[lbo-talk] Typos and selfishness (was Twitter 40%)

[Gar Lipow]

On 8/14/09, Michael Pollak <mpollak at panix.com> wrote:
>
>> Michael Pollak once told me that they make me look careless (as in
>> uncaring about other people) and maybe a little ignorant. Oh well. I
>> figure that's your problem if you think so.
>
> Ha!  I don't remember saying that stuff about appearing not to care about
> other people, but if I did, that last sentence makes my case :-)
>
I don't know. I have bad eyes, an RSI, and even before those
afflictions had a real problem with typos creeping into my work.  It
especially happens when I edit. Fragments of the first version tend to
hang around and mix with the final version of the sentence. To prevent
this I can print out the work, hand edit, enter the corrections, print
out again, read out loud, find more errors, make corrections - rinse,
lather repeat. I do this for stuff I submit for publication in actual
periodicals. But should I really do this every time I post to
lbo-talk? Having to go through all that I'd never post, other than to
forward copies of stuff I submit other places. Maybe it would be a
plus. But I think my comments are useful enough to be worth having to
wince at an occasional typo.

And to bring this back to Shag, I think my stuff on average has more
typos than her. But I don't think I'm being selfish to send it. And I
don't think Shag is being selfish to share her thoughts with us,
especially since she her unique skill sets of interescting knowledge
provides insight I don't see anyone else on this list providing - or
really any off this list either. I'll take her stuff typos and all
over her not posting it. And given that Shag does not have unlimited
time, I suspect that is the choice.