The Writer Is Always at Fault
Issue #2510
- WEALTHY: What’s in store for the market when Obama’s in power? (Rick Pendergraft)
- HEALTHY: Losing isn’t the most important part of weight loss (Craig Ballantyne)
- WISE: George Oppen on clarity
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
- A lesson on writing effectively (Robert Ringer)
- Should you push your kids to go for a master’s degree? (Jason Holland)
- It’s Good to Know… about the Black Friday myth
- Add “multifarious” to your vocabulary
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Don’t Sweat the Election
You may be concerned about the stock market now that Barack Obama has won the election. Some people believe that Republicans are better for Wall Street than Democrats are. But history shows that the market has actually performed better under Democrat presidents.
As bad as things have been, I expect the economy to bounce back in the second half of 2009 – and not because of the outcome of the election. Sure, there are certain sectors that will benefit from Obama’s victory (biotechnology and alternative energy in particular). But the overall market is primed for a short-term rally. I say short-term, because there is a lot of resistance for the market to take out before the bear market can be declared dead.
The budget deficit, the ailing job market, and a broken financial system are going to be tough to overcome. The new president and Congress will have their work cut out for them.
[Ed. Note: No matter what the market does in the coming months, you can still find opportunities to profit. Market analyst Rick Pendergraft has developed an easy-to-use trading program that delivers very nice gains at steady intervals - close to once a week. It helps you use the market's fluctuations to your advantage, so that the economy doesn't affect your earnings one bit. Learn more here.]
“Clarity, clarity, surely clarity is the most beautiful thing in the world.”
George Oppen
The Writer Is Always at Fault
A few months back, I wrote an article for another publication that sent my e-mail inbox into spasms. The point of the article was that everyone complains about illegal immigration, but few seem willing to endorse real solutions.
I said that if people were really serious about stopping the tidal wave of illegal immigrants, there are many ways it could be accomplished. I then offered a number of rather harsh (by today’s touchy-feely standards) solutions that could be implemented, and followed each of them with this tongue-in-cheek afterthought:
“Of course, I myself would never favor such a heartless measure, but one would think that those who demand a solution to the illegal-immigration problem would endorse it with open arms… if they were really serious about it.”
I thought it was a clever touch of sarcasm that my readers would enjoy. That said, below is a small sampling of excerpts from reader e-mails that will give you a pretty good idea of just how much they DIDN’T enjoy it.
“Prior to this article, I thought that you had some intelligence. This article proved that you have NONE.” – Bob
“Hey, a__hole. If you like Mexicans so much, and think importing thieves, murderers, drug smugglers, and child molesters is a good idea, then I hope your family is destroyed by an illegal rapist, molester, or perhaps a drunk Mexican driver. … I hope you and your ilk burn in hell.” – James
“Sir, you are an idiot.” – R.R.
“May your illegal-alien-staffed endeavors be damned!” – Mad As Hell Momma
“I’ve been an avid reader of yours… until this column.” – Mike
“If you love having a lower class of slave labor, move to Mexico where they live that way every day. … Please leave your passport at the door as you depart.” – M.E.B.
“Too bad you don’t know sh__ about the real world. … You have zero credibility with [those of] us that live in the USA of today. … Enjoy your cheap lettuce.” – Scott
“Boy, you sure had me fooled. Some of your previous articles had led me to believe you had good sense. … What a splendid example of shallow thought.” – B.J.H.
“I do not want to ‘press 2 for Espanol.’ I do not want a Mexican or a Hispanic caucus in Congress. I do not want my heritage belittled in the name of Hispanics, Muslims, or any other non-American group. … [the] hell with tolerance and diversity. … How do you fail to see the truth?” – W. S.
“Sorry guy, but you’re full of it. You’re just another apologist for the illegals.” – J.S.
It’s obvious that a lot of readers failed to pick up on my tongue-in-cheek handling of this lightning-rod issue and, thus, completely missed my point.
So what did I learn from this torrent of e-mails? Plenty. One of my most important writing rules is: If even one reader misinterprets my words, it’s my fault. What that one reader is telling me is that I have not made my case clearly enough. It’s not the reader’s obligation to figure out what I’m trying to say. Writing effectively means writing in a way that every reader will clearly understand.
Even if you’re not a professional writer, you should follow this rule when writing letters, e-mails, advertisements, agreements, or just about anything else. Unfortunately, the modern-day overuse of e-mail has made people even worse writers than they used to be – and most people have always been pretty bad writers to begin with.
There’s no question that e-mail is a marvelous tool, but not when the messages you receive are so sloppy that, rather than trying to decipher them, it’s easier and much quicker to simply call the sender and discuss the subject over the phone.
You should make a conscious effort not to fill your e-mails with unidentifiable flying pronouns, third-grade grammar, and lazy or nonexistent punctuation. If the recipient doesn’t understand what you’re saying, you’re wasting both his time and yours.
But perhaps the best lesson I learned (make that relearned) was from the many apologies I received from readers. Those apologies resulted from my sending out an explanatory e-mail to those who had lambasted me because they missed my attempt at humor in the article. In particular, consider the following four excerpts:
“Boy am I embarrassed! I admit I just skimmed the article. Sorry!” – J.S.
“I should have listened to my instincts and taken more time to analyze your message.” – J.M.
“If you’re going to do satire, sarcasm, parody, or tongue-in-cheek, there has to be some sort of clue for us clueless types out here in the hinterlands. … Sorry for the confusion.” – M.M.
“I looked hard for sarcasm and did not think I was finding it. … I humbly apologize for my rude language. You have shown your class with your polite reply.” – K.S.
Take the two comments “I admit I just skimmed the article” and “I should have… taken more time to analyze your message.” Remember these comments when you write – especially when writing ad copy. Readers normally don’t take the time to carefully dissect what you have written. They skim. And if they skim, they can easily misinterpret your words.
And how about “there has to be some sort of clue for us clueless types” and “I looked hard for sarcasm and did not think I was finding it“? In other words, you can’t assume your reader is in sync with you. He’s not in your head. And because he has other things on his mind, it’s presumptuous to believe that he should know when you’re being facetious… unless you give him a clear signal.
Also, don’t make facetious statements that are so subtle a person has to be a well-informed “insider” to catch them. Readers hate feeling like they’re on the outside looking in. This is especially true when writing ad copy. You don’t just throw it out there and count on the reader to figure it out.
Lead your reader by the hand, word by word – straight to the sale. Writing effectively increases sales. I’m always amazed at ads that are filled with statements I either don’t understand or have to think about for a while in order to figure out what the copywriter was trying to say.
The bottom line is that whether it’s an article, ad, letter, e-mail, or any other kind of written document, you should always keep in mind that the person on the receiving end is not going to be intently focused on what you’re trying to say – and write accordingly.
[Ed. Note: Becoming a better, clearer writer is critical to your personal and business success. But even more important, becoming a strong writer can help you attract customers and make sales. You can discover hundreds of money-making techniques for writing marketing copy that sells right here.
For a treasure chest of proven ideas, strategies, and techniques for increasing your income many times over, check out Robert Ringer's best-selling dealmaking audio series. And be sure to sign up for his Voice of Sanity e-letter.]
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How Much Is a College Degree Worth?
Yes – you can make it big without a formal education. But some companies require a college degree before they’ll even consider a candidate for a job. So it’s logical to assume that if you encourage your kids to get a master’s degree or Ph.D., it will help them make more money. However, depending on the field they intend to go into, it may not make sense.
Census Bureau figures confirm that the average holder of a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts or social science, for example, makes just as much (and sometimes more) than a master’s degree holder. That’s an investment of an extra two or three years and thousands of dollars that won’t return any financial payback. People who plan to go into one of those programs should do it for the love of knowledge – not the love of money.
The best advice you can give your kids might be to stick to the educational path that Michael Masterson advocates: “Get your bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, because that is the best way to achieve the basic skills – reading well, writing well, speaking well, and thinking well.”
(Source: MSN Money Central)
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How to Maintain Your Weight
Oprah recently featured some former contestants from “The Biggest Loser.” Unfortunately, some of them had regained up to 100 pounds since they left the show.
While losing weight is hard, not enough attention is given to the equally difficult process of maintaining weight loss. And what most people don’t realize is that the method you use to lose weight helps determine how difficult weight maintenance will be.
Researchers from the City University of New York studied folks who were successful at losing at least 10 percent of their bodyweight in the past year. They were separated into three groups. Group one had lost the weight with a very-low calorie diet (VLCD). Group two had lost the weight with a commercial weight-loss program. And the third group had lost the weight using a self-directed approach.
Initially, the VLCD group had a greater average weight loss (24 percent of bodyweight) compared to the two other groups (17 percent). But the researchers found that they quickly regained the most weight. On the other hand, the folks who had lost the weight on their own – as a result of making lifestyle changes – were able to maintain their weight loss.
What can you learn here? Well, it’s like many weight-loss experts keep saying: You must make simple, easy-to-stick-to lifestyle changes if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Crash diets and excessive exercise programs might work for a while, but they won’t help you in the long run.
Start your long-term weight-loss program today by finding a form of exercise you enjoy and a diet that suits your personality, and by surrounding yourself with social support – people who are genuinely interested in seeing you succeed.
[Ed. Note: Extending your life and living out your years in tip-top health is really a matter of making simple lifestyle choices. For more easy-to-implement ideas about how to live longer and feel better, click here.
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It’s Good to Know: The Black Friday Myth
As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a mantra that will be repeated constantly by countless media outlets: The day after the holiday is the busiest shopping day of the year. But guess what? Though there may be huge crowds in the stores on “Black Friday,” they’ll mostly be window shopping.
In terms of sales, the Friday after Thanksgiving doesn’t even make the top three. The most lucrative day for retailers is usually the Saturday before Christmas. Last-minute shopping, anyone?
(Source: Snopes.com and the National Retail Federation)
== Highly Recommended ==
The Career Deck Is Stacked Against You…
Bosses paying peanuts while working you to death… jobs shipped overseas… pension funds raided by corrupt management… It can be a cold-hearted world out there.
But there is hope. In fact, there’s a lot more than hope because you can now live life on your own terms, earning six figures while doing something you enjoy.
Word to the Wise: Multifarious
“Multifarious” (mul-tuh-FARE-ee-us) – from the Latin for “on many sides” – means having great diversity or variety.
Example (as used by T. Coraghessan Boyle in Riven Rock): “But as he reached the verge of the lawn and vaulted the retaining wall there, crossed the flagstone walkway and started up the steps of the ad building, the multifarious marvel of his congested brain surprised him – the apes flew right out of his head and he was thinking about California.”
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Copyright ETR, LLC, 2008
I found out a long time ago, sarcasm is a lost art, especially when communicating in the sound-bite era of the Internet.
I write fairly innocuous essays about animals and life, but have received hate mail too. You definitely have my empathy.
Dixon
Nice article. I think your lesson on writing with clarity would have been more effective if you included the original article – the one that got all the negative responses, or perhaps a link to it. It’s hard to fully grasp your message without the whole story. Just my 2 cents.