Is Facebook, like, the Culprit?

A New York Times article (Sunday, November 28) described the rigorous physical aspects of Natalie Portman's role in her newest film "Black Swan." It also contained seven examples of Ms. Portman and others using "like" in very distressing ways.

For us at Positively Writing, reading repeated inappropriate uses of "like" both astounds and appalls us. And we wonder if FB's ubiquitous "Like" button is the insidious enabler of this absurd usage. After all, with "Like" now top of mind, dropping it randomly into otherwise acceptable discourse seems logical . . . even predictable.

But what's most troubling is this: "Like" now serves as a "vagueness indicator," among other things. Perhaps another way to describe it is a "laziness" indicator. And Positively Writing readers very likely understand the deep aversion we have to anything approaching lazy.

People now use "like" to suggest that what they are about to say is only in the neighborhood of what they want to say. "It's close to this, but not really this" is what "like" is flagging for us. So we're giving ourselves permission to be vague. And we're simultaneously announcing "I'm not going to make my best effort to communicate precisely here; saying something "like" what I really want to say is good enough. You figure it out."

Hmm. You figure it out indeed. Onus now on you, listener, not on me, even if I'm delivering the message. A close relative of "like," also prominent in the NYT piece, is "kind of." As used there, it also adds a vagueness that completely quashes the communication. Ms. Portman says " . . . my body was KIND OF in emergency mode." So evidently we have "kind of" an emergency here. Well, do we have one or not? This isn't someone telling us it's kind of sunny outside; this person is trying to indicate a very serious condition . . . but then tells us that maybe it is an emergency, or maybe . . . 

Ugh.

Guys, please "Like" everyone you see fit to like on Facebook. Just don't inject "like" into your language, whether as a hedge, a pause, a filler, or, like, whatever. It doesn't help us understand you. And it causes us to question how much effort you are making to connect with us . . . especially when we don't have a "Like" button to show us the way.

The Pwr of Wrds

Do words have energy?

A number of very credible people make the case that in fact words do vibrate energy. Certainly they can transmit tremendous emotional power, but do words themselves—a series of adjacent letters—exude a kind of power. A real energy?

We at Positively Writing think this is a highly relevant question in this age of 3,300 teen texts per month. Texts that often contain no words at all, but rather abbreviations, acronyms and other abbreviated versions of actual words. 

Let's consider two strong words. First: Hate. 

Now consider this word: Peace.

You very likely have definitive, tangible reactions when you read these. And it's just as likely those reactions are vastly different. But do you have equally different feelings when you read "laughing out loud" and "lol"? Hmm . . . 

In the advertising world, good copywriting occurs when the words "bounce," when they have their own energy, When they move the reader along and make him anticipate what comes next. Sometimes with short sentences. Very short. Only to be followed by longer, more detailed sentences that provide the final, persuasive thought that answers the preceding ideas. Yes, good copywriting comprises substance and style; you'll deliver a message with greater impact if it contains the right information and it's delivered with positive, energetic words.

When we're not in work mode, we're far more informal with our language. Slang has become the default norm; street talk has moved curbside and right into the house. We're not chastising here, but simply illustrating another evolutionary turn of the language. And as always, we think some consideration should be given to the benefits of correct, complete communication.

The issue of communicating with words vs. texting with abbvs is one issue we think should be given more consideration by the MSM (Mainstream Media—what, you didn't know they had their own abbv?). Why? Because eliminating words, or reducing them to pieces, takes us one step further from each other.

E-mail and texting can be efficient, effective methods of communicating, often less intrusive than telephone calls. They also eliminate voice mail messages, which can be quite lengthy and, frankly, annoying. But the phone does give us one thing this digital duo cannot: a person.

When you speak with someone, they're there (at least their voice is there). When you e-mail or text, you're seeing digital representations of someone tapping on a keyboard. No voice. You're left to your own, sometimes completely erroneous devices, when interpretation of those words is necessary. If you're on the phone with someone, the odds that you'll misinterpret their words is low. Very low.

But it's the way of the world, you say. Well, yes it is, to a greater and great extent. But one of our goals here at Positively Writing is to be a voice of vigilance. So we think it perfectly appropriate to remind all of us that words—real, actual words—can do things that all the OMGs in the world cannot. They are much better equipped to deliver emotion, often subtle, nuanced, and complex.

So if you can handle digital delivery of a communication in 45, not 15, seconds, send us your words. In nicely constructed sentences. With punctuation. And chances are you'll make us happy. Because you'll help us feel some things that you very likely want us to feel. And that kind of connection is most definitely a good thing.

Now just don't comment on this post with "AYSOS." That will most definitely not make us very happy. So . . . C4N!

(No, I wouldn't leave you wondering. AYSOS=Are You Stupid Or Something, and C4N=Ciao For Now!)

Trust Yourself/Earn Trust

On the heels of our post that mentioned that lack of follow-up is becoming shockingly common, we were encouraged to see today's post by Andy Robinson in his Executive Coach blog.

Andy writes that keeping promises to others has a direct impact on your own self-esteem and sense of integrity. This is because any promise you make is, first, a promise to yourself. Break it, and take a hit to your self-respect and self-confidence. That simple.

In the agency business earning a client's trust in the first job of any good account person. In this setting, you can understand how hyper-critical it is to trust yourself . . . then earn the trust of a client. In fact we can sum up exactly how important in just one word: money. Want to make money for your employer—and yourself? Earn your client's trust.

But in this scenario, just following up appropriately may not be enough, though it certainly is vitally important. Clients actually deserve more than follow-up. They deserve proactive account management. Which means ideas. Energy. Positive energy. When you demonstrate to a client that your team—your team, not only you—is committed to learning more about their business every day, you're on the way to earning their trust. It's a great first step. (About client's deserving more: they are paying the bill, after all) 

Pretty interesting that you need to be true to yourself before you can truly be a valued resource (friend?) to others, don't you think?

We at Positively Writing were struck by another blog posting today that speaks directly to self-respect . . . and doing the right thing. In Erin Schreyer's piece on the Authentic Leadership blog, she emphasizes the need for employees to give their "A" effort because they are getting paid to do so. It made us wonder why this seems to be a concept that's foreign to some workers—especially with economic conditions an ongoing, threatening force.

So bring your "A" game folks. Every day. Every single day. And go beyond. We've half-joked in the past with our agency teams that every day is "Another day, another opportunity for greatness." And although we were met at times with typically cynical New York snickers and sneers, we actually meant it.

Question: Why can't we accomplish something truly great today? Every day is a clean slate. That simple fact is one of the reason we loved, and still love, Nike's thunderous, directive, amazingly positive slogan (which for some reason many ad types seem to think is now "quaint"):

Just Do It.