5 ms·
Writing like that, in a showboating over-the-top style, is effectively its own special genre. It's not supposed to be economical. It's not solely meant to commu
by darkerside 8y ago
Writing like that, in a showboating over-the-top style, is effectively its own special genre. It's not supposed to be economical. It's not solely meant to communicate a specific message. It's the "hold my beer" of writing. It's the kind of writing other writers appreciate for what it is -- like the jokes that comics tell each other -- not meant for general consumption.
If you want to label it as "bad writing", you're certainly within your rights. But it's reductive, it misses the point, and worst of all, as an insult, it's rather boring.
- thanks1banks2 8y agoNon-native speaker. I loved the writing and find it engrossing!
- empath75 8y agoWas someone accusing david Simon of being a bad writer?
- village-idiot 8y agoYes. Scroll down and try to read the low contrast entries at the bottom.
- SilasX 8y agoIt seems to have completely disappeared. Too bad, too, because I make the same criticism myself, of the New Yorker style of "make me wade through 500 words just for an inkling of what this is actually about". But yeah, it's a matter of taste.
- village-idiot 8y agoKeep in mind that he’s writing to convince other writers, statistically you probably aren’t the target audience. My gym buddy who’s a professional tv writer says that this entry had a big impact on getting WGA to do something.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- SilasX 8y agoFair enough, this is a case where it would actually be more correct to use that style!
- Sebguer 8y agoThere's a heavily downvoted comment claiming this was poorly written.
- kirubakaran 8y agoThat's a great description. Now I understand why I enjoy Steve Yegge's writing. At least one of the reasons, anyway. Thanks!
- icelancer 8y agoThis is a good comparison. Imagine actors reading Yegge's blogs or the Java "in search of a nail" essay. https://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/03/execution-in-kingdom-of-nouns.html https://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2006/03/execution-in-kingdo...
- adamsea 8y agoI would go even further and add -- "over-the-top" or "showboating" relative to what? I think it's more that the consensus style of much business communication, technical documentation, and academic literature is very sparse and dry and focused. Which is most definitely a style and not a baseline which represents some sort of "normal". You can make the argument that the style of the blog post supports its content and purpose by showing and emphasizing the outrage with Simon felt/feels. So yeah, labelling it as "bad writing" is ridiculous. Agreed. : ). Sorry for the rant - I have strong feelings about the written word : ).
- rdiddly 8y agoAll his acclaim would seem to dismiss any thought that it's bad writing. Someone's boat must have no show if this is showboating. Someone's top must be pretty low if this is over it. Although there are still a few things that jump out and you have to forgive. Like how I had to forgive Frank Sobotka's angry blue-veined diamond cutter. Actually I don't know that I've forgiven him for that even yet.