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I don't write for a living, but I do consider communication / communicating a hobby of sorts. My observations - that perhaps you can confirm or refute - are: -
by chiefalchemist 9mo ago
I don't write for a living, but I do consider communication / communicating a hobby of sorts. My observations - that perhaps you can confirm or refute - are:
- Most people don't communicate as thoroughly and complete - written and verbal - as they think they do. Very often there is what I call "assumptive communication". That is, sender's ambiguity that's resolved by the receiver making assumptions about what was REALLY meant. Often, filling in the blanks is easy to do - as it's done all the time - but not always. The resolution doesn't change the fact there was ambiguity at the root.
Next time you're communicating, listen carefully. Make note of how often the other person sends something that could be interpreted differently, how often you assume by using the default of "what they likely meant was..."
- That said, AI might not replace people like you. Or me? But it's an improvement for the majority of people. AI isn't perfect, hardly. But most people don't have the skills a/o willingness to communicate at a level AI can simulate. Improved communication is not easy. People generally want ease and comfort. AI is their answer. They believe you are replaceable because it replaces them and they assume they're good communicators. Classic Dunning-Kruger.
p.s. One of my fave comms' heuristics is from Frank Luntz*:
"It's not what you say, it's what they hear." (<< edit was changing to "say" from "said".)
One of the keys to improved comms is to embrace that clarify and completeness is the sole responsibility of the sender, not the receiver. Some people don't want to hear that, and be accountable, especially then assumption communication is a viable shortcut.
* Note: I'm not a fan of his politics, and perhaps he's not The Source of this heuristic, but read it first in his "Words That Work". The first chapter of "WTW" is evergreen comms gold.
- LtWorf 9mo agoLLMs are good at writing long pages of meaningless words. If you have a number of pages to turn in with your writing assignment and you've only written 3 sentences they will help you produce a low quality result that will pass the requirements.
- chiefalchemist 9mo agoLow-quality is relative. LLMs' low-quality is most people's above-average. The fact the copy - either way - is likely to go through some sort of copy-by-committee process makes the case for LLMs even stronger (i.e., why waste your time). Not always, but quite often.
- LtWorf 9mo agoNo it's not. It's low quality because it's extremely verbose and that wastes time.
- chiefalchemist 9mo agoThat's a function of the prompt. The tool only performs as well as you're able to instruct it.
- LtWorf 9mo agoYou expect people who cannot write to become skilled writers to instruct llms?
- chiefalchemist 9mo agoNo. I'm expecting you not to blame the screwdriver because people decide to use it as a hammer. But to your point, you might not like the slop, but that slop, sadly, is still better than what it would have been otherwise.
- LtWorf 9mo agoIt's just longer, it won't carry more information.
- chiefalchemist 9mo agoThe irony here is great. Perfect. Thank you for proving my point. I can see why you struggle with LLMs.