Writing

[dhermann1]

I'm just reading an articcle on the web: http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i18/18b00501.htm on the subject of the quality of public intellectualism in America today. That pushed a button in my brain. I'd like to ask Loungers if exposure the the kind of discourse here on Lounge has improved their ability to express themselves, changed their ideas about things, etc.

 

[Johnnysan]

I'd like to ask Loungers if exposure the the kind of discourse here on Lounge has improved their ability to express themselves, changed their ideas about things, etc.

I'm not sure that participating as a member here has improved my ability to express myself or necessarily changed any of my ideas about things in general, but I have found it intellectually stimulating to interact (albeit in a virtual environment) with intelligent, articulate and polite folks who share (at least on some level) certain common interests.

What this has done is make me wish that I could enjoy, to a greater degree, the same level of civil interaction, thoughtful discourse and courtesy in my "real" life!

 

[pgoat]

an' I want one of those, and another one of these , and

It's hurt my bank account some

 

[Undertow]

It's hurt my bank account some

I second that! shakeshead

 

[Diamondback]

"Enhanced" I don't know, but it's definitely helped keep me from regressing back to turning the air around me into a blue haze...

While I had a community-college prof who found my dropping F-bombs in research papers for his class amusing (I still got my 4.0's out of it), I highly doubt that will fly for my BA/BS or my Masters.

 

[pgoat]

love is all around, no need to waste it......

I will say folks here are definitely more civilized than other forums I've frequented. I've been hanging around here for a month or so and so far I've yet to witness any serious nastiness, happy to say!

 

[Undertow]

It is awfully nice to talk with people in an adult fashion.

I don't know about you guys, but even my office is rife with "politics". :eusa_doh:

 

[pgoat]

oh, goodness, me, yes....one good thing about my specific job - I get a lot of solitude away from the hub-bub at my institution....but I know it's out there nevertheless.

I've been on other forums, all with loads of nice people and plenty of good info, but some have a real dog eat dog atmosphere. As promised by the FL home page, nobody here seems too ravenous in that sense, which is quite refreshing

 

[Twitch]

Hanging around here has kept me semi-sane with all the time I have t kill with medical problems the last couple years.

Yeah semi-sane that's it.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

When I happen upon a thread from several years back, I have noticed that the quality of my writing has improved since then, but I don't know if I can credit the Lounge for it. I suppose it certainly hasn't hurt it.

 

[MrNewportCustom]

I'd like to ask Loungers if exposure the the kind of discourse here on Lounge has improved their ability to express themselves, changed their ideas about things, etc.

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot
Or, in my case, what I've always been. . . . Only more so.

The Lounge hasn't changed my ideas about much, but it's certainly given me a place to learn about the things I've always enjoyed and to express the thoughts I've always had. It's helping me become . . . ME!

And, yes, it's also taught my bank account a few things!


Lee

 

[Dr Doran]

As I remarked on my first few posts on the Lounge, the politeness level here is wonderful.

It's been fun to exercise my writing skills in non-essay formats. I write essays all the time in school and I enjoy these informal but polite exchanges of ideas.

I'll tell you what I like a lot. I'm fairly (but not extremely) liberal person politically and I really like the fact that I can talk to conservative people here who are polite, funny, charming and don't stick their politics in front of everything else. That's how everyone should be, liberals and conservatives, but it's very very rare.

 

[carter]

As I remarked on my first few posts on the Lounge, the politeness level here is wonderful.

It's been fun to exercise my writing skills in non-essay formats. I write essays all the time in school and I enjoy these informal but polite exchanges of ideas.

I'll tell you what I like a lot. I'm fairly (but not extremely) liberal person politically and I really like the fact that I can talk to conservative people here who are polite, funny, charming and don't stick their politics in front of everything else. That's how everyone should be, liberals and conservatives, but it's very very rare.

One thing the internet forums do for those who are so inclined is encourage more succinct writing and a marshalling of thoughts. Else the writer is often misunderstood. Does this result in better writing? I don't know but better thought process should lead to something of a positive nature. Certainly better writing is possible.

In some ways, this may encourage us to be more civil and more tolerant of other's points of view. At least it seems this way to me.

 

[Twitch]

I actually would rather read longer entries by people on subjects since it usually makes things more clear. There are folks on here who actually have complaned that someone's response was too long to read. That comment from a participant in a written media forum!lol

If people would explain or expand more perhaps we'd have less instances where we have misunderstandings.

 

[Dr Doran]

I actually would rather read longer entries by people on subjects since it usually makes things more clear. There are folks on here who actually have complaned that someone's response was too long to read. That comment from a participant in a written media forum!lol

If people would explain or expand more perhaps we'd have less instances where we have misunderstandings.

I agree with you, Twitch.

 

[Diamondback]

I actually would rather read longer entries by people on subjects since it usually makes things more clear. There are folks on here who actually have complaned that someone's response was too long to read. That comment from a participant in a written media forum!lol

If people would explain or expand more perhaps we'd have less instances where we have misunderstandings.

Well said, sir. This is not "Short-Attention-Span Theatre", people--that's what chat-rooms are for...

You can't probe a deep subject with shallow questions or comments; longer posts are part and parcel of any kind of in-depth discussion on any forum.

 

[HamletJSD]

I'm not sure if the Lounge has improved my skills of expression, but it has definitely allowed me the joy of conversing with more like-minded and intellectual people than I tend to come in contact with in my daily life.

Being a relatively young guy (29 for about a week now), I rarely run into people my age interested in topical discussion of any sort. Even more rare are those interested in topical discussion without insult or anger towards opposing veiws.

 

[poetman]

I think different resources reach different needs. I'm sure most people don't visit the lounge expecting to encounter life changing ideas. The lounge serves a different purpose for most.