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Re: Alt Tag [sic] Pedantry

for

From: Kynn Bartlett
Date: Feb 16, 2006 12:09PM

It's amusing to me that your own email message is pretty unclear in
the same way as described here. Your tone is obscured, you're using a
sarcastic sign-off (or apparently one) about "likes calling a thing
what it is", and you're not very clear which folks you think might
find it interesting.

For example, one could construe your sign-off as meaning that you
believe that it's appropriate to castigate people for using "alt text"
or "click here" -- as that's the context of the current discussion.
Or maybe it's that you're labeling a flame war as a flame war. Or
maybe it's just something you like to write.

The article in question recommends the use of smileys and other
emoticons. I prefer simply writing clearly enough that there's no
possible doubt as to how I feel about something.

I think my own opinion here is unmistakable; I don't think there's
anyone who doesn't know how I feel about this. Problems in
communication result from people who are themselves unclear about how
they feel, and try to hide behind passive-aggressive formuations that
appear to be neutral but really aren't. I think people should just
say what they mean, and say it clearly and forcefully.

It works for me, at least.

Anyway, this is topic drift.

--Kynn


On 2/16/06, Dagmar Noll < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> I stumbled across this article just yesterday. It's something I plan to
> keep in mind as I communicate via e-mail and thought some folks here
> might find it interesting.
>
> http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/02/16/1140052207324.html
>
> Best,
>
> Dagmar, who likes calling a thing what it is
>
>
>
>
>