I recently created some WordPress short codes for Know Your Music, my music blog. Short codes allow you to type a sort of fake code, which WordPress will convert to the big long ugly code on the fly, automatically. It’s like shorthand for computers. The process itself is fairly simple PHP coding which, as a [...]
Everyone asks. They’re all worried that they’re writing too much, or not enough. (Nobody seems to worry that they’re writing exactly the right amount and that someone will be confused or annoyed.) So what’s the answer? How long should a blog post or book or chapter or any written work be? Here’s an analogy which [...]
Really? Honesty can be brutal? It is my experience that those who endorse brutal honesty are hoping we’ll all become just as rude as they are, so they don’t stand out so much. After all, why should they have to learn manners just to fit in with all of us, what, gently honest people? Nonsense. [...]
Back when I was angrier, I used to say “Never argue with an idiot; they’ll drag you down to their level, then beat you with their expertise.” How do you avoid getting sucked into pointless flame wars, especially the kind that happen via email at the office, but also the kind that happen at your [...]
Intent is a powerful tool. In the ‘trust tree’ it’s the trunk—the only portion that’s partly invisible, partly visible. Our intent begins inside, then becomes evident to others.
Some things are true. They are knowable. They can be measured, quantified in some way, verified, observed, taught.
anger arguing argument assumption assumptions background books brevity challenges communication embarrassment expectations family fear generosity giving honesty indignation intent intentions joel d canfield Karen Lynn last word lie logic lying manners no passion perception perceptions process psychology punctuation quote reading reality semicolon simplicity sources stress trolls truth writing yes
