First published in Medium in 2018, this piece was a favorite among readers. It could use some updating, though. Leave your own suggestions for new candidates for Orwellian critique!
Very true. “ In practice, however (and particularly in academia), we often use language as a kind of protective armor that makes us look smart and avoids any straight talk that would expose our confusion or not-yet-formed ideas.”
The above statement says it all. Young writers, especially those in college, often lack the life experience (and innate talent/drive) necessary to either produce clear, concise prose or to communicate directly. Like you said they’re still coating themselves behind armor, trying to protect themselves from actually saying something. What they usually need, in my opinion, is just what Orwell did: Skip college and go (figuratively) become a policeman in Burma :)
How college began to teach jargon instead of meaning---I will never understand. And that fed the kind of decline that led to the phrase "A useless liberal arts degree".
Well, at the end of the day, when push comes to shove, when the rubber hits the road, and when the shit hits the fan, it’s all about what you bring to the table. And also all about not leaving it all on the field. But it’s also all about that bass.
Oh my god, this is so good. I’ll brag first that I love that Orwell essay, and I go back and reread it when I need to be reminded how often I disregard his advice.
I suspect that just reading good writing- especially something like this essay-- sharpens one’s own writing up for a little while. Your stuff is always good, Susan, but this piece is maybe even better than usual because you’d just read the Orwell piece.
I use some of the phrases and words you’re pinning up like insects, and I’m not ready to put them out to pasture. Or kick them to the curb. Not yet, anyway. But I’ve put them on notice.
The journalistic crutch that makes me sickest of all: "this is not normal". Usually it means "This is criminal". Sometimes it means "This is dishonest". Or "this shows a lack of the integrity that we have expected from our leaders since the constitution was written." But those are things the press is afraid to say.
Very true. “ In practice, however (and particularly in academia), we often use language as a kind of protective armor that makes us look smart and avoids any straight talk that would expose our confusion or not-yet-formed ideas.”
The above statement says it all. Young writers, especially those in college, often lack the life experience (and innate talent/drive) necessary to either produce clear, concise prose or to communicate directly. Like you said they’re still coating themselves behind armor, trying to protect themselves from actually saying something. What they usually need, in my opinion, is just what Orwell did: Skip college and go (figuratively) become a policeman in Burma :)
How college began to teach jargon instead of meaning---I will never understand. And that fed the kind of decline that led to the phrase "A useless liberal arts degree".
Well, at the end of the day, when push comes to shove, when the rubber hits the road, and when the shit hits the fan, it’s all about what you bring to the table. And also all about not leaving it all on the field. But it’s also all about that bass.
That, quite frankly, begs the question. And is not a good look.
Oh my god, it definitely is not a good look. (I love the “quite frankly.” That one has absolutely been put to death by DJT.)
and I really hate the skis one, which is used constantly by a pundit I love but I won’t mention him out of respect.
Oh my god, this is so good. I’ll brag first that I love that Orwell essay, and I go back and reread it when I need to be reminded how often I disregard his advice.
I suspect that just reading good writing- especially something like this essay-- sharpens one’s own writing up for a little while. Your stuff is always good, Susan, but this piece is maybe even better than usual because you’d just read the Orwell piece.
I use some of the phrases and words you’re pinning up like insects, and I’m not ready to put them out to pasture. Or kick them to the curb. Not yet, anyway. But I’ve put them on notice.
Thank you. I thought you’d like this one Karl! And I’m betting you can come up with some more.
The journalistic crutch that makes me sickest of all: "this is not normal". Usually it means "This is criminal". Sometimes it means "This is dishonest". Or "this shows a lack of the integrity that we have expected from our leaders since the constitution was written." But those are things the press is afraid to say.
Great comment!! Thank you!