As a college faculty member, these are familiar arguments. Language changes and evolves over time for different genres, audiences, registers, and codes. But, at a practical level, they create excuses to not hold students accountable for the quality of their writing. Because aggregate grades and graduation rates are so highly prized, the excuse yearns for this argument. But then we find that the students aren't simply switching codes between casual internet language and formal writing. They just can't do formal writing. We see this in their formal writing in college, which causes writing assignments to be re-designed to avoid formal writing. We avoid gathering evidence that would indicate that the students haven't learned formal writing. Then the student graduates. S/he sends out resumes, cover letters, and business emails. These are commonly written in casual, sloppy, internet speak not because the student has forgotten to switch codes, but because the student hasn't actually learned formal writing. There's a great line at the end of the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror." Spock explains that the mirror universe crew members were unable to conceal themselves because, "It was far easier for you as civilized men to behave like barbarians than it was for them as barbarians to behave as civilized men." This is not to say that people who can't write well are barbarians. But people who have learned the rules of formal writing can break them artfully. They actually can switch codes or registers. But people who haven't learned formal writing can't suddenly begin writing according to the formal rules. Tom Scott says that people who type in all lower case are actually carefully making a deliberate statement, using lower case to rhetorical effect. I've read far too many student papers to believe this to be true.
This is similar to my own thinking. In a way, the episodes of my life have been out of order. I was not able to go on adventures in my youth, but I have in middle age. It's done well for me. One observation I've had from watching elderly people in the past few years: not being socially engaged can have terrible consequences. Standing still can lead to social isolation. As a consequence, I've learned to be very socially aggressive by seeking out and taking up new opportunities to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things.
But then we find that the students aren't simply switching codes between casual internet language and formal writing. They just can't do formal writing. We see this in their formal writing in college, which causes writing assignments to be re-designed to avoid formal writing. We avoid gathering evidence that would indicate that the students haven't learned formal writing.
Then the student graduates. S/he sends out resumes, cover letters, and business emails. These are commonly written in casual, sloppy, internet speak not because the student has forgotten to switch codes, but because the student hasn't actually learned formal writing.
There's a great line at the end of the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror." Spock explains that the mirror universe crew members were unable to conceal themselves because, "It was far easier for you as civilized men to behave like barbarians than it was for them as barbarians to behave as civilized men."
This is not to say that people who can't write well are barbarians. But people who have learned the rules of formal writing can break them artfully. They actually can switch codes or registers. But people who haven't learned formal writing can't suddenly begin writing according to the formal rules.
Tom Scott says that people who type in all lower case are actually carefully making a deliberate statement, using lower case to rhetorical effect. I've read far too many student papers to believe this to be true.
One observation I've had from watching elderly people in the past few years: not being socially engaged can have terrible consequences. Standing still can lead to social isolation. As a consequence, I've learned to be very socially aggressive by seeking out and taking up new opportunities to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things.
Another fun activity while traveling: visiting small town libraries--the smaller, the better.
Ugh. I know that feeling. Being single sucks.