Journal ~ Let US Confuse Them

Journal

Let US Confuse Them

I

Thus spake, apparently, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit when, Aeons before They popped up in Nazareth, the Galil and Yerushaliyim, the Tower of Babel caused something of a stir ‘up’ in the heavens.

Languages were created so none could speak sensibly with each other and so the intensive building work came to an abrupt stop.

Furthermore, the various languages thereby born in the Great Confusion, had everyone scattering to the four corners of the globe.

A lovely fairy tale.

Fact and fiction mixed becomes a myth and a myth then becomes literal and cast iron, as the story is passed down by word of mouth through ancestry and then, when the ability to write is acquired, the record is written down for posterity. And then someone suggested that these writings were none other than the irrefutable Word of God ~ those same Three Persons who had caused something of a babble centuries earlier.

II

I value language highly. Language is the means of communication. Emojis are an unacceptable means of speech. I realise that Emojis can be 'fun' but when used sparingly. Excessive use of emojis renders Facebook a useless tool and means of advanced communication. Used as a means of language they are useless and can, inadvertently, become offensive.

Let us all have the confidence to express ourselves in our language.

If, for example, a friend in France decides to send me a message in French, that is great. I speak English and I enjoy speaking and writing in German. But I cannot speak French. All I do is to 'click' the translation and, hey presto, I have a very good translation. I see what my friend is saying. I then immediately change it back to the original French language. Why? Because I love to study language.

I visit my Facebook page about three times a week. I do not have it switched on. It does not come through to my iPhone. I am of the old school. I am also a former editor. Editors rely upon communication by way of commentary and feedback, and in their absence, silence.

If I find that I have, say, eighteen comments on a post, I think:

“Wow, this is good. I will obtain a good gauge of public opinion that is worldwide.
This will help me to understand more fully why I have 104 countries following my two websites.”

— KTW

Then I find that I have one written comment, three likes - likes are fine as I realise the vistor is probably in a hurry, and I appreciate the time spent stopping by for a moment. Then seventeen emojis from one source.

I appreciate the motive behind a creeping barrage of emojis. It unfortunately also pushes earlier articles so far down the page that friends see a boringly static current page. My friends in my city Liverpool who worked and lived with me during my days as editor and also a practising lawyer knew full well when the editor in me reacted.

We all speak and write beautiful languages. Facebook has provided us with the means to communicate in our language with the extremely efficient 'translation' button.

We live in VERY dangerous times. Not since 1933-1945 have we needed more than ever to communicate by language. Emojis are NOT language. Let them do as they were originally intended. To express words we’ve just written to convey emotion. Let them never take centre stage.

I again thank you all for your kindness, enthusiasm and support. Believe me, these are the parts of the engine that drive the wheels. Have confidence. Take to vocabulary in equal measure.

Very best, all.

Ken

8 October 2023
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LIVERPOOL


© 2023 Kenneth Thomas Webb


Digital Artwork by KTW