3 ms·

> “Sorry”, “I’m no expert”, and “!” supposedly all “denote lack of confidence”. Frequent use “makes you appear unfit for leadership”, according to economist Syl

> “Sorry”, “I’m no expert”, and “!” supposedly all “denote lack of confidence”. Frequent use “makes you appear unfit for leadership”, according to economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett Very telling, about economists at least. > the exclamation mark “reveals the insecurities of millennials”, who are over-eager to please and working hard to acquire a reputation for chirpy enthusiasm Seems like all millennials I know are very untypical, then. I don't really care what people use, just don't write things like this!!! or with tons of emoji!!!!! because I have yet to see a single text written like that which was worth reading.

Oxidation 4y ago
I don't think the implication was that millennials do this!!!!!! Rather they might say "Sure thing!" or "of course!". Though I wonder how much is trying to be "chirpy" and how much is preemptively avoiding seeming abrupt or rude, particularly as most millennials have been fairly junior in the workforce until quite recently, meaning that they are often "talking upwards".
- nerdponx 4y ago
  It's meant to convey emotional sincerity with positive connotations, compared to the un-punctuated and often sardonic or sarcastic chatroom and text message writing that millennials were the first generation to grow up with. In that writing style, a period "." means you are serious enough to use punctuation, but in a negative way: you are annoyed or upset. A "!" means that you are also serious enough to use punctuation, but trying to convey earnestness or something positive. People love to psychoanalize the millennial generation from a distance. Why not ask some millennials why they do it?
  - Oxidation 4y ago
    Well, I am a millennial. Zero is a distance, admittedly[.!]
mdp2021 4y ago
> things like this!!! "The dog bit the man." "The dog bit the man, and the man bit back!" "The dog bit the man, the man bit back and was shot by the PETA!!!" It is fully legit and it would be part of the theoretical scheme of things even if we did not live in a world of absurdities. I used it in these pages the other day, and it was in a paragraph worth reading - I did it in full awareness and proportion. Proportion to the very real absurdities. Just use things as appropriate.

Oxidation 4y ago

I don't think the implication was that millennials do this!!!!!! Rather they might say "Sure thing!" or "of course!". Though I wonder how much is trying to be "chirpy" and how much is preemptively avoiding seeming abrupt or rude, particularly as most millennials have been fairly junior in the workforce until quite recently, meaning that they are often "talking upwards".

nerdponx 4y ago
It's meant to convey emotional sincerity with positive connotations, compared to the un-punctuated and often sardonic or sarcastic chatroom and text message writing that millennials were the first generation to grow up with. In that writing style, a period "." means you are serious enough to use punctuation, but in a negative way: you are annoyed or upset. A "!" means that you are also serious enough to use punctuation, but trying to convey earnestness or something positive. People love to psychoanalize the millennial generation from a distance. Why not ask some millennials why they do it?
- Oxidation 4y ago
  Well, I am a millennial. Zero is a distance, admittedly[.!]

mdp2021 4y ago

> things like this!!! "The dog bit the man." "The dog bit the man, and the man bit back!" "The dog bit the man, the man bit back and was shot by the PETA!!!" It is fully legit and it would be part of the theoretical scheme of things even if we did not live in a world of absurdities. I used it in these pages the other day, and it was in a paragraph worth reading - I did it in full awareness and proportion. Proportion to the very real absurdities. Just use things as appropriate.