Comments on: How To Write About Hot Issues http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/ Kindness, clarity, confidence, compassion. Watchwords for writing on the web. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:25:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Joanna http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4548 Joanna Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:41:34 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4548 Robyn, I thought your piece on inclusive language was very interesting, with a fascinating follow up conversation too. Sometimes it's easier to tackle issues when they emerge naturally from questions or comments - it makes us more grounded somehow, or confident in the knowledge that you're doing it because the issue needs to be talked about, rather than just for the sake of being provocative. From what I see of political discourse in the U.S. I think you're wise to stay well away! Robyn, I thought your piece on inclusive language was very interesting, with a fascinating follow up conversation too.

Sometimes it’s easier to tackle issues when they emerge naturally from questions or comments – it makes us more grounded somehow, or confident in the knowledge that you’re doing it because the issue needs to be talked about, rather than just for the sake of being provocative.

From what I see of political discourse in the U.S. I think you’re wise to stay well away!

]]> By: Robyn McMaster http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4547 Robyn McMaster Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:11:55 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4547 Hi Joanna, you have some excellent tips here. I recently wrote on writing more inclusively, a topic that can be touchy. Because I had made a mistake to use a quote that was a tad bit one sided in language, one of my readers felt a little little left out. That gave me courage to broach a topic I generally would not touch because it can get hot. Since I could approach it fairly objectively through new grammar rules and from the perspective that inclusive language is more welcoming to all, I decided to be a bit more confident and take the risk. Of course, it is hot, and it takes a lot of finesse to keep it objective and not let it get out of hand. Boy, politics is something that touches nerves. There are many things not central to my work that I truly stay away from. :-) <abbr><em>Robyn McMasters last blog post..<a href="http://brainbasedbiz.blogspot.com/2008/09/write-inclusively-to-welcome-all.html" rel="nofollow">Write Inclusively to Welcome All</a></em></abbr> Hi Joanna, you have some excellent tips here. I recently wrote on writing more inclusively, a topic that can be touchy. Because I had made a mistake to use a quote that was a tad bit one sided in language, one of my readers felt a little little left out. That gave me courage to broach a topic I generally would not touch because it can get hot. Since I could approach it fairly objectively through new grammar rules and from the perspective that inclusive language is more welcoming to all, I decided to be a bit more confident and take the risk. Of course, it is hot, and it takes a lot of finesse to keep it objective and not let it get out of hand. Boy, politics is something that touches nerves. There are many things not central to my work that I truly stay away from. :-)

Robyn McMasters last blog post..Write Inclusively to Welcome All

]]> By: Permission To Change Direction | Confident Writing http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4517 Permission To Change Direction | Confident Writing Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:18:29 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4517 [...] You can make pretty much any topic provocative and controversial if you chose to.  If you want to write about an issue that you know will press people’s buttons (like politics or religion) think about the kind of language you’ll use and get clear on your [...] [...] You can make pretty much any topic provocative and controversial if you chose to.  If you want to write about an issue that you know will press people’s buttons (like politics or religion) think about the kind of language you’ll use and get clear on your [...]

]]> By: Joanna http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4336 Joanna Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:08:59 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4336 Wilson, I'd say that was an honest position. And you're taking responsibility for your decision not to write about hot topics :-) Wilson, I’d say that was an honest position. And you’re taking responsibility for your decision not to write about hot topics :-)

]]> By: Joanna http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4335 Joanna Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:08:08 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4335 Karen, you are a star, thank you :-) Karen, you are a star, thank you :-)

]]> By: Joanna http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4334 Joanna Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:07:49 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4334 Barbara, it was my pleasure. Your advice to read blogs with opposing views is a good way to create the conditions for respectful reading and writing, acknowledging and maybe even valuing alternative points of you. It's sad and frustrating that some internet users and bloggers move so quickly to personal attacks. I guess all we can do is advise and support each other on how to deal with them when they come. Joanna Barbara, it was my pleasure. Your advice to read blogs with opposing views is a good way to create the conditions for respectful reading and writing, acknowledging and maybe even valuing alternative points of you.

It’s sad and frustrating that some internet users and bloggers move so quickly to personal attacks. I guess all we can do is advise and support each other on how to deal with them when they come.

Joanna

]]> By: Joanna http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4333 Joanna Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:05:02 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4333 Steve, I agree that language is critical - though getting the intention right is a good way to help us find the right words. Thanks for sharing the link to the conversation. I think I'd be tempted to say that you probably won't come to a common point - not through exchanges in a comment box anyway. If it were me I might say thanks for your comment and move on. It's quite hard (and tiring) to try and find the language of common ground, especially if someone else has an axe to grind. Steve, I agree that language is critical – though getting the intention right is a good way to help us find the right words.

Thanks for sharing the link to the conversation. I think I’d be tempted to say that you probably won’t come to a common point – not through exchanges in a comment box anyway. If it were me I might say thanks for your comment and move on. It’s quite hard (and tiring) to try and find the language of common ground, especially if someone else has an axe to grind.

]]> By: wilson http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4332 wilson Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:27:45 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4332 To be honest, Joanna. I was always want to write the hot issue topics, but I haven't do it until today, as I'm kind of scare of taking the responsibility of what I wrote! Thus, I will try to stay away as far as I could, especially those hot issues that related with politics! <abbr><em>wilsons last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Willyoumind/~3/385590102/do-mind-about-what-you-are-eat.html" rel="nofollow">Do Mind About What You Are Eat, Especially You’re Under The Skin Whitening Process!</a></em></abbr> To be honest, Joanna. I was always want to write the hot issue topics, but I haven’t do it until today, as I’m kind of scare of taking the responsibility of what I wrote!

Thus, I will try to stay away as far as I could, especially those hot issues that related with politics!

wilsons last blog post..Do Mind About What You Are Eat, Especially You’re Under The Skin Whitening Process!

]]> By: Karen Swim http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4327 Karen Swim Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:32:59 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4327 Joanna, I will buy a dozen copies, organize the book signings and rally the troops to get your book to the top of the international best sellers list! I am anxiously awaiting the debut so I can promote my little heart out! :-) <abbr><em>Karen Swims last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/WordsForHire/~3/384243373/" rel="nofollow">Your Choices Determine Your Results</a></em></abbr> Joanna, I will buy a dozen copies, organize the book signings and rally the troops to get your book to the top of the international best sellers list! I am anxiously awaiting the debut so I can promote my little heart out! :-)

Karen Swims last blog post..Your Choices Determine Your Results

]]> By: Barbara Swafford http://confidentwriting.com/2008/09/how-to-write-about-hot-issues/#comment-4326 Barbara Swafford Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:26:40 +0000 http://confidentwriting.com/?p=1284#comment-4326 Hi Joanna, I don't write about "hot" issues, but I do advise my visitors to read blogs that have opposing views. I think it often helps us with thinking errors by "seeing" more than one side to an issue. I agree with what you wrote about responsibility and the big picture. Although our visitors often comment on the topic, some will also attack the author. We need to be prepared for that. P.S. Thank you for the mention. I truly appreciate it. <abbr><em>Barbara Swaffords last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/bloggingwithoutablog/DWWZ/~3/383932285/" rel="nofollow">Open Mic - The Need For Speed</a></em></abbr> Hi Joanna,

I don’t write about “hot” issues, but I do advise my visitors to read blogs that have opposing views. I think it often helps us with thinking errors by “seeing” more than one side to an issue.

I agree with what you wrote about responsibility and the big picture. Although our visitors often comment on the topic, some will also attack the author. We need to be prepared for that.

P.S. Thank you for the mention. I truly appreciate it.

Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Open Mic – The Need For Speed

]]>