Written or Spoken?
These days, I often run into the opinion that "people just don't have time to read stuff anymore." Or they don't feel inclined to read stuff anymore.
Along those same lines, I see more and more video content. Sometimes it makes me wonder whether it's just a complete waste of time to keep writing, but then I think about my own personal content consumption habits as well... and I far prefer the written word over watching a video.
While recording a video might be easier on some level, I just find that I can consume written content far faster than audio and video content. And when I'm doing this, enough time is invariably of the essence and it's more important that I can consume vast quantities of content than just sit and watch something, especially if it's just someone rambling aimlessly for several minutes before making a point.
Besides, does video really save time for the creator? I would say sometimes, but if you're going to do a properly produced video podcast that looks good, and is pieced together and edited appropriately it actually takes more time to do video content than to do written content.
Besides, I see written content as being a great "equalizer" in the sense that I keep thinking about that old semi humorous saying somebody "has a great face for radio" coming into play. Lot of people just don't present well in video — and they are certainly not IG models — as such their chances of getting any kind of viewership might be far below their chances of gaining a following through the written word.
Of course, some of this may also be a generational issue. People in their teens and twenties are probably far more likely to consume video content than written content while those from older generations might lean more towards written content. That would be me. I grew up learning speedreading, which is like consuming a video playing at 600% speed and still getting everything.
I'm also well aware of that there are lots of people who just don't like writing. Thus they find it easier to express themselves by talking to a camera than actually trying to write out their ideas. For me, it's the exact opposite: when I'm writing I can actually use the backspace key and can go back and rewrite sentences and entire ideas to where they feel "just right," while sitting in front of a camera makes me kind of nervous and clumsy and it doesn't come across nearly as well as I thought it would.
Which, I suppose leads us to the inevitable conclusion that this is ultimately a case of "to each their own." However, in the interest of creating content that has at least a semlance of evergreen nature, I still have to consider who the audience is not just whether it's convenient for me.
I ended up writing this after being asked why I don't have a YouTube channel. It's unlikely I would, unless it was just a still camera of me typing!
What about you? Writing or video?
Feel free to leave a comment — this IS "social" media, after all!
As always, a 10% @commentrewarder bonus is active on this post!
Reading this made me think about why i actually prefer the written word over all the video hype lately. As a junior dev just starting out with 2 posts since i came back from my 2022 gap, i find text is the ultimate equalizer. You dont need to be an IG model or have a perfect face for camera for your logic to shine. I grew up learning to speedread and there is just no way a video can compete with that. I can consume data at 600% speed by just using Ctrl+F to find the exact line of info i need. Most videos are just ten minutes of aimless rambling before they finally get to the point and i just dont have the patience for that.
The backspace key is also my best friend. Being a perfectionist with my code makes me want that same control over my ideas. It is so much harder to edit a spoken mistake on a produced video than it is to just fix a sentence or a line of logic. Plus i often read in quiet places where i cant play audio or in spots where my bandwidth is limited. Text is just more practical and it allows for a deeper level of concentration that video misses. Even though my generation is supposed to be obsessed with TikTok, i still think the best 'social' connection happens when we take the time to actually read each others thoughts. Great stuff!
Ur account name curatorcat.pal n the first 2 pics in ur post reveal u a cat lover but the very last 3rd image of a leaf in ur post above is totally different. I was wondering is there any special logic to use that leaf pic in the post?
I definitely prefer writing as a communication medium. Video is great for entertainment, but something I absolutely detest is when companies put instructions or training out as video. It means I'm either having to slog through a load of pointless fluff (or AI generated waffle) or repeatedly pause the video as I try to replicate the steps on whatever it is I'm trying to do. With written instructions, I can just spread them out and work at my own pace. It's far more efficient that way, as long as any images are also clear and relevant.
I def tend towards written content(I litterally write fiction for fun so it makes sense.) With all the stuff going on with AI being able to do foul things with people's image I really don't want to put my actual face out there.
Writing is also much easier to refer back to. If I write something it's just a matter of skimming until I get back to what I want.
I will say there are video creators out there I really enjoy and the things that connect them all is that they are very good at being succinct, they don't go umm, ahh, hrmm, and they don't spend time on things that aren't relevant. They also take advantage of the media and are extremely expressive and use visuals to get their point across. So it's not just watching a one sided conversation.
Update: @curatorcat.pal, I paid out 2.810 HIVE and 0.000 HBD to reward 4 comments in this discussion thread.