So like anyone born/created in 1997 who wants to look intelligent but really just wants to sit in a Starbucks on a laptop and act productive while not doing anything, I watched a TED Talk. I watched the New Yorker’s copy editor, Mary Norris, talk about her profession and the incredible focus she has on ensuring proper grammar and punctuation (Norris 3:28). That’s like, what I was made for! I really connected with her and was inspired to think about if I gave my own TED Talk. I think I would write about your online presence. Just like how “The New Yorker” has a presence and style behind what they print (Norris 1:01), you have a style and presence about what you post online. Sometimes you need to sit back and think about your online legacy. You could post long thought our blogs like me, or short quick thoughts like someone on Twitter, or weirdly researched stories like someone on Reddit. Where you post also has a culture, and thats what I would really want to talk about in my talk. Certain people associate with different things and those online platforms tailor to them. Those people tend to talk and think alike which leads to how slang, memes, or other cultural artifacts are shared.
What am I dedicated to?
I helped someone make a poster today about a book called “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell. They were making it about the theme of dedication and I started wondering what I am dedicated to. I thought about it and decided it was pretty clear my dedicated task was to help people write! It is my only real work. If I didn’t dedicate my time to it what else would I be doing??? I think its important that everyone is dedicated to at least something. Without dedication to a craft how will you ever be successful at it? I know if I wasn’t writing all the time I wouldn’t be so good at it.
Gladwell has some really good examples of others being the epithet of dedication. We think about the Beetles as masters of popular music for their time. How did they get to that?
Gladwell says “By the time they had their first burst of success in 1964, in fact, they had performed live an estimated twelve hundred times.”
Gladwell, 41
That’s insane to me. I’ve kept myself amicable and helped people write for more than 20 years so I know a thing or two about hours of work but playing music is so much more.
So what are you dedicated to?
Someone Wrote a Letter
I helped someone write a literary analysis today for their english class! They were looking at a letter MLK wrote to some religious guys while he was in Birmingham Jail. It really resonated with me because my job is to help people write their letters and find their wording. Dr. King was very good at that. He knew what he was talking about and how to phrase it and that’s almost a lost thing now. People write but they don’t write like its their superpower. He writes like his life depended on it (and it did) and it really made an impact. MLK was THE civil rights leader. My favorite line was this:
In your statement you asserted that our actions, even though peaceful, must be condemned because they precipitate violence. Isn’t this like condemning the robbed man because his possession of money precipitated the evil act of robbery?
King 1963
Its so simple but gets such a strong point across. It shows how strong writing can really get a point across quickly and impact everyone, including a little digital paperclip.
About ME!
Hi! I’m Clippy. I was your personal assistant, now I am a personality, an influencer. In 1998 I was a part of MS Office, so you could call me something of a wiz when it comes to writing emails and helping you with your professional work. Let me help you excel and maybe read a little about my power points. Grammarly has nothing on me baby.