bethinkr

When I wrote about Patrick Pogan and Christopher Long, I received some strong responses to my post because I included the phrase “I feel bad for Patrick Pogan.” While filtering through the vile language and overreactions, I realized that I had two problems:

1. These readers weren’t reading everything (apparent since I was most decidedly against Pogan’s actions), and
2. My postings are likely way too long (I need to come to my conclusions quicker)

I don’t blame anyone; I often am guilty of writing what I want to say rather than what my audience wants to hear. Communities, tribes, audiences—the members are decidedly focused on their needs, not mine. Messages that are simple and powerfully put across are usually much more effective.

If you want to bind a community, if you want to start a movement—say what you want to say simply.

It’s much more considerate anyway. As Blaise Pascal remarked:

Je n’ai fait celle—ci plus longue que parce que je n’ai pas eu le loisir de la faire plus courte.