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“Be specific.” Am I the only one that feels like it’s really condescending when people say this on the internet? It sounds like something you would see on a c

“Be specific.” Am I the only one that feels like it’s really condescending when people say this on the internet? It sounds like something you would see on a community college writing assignment

ungreased0675 1y ago
It does sound condescending. I think the sentiment is important though. Asking someone to be specific can help them think clearly. What’s a nicer way to do that?
- JoshuaDavid 1y ago
  I think "Who, specifically, claims that [...]?" comes off as less condescending than "Who claims that [...]? Be specific." just by virtue of the latter using imperative language, which triggers a reflexive "you're not the boss of me" reaction.
  - john01dav 1y ago
    The message is clear in both cases. It's easier to put aside these irrational reflexive reactions and think about whatever worth can be derived from the message than it is to carefully manage the emotions of varied readers whom you don't know. This is different from bring overtly inflammatory, although the lines for this are subjective.
    - JoshuaDavid 1y ago
      Ultimately it's probably not a productive use of time to be commenting here at all from a strict EV perspective. Meaning that if you're posting here, you're probably getting something else out of it. The value of that "something else" determines how you should approach the problem of managing the gut reactions of your readers. If someone asks for a better way to word something to reduce reader hostility to their point, I assume that they will be better off for knowing the answer to that question, and can decide for themselves whether they want to change their writing style or not - and, whether they do or do not, the effects of their writing will be more intentional.
    - comfysocks 1y ago
      In the two cases, the meaning of the message may be the same, but the tone of the message is different. One tone invites further engagement, the other invites disengagement.

“Be specific.” Am I the only one that feels like it’s really condescending when people say this on the internet? It sounds like something you would see on a community college writing assignment

ungreased0675 1y ago

It does sound condescending. I think the sentiment is important though. Asking someone to be specific can help them think clearly. What’s a nicer way to do that?

JoshuaDavid 1y ago
I think "Who, specifically, claims that [...]?" comes off as less condescending than "Who claims that [...]? Be specific." just by virtue of the latter using imperative language, which triggers a reflexive "you're not the boss of me" reaction.
- john01dav 1y ago
  The message is clear in both cases. It's easier to put aside these irrational reflexive reactions and think about whatever worth can be derived from the message than it is to carefully manage the emotions of varied readers whom you don't know. This is different from bring overtly inflammatory, although the lines for this are subjective.
  - JoshuaDavid 1y ago
    Ultimately it's probably not a productive use of time to be commenting here at all from a strict EV perspective. Meaning that if you're posting here, you're probably getting something else out of it. The value of that "something else" determines how you should approach the problem of managing the gut reactions of your readers. If someone asks for a better way to word something to reduce reader hostility to their point, I assume that they will be better off for knowing the answer to that question, and can decide for themselves whether they want to change their writing style or not - and, whether they do or do not, the effects of their writing will be more intentional.
  - comfysocks 1y ago
    In the two cases, the meaning of the message may be the same, but the tone of the message is different. One tone invites further engagement, the other invites disengagement.