Communicating on-line

The development of on-line social networks has disrupted written communication for those involved and requires a new approach. For many the changed approach does not sit easily with them and they lapse regularly into 'speech based writing' - so what?

The issue here is that historically the written word was a monologue (a book is written once and read in isolation many times for example), as opposed to the dialog of normal face-to-face interactions. Unlike a speech or presentation where one person speaks and many listen the on-line world provides an environment in which many people converse, but the writing style tends towards becoming more like a speech.

On stage and in film (one or two talking - hundreds listening) conversations are scripted and rehearsed, and ad-lib conversation between individuals is a real skill often avoided. Why is that?

How can we best learn the skills we need and what do we need to watch out for?.

I'll be returning to these questions over the next few days and considering a number of the issues.