WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: Alt Tag [sic] Pedantry

for

From: Dagmar Noll
Date: Feb 16, 2006 1:10PM

Kynn Bartlett wrote:
> It's amusing to me that your own email message is pretty unclear in
> the same way as described here.

It is amusing to me as well! It's very difficult to hold meaningful
discussions over e-mail, especially with people you don't know well and
can't see or hear speak.

> Your tone is obscured, you're using a
> you're not very clear which folks you think might
> find it interesting.

I'm glad you pointed this out. I can clarify. I don't know the anyone
here well enough to know exactly who might find it interesting, but I
thought the article was applicable and I found it interesting myself, so
I shared.

> 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.

Again, thanks for pointing this out. I can embellish. I find that it
helps me communicate more meaningfully if I use language as carefully
and accurately as I can. I find it improves discourse tremendously to
avoid the use of slang and fuzzy, disputed terminology whenever
possible. I'm sure that there are other methods of improving
communication that I don't use and haven't even considered, but would
like to!

> 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 do as well. I shared this article with a friend today, noting,
"Regarding emoticons, if I have the urge to slap one at the end of a
sentence, I feel I probably haven't done a good enough job expressing
myself in the text of the e-mail." I think many people find them
efficient, while I personally find them lazy.

> 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.

I felt that the text you quoted reflected individuals who were very
clear about how they felt-- everyone is better off if we strive for
semantic accuracy. And I do agree with that, though I'm not sure what
the best method(s) are for doing the actual striving as a group. It is
my impression that the method that inspired your reaction-- unsolicited
lesson-- is not one that you approve of.

I do feel that this is a topic that is worth exploring, since written
communication is the vehicle for our work here.

And it's interesting.

Dagmar