Susan Gable is worked up and wanted us to know in no uncertain terms. We’d paraphrase what she said, but, ever lazy, figure a direct quote will work just as well: “ACK! It’s a travesty! Text on cell phones is one thing, translating “literature” into text messaging-speak is just WRONG!”
She is correct. It is wrong. We realize that we long ago lost the battle against “thru”. We cannot lose to “2b”. It would be disheartening. Also, what if text mores change? Do they have to retranslate? Won’t this get confusing for the masses?
Now, pretending we like to offer a diversity of opinions, we present a learned author’s perspective:
[John] Sutherland said the compressed nature of text messages allowed them to “fillet out the important elements in a plot.”
“Take for example the ending to Jane Eyre — ‘MadwyfSetsFyr2Haus.’ (Mad wife sets fire to house.) Was ever a climax better compressed?”
Okay, admit it. It’s sort of funny in a sick way. Wrong, but funny.
4 responses so far ↓
Susan Gable // Nov 21, 2005 at 6:00 pm
Climaxes should not be compressed. It damages things. Romance writers know these things. (wink)
(And you’re just EVIL,too, BookSquare. Picking on me like that. Quoting me without warning or permission, for that matter! LOL.)
If people want to fillet out only the important elements of the plot, they should stick with flashfiction. It’s a whole new genre for attention-impaired folks. (Actually, I happen to like flash fiction. It’s fun. But seriously, if they want to compress plot, perhaps stick with the flash in the first place.)
Susan G.
Susan Gable // Nov 21, 2005 at 6:12 pm
Oh, yeah, and it’s not just the compressing of the plot that irks me. It’s the whole-sale slaughter of the language. ACK, ACK. Using it for email and text messages is one thing. Taking an author’s words and changing them into THAT? A travesty. LOL.
Susan G., still irked and rankled. LOL.
Booksquare // Nov 21, 2005 at 8:34 pm
But if I can’t quote you without permission, who can I quote?
Hmm, maybe I want to rethink that. But not enough that ethics might overpower natural laziness. I will give you credit where credit is due — climaxes should never be compressed. I get a lot of spam that assures me of that point.
I hope you’re saving some of your ire for your guest stint!
Susan Gable // Nov 22, 2005 at 6:35 am
Ummmm…you can quote dead guys? (G)
Saving my ire? I dunno about that. My ire appears only at certain times, like when confronted with such travesties. (Sort of the Hulk, ya know? Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. LOL) So if you can arrange for travesties to happen when I’m guest hosting, then sure, there will be ire. LOL.
I’m so glad we agree about the compressing of climaxes. (g)