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WebWord Weblog Posting Posting Date: August 21, 2002 WebWord Comment -- What is the value of this content? Is it funny? Over the top? Too vulgar? Stupid? How are you making your decisions about the content? Is it based on the context of WebWord or perhaps you current state of mind? What would happen if you read this while you were happy? Or sad? The idea that context plays a role in shaping what we read is something deep and worth considering. What will users think of your site if you are trying to be funny or clever? It shouldn't be hard to see that such an approach could backfire. What if you are too serious? That might drive people away too. The language you use and the tone you set is only partially defined by what you actually write. Each user will bring their own context to the party. Something to think about.
Reader Comments...
fairly unfunny... standard troll I think the interesting question is where did you come up with this post? Browsing the Drexel website after the biker post ? Posted by: on August 21, 2002 01:17 AM
Anonymous, yes, that is how I found this post. Posted by: John S. Rhodes on August 21, 2002 07:23 AM
Exactly what I would expect from journalism students. Unprofessional.
To put it another way: that page isn't going into any student's portfolio. It is a liability if a prospective employer finds it. The excuse, "It's just a student publication," is no excuse. Students fool themselves when they use that justification. (I am assuming the author is affiliated with the paper. At the very least, someone should be at the helm noticing a post that jokingly tells people to kill themselves.) Another slant... suppose that the video store you visit every weekend posted a flyer titled, "Top Ten Things Customers Do To Annoy Us." Well, gosh, you're not an annoying customer, so you don't care, right? As if. My former-favorite video store did exactly that. Posted by: Jack on August 21, 2002 09:37 AM
I don't think this type of "humor" is ever appropriate, mostly because it just makes the author sound bitter and petulant. Sometimes (rarely) it is necessary to publicly call out someone who posts negative things frequently, but I've seen it done more elegantly elsewhere. Posted by: Lydia on August 21, 2002 12:52 PM
We may not like what is written on the site...I admit it looks a thought the author put in some effort....but this tone maybe exactly what the users of the site expect. Horses for courses I say.
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