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Revelations of a Post Writer: We Are What We Write
When you write a post, you tell us a great deal about yourself. It’s one of my favorite experiences on Ricochet—getting to know people through their writing, not just learning more about a topic. Did you realize how much you tell us about yourself when you write? If not, let me tell you how you reveal who you are.
One of the first things I notice about a writer is your “eloquence factor.” There are some people who have a gift that I simply love. Their words are linked together like chains of daisies, colorful, graceful, and captivating. I don’t write that way, but I love to read others who do. It is like appreciating not only the utility of the thing, but the art that runs within and through it.
But there are others of you who are more utilitarian: words serve your mission to communicate and share with others. Your writing is often brief, to the point, with no words wasted. You are there to serve the idea, you, your computer, and the sentences you write. It is an honorable and practical endeavor.
And then there are those who are blessed with a bounty of both styles.
The writing style of some people seems to be driven by our favorite topics. Posts on the military, current events, controversies, religion, and philosophy seem to dictate how they are written and the length or brevity of what we have to say. Our passions may drive these posts, those times when we feel compelled to express an opinion, clarify a concept, or draw in the reader to elaborate on our ideas. In a sense, the poster and commenters write together, seeding additional ideas, watering, and pruning the topic. We share an enthusiasm for the topic and want to build it together, like a beautifully designed building or a colorful tapestry. It becomes not just a post, but our post.
Finally, you often tell us, directly or indirectly who you are. Our curmudgeons are often endearing and opinionated and we treasure them. Some of us are extremely curious and ask for lots of input. Some of us are set in our opinions and are mainly interested in dueling with ideas. Many of us treasure knowing more about others’ lives, experiences, struggles, and victories. And many do their best to be as private as they can for a multitude of reasons. The motivation to be private also tells us about you.
Ultimately, though, a writer reveals himself or herself: we learn about ideas, concepts, beliefs, and we learn them through you.
For those of you who write, keep writing.
For those of you haven’t, please write.
Tell us who you are.
Published in General
Ah, the natural advantage.
The voices in my head can really lay down a line of patter.
Biden should do that.
I’d pay money to see what he writes if he does.
The best example of dialog that cannot be bettered is the Epstein twins who wrote the Casablanca script. Bad dialog is easy.
I’m still very insecure when it comes to my writing. My inner critic never shuts up. I have always preferred writing fiction. Learning how to write creative nonfiction has been a challenge. I have learned a lot here, but I’m still intimidated!
No need to be. We’re all sweethearts and pussycats. Except for that @oldbathos guy before his medication.
I love reading Douglas Murray!
I’ve always thought that if you never have to look up a word, you’re reading at too low a level. Ah, but a reader’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a dictionary for?
After reading this comment I’m surprised they only make you take pills.🙂
I am sorry that I got to this conversation after it was probably dead. I think Susan is right that even when we post anonymously we reveal much about ourselves. That is part of the reason I drifted away from Ricochet for a couple of years. Those Ricochet hangovers where I woke up in the morning thinking “I can’t believe I posted that!” and dreaded going back online to assess the damage. It was never as bad as I feared but I think it became distasteful for me because the process seemed to bring out parts of me that were……problematic?, I don’t know. I try now to be concise, pithy and entertaining, at least to me. The best at being concise, amusing and wise at this site was Etuiledenord who commented for many years but never, or rarely ever, posted original posts.
I know the feeling. I often write something and sit on it a bit then feel relieved I deleted it. Odd things get lots of likes. Deep profound thoughts are largely ignored. Oh well.
The real person coming out when writing anonymously? I dunno. I saw a birthday card I loved which had some repellent drunk sitting at a bar announcing that “someone stole my identity but the joke’s on him because I’m an a$$hole.”
I only know of you in the last few months, @southernpessimist, so you may pre-date me. I stick with conversations until they are dead, so I’m glad you stopped in. I honestly have enjoyed your writing, although I don’t think I’ve seen a great deal of it. But you are clear, straightforward and I look forward to your comments, and the rare post. Please stay around.
You’ve made this comment in the past, @oldbathos, and I enjoy all your posts. You are definitely a person who blends the eloquent with the straightforward. I wish I had your wit, and your serious posts like the one you put up today are important to our conversations here. I do get annoyed when something I think is great ends up being ignored, but I guess it goes with the territory; we win some, we lose some.
There’s a song about being in a mental institution with lines:
…They ask us how we feel.
I always say, “Fantastic!
There ain’t nothin’ wrong with me.”
Then they give me my injection,
And I fall right back to sleep.
Threads don’t die until they are archived at six months.
and then there’s this:
That’s a small Sasquatch with 100 legs. #statecollege
All my posts are stolen and then topped and tailed. I steal my identities, wallets, ideas, cars, guns, etc. If I were a video game I’d be:
Grand Theft Gollum.
I’d be failing at my job as an anonymous poster if anyone can discern anything about me other than Epstein Didn’t Kill Himself and O.J. is Still Searching For The Real Killers and Turd Ferguson Would Like A Word With You.
150.
Does anyone’s inner critic ever pipe down? Not mine. BTW, I’m trying to write fiction and finding it so very hard. Nonfiction was a lot easier for me. At least if it didn’t have to go more than 1500 words.
The “non-fiction” material these days is abundant. Unfortunately.
Practice, practice, practice. I probably have written several million words of fiction at this point. There are days when I’m good at it.
Just can’t seem to get past “It was a dark and stormy night…”
It’s a great opening.
That was really fun. But I was headed in a different direction:
It was a dark and stormy night. The wind howled like an unpaid hooker while the angry rain bitch-slapped my windows. The computer screen did not care. The little red number said somebody posted something or maybe liked something. Who knows? It’s Ricochet. People always responding. Like Dave, my neighbor, nice guy but sometimes you regret asking him ‘what’s new’.
Thunder, lightning. Is that all you got, Gaia? Empty noise like a screaming fat chick at Hillary’s HQ on election eve. Sure, there could be some damage in the moment but it will fade into day as if it were never there.
The new comment was intriguing. I did not want to get involved in a dialogue but somehow I had to. Who was this woman? Of all the threads on all the posts, why mine? Why tonight?
It was a dark and stormy night. But not so dark that I could not spot Rick Wilson and his Confederate Flag aboard the S.S. NeverTrump as it burst into flames off the coast of Florida. Shiver me timbers. @rightangles
Thanks. It’s the first paragraph of a “Jack the Magicless” story I’m writing. The next thing that happens is a gorgeous dame, who happens to be an elf, walks in his office door. I won’t give you the full 5,363 words I already have written on that one, though.
I like it. Great description.