generally de-smarten or un-idiot anyone.

All of this. Facebook is whatever you make it. Which people you choose to friend or follow, which groups you choose to join, how you arrange your reading (use a List, not the home page), how you arrange your audience restrictions, what ad blocker you use.

There is plenty of value on Facebook. Like every other social medium, it's exactly what you make it.

[Lima Bean]

Facebook will disappear long before literacy. Our grandchildren will be like Facewhat?

[Freeshadow]

Facebook? Wasn't it the new MySpace, which was the new AOL, which was the new Compuserve, which...
Whereas in contrary to it a lot of mailing lists and IRC servers I used to use still are up and running. Independent protocols are in the long run always better.
So who cares what some fb minion says about future...

[geekmaster]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

Facebook? Wasn't it the new MySpace, which was the new AOL, which was the new Compuserve, which...
Whereas in contrary to it a lot of mailing lists and IRC servers I used to use still are up and running. Independent protocols are in the long run always better.
So who cares what some fb minion says about future...

Why facebook bought the Oculus Rift:



Plenty of written words there... NSA?

[Cinisajoy]

Thanks I needed the laugh.