用字遣詞的敏感度
快來看Presentality的最新英語寫作分析~
特別敏感的時刻,我們的用字遣詞也要特別小心。今天的「閱讀筆記」,我們來看前一陣子轟動矽谷的事件:知名軟體公司老闆在部落格的一篇 po 文,讓三分之一員工離職。他到底寫了什麼?
📌 總結幾個重點:
1. 在敏感時刻,用字跟語氣,甚至可能比內容還要重要。
2. 用簡短無修飾的句子,會顯得比較強硬,較長而且有修飾的句子,反而比較溫和。
3. 主詞非常,非常重要。你用的是 I, us vs them,還是 "we" and "our"?
如果以後你在情緒高漲的時刻寫文,也不妨寄給英文好而且中立的朋友,請他們評估文字所帶著的情緒,會很有幫助。
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📌 前一陣子,Basecamp 事件震驚美國科技/新創圈。
Basecamp 是一家團隊協作軟體公司,創辦人 Jason Fried 跟 David Heinemeier Hansson 一直都很願意為自己的理想及理念說話。他們寫的 Rework 一書影響了非常多的人,我在台灣認識的好幾位創業家都曾經跟我分享這本書。
但他們四月底在部落格上公告 Basecamp 一系列政策改變之後,引來非常大的反彈。
我第一時間就有去他們的部落格看他們寫的文章,覺得文筆非常好,而且是用說道理的語氣,很 reasonable。但發布不久,公司超過30%的員工,決定離職,其中包括好幾位高階主管!
What happened? 那篇文章,很顯然觸發了一個危機。我回去再把文章看了一次,發現天啊... 那篇文章的語氣,根本沒有我第一次看感覺的溫和。
Changes at Basecamp: https://bit.ly/2SNN6Kr
很多魔鬼都藏在細節裡。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 主要的改變 = 工作時別討論政治或社會議題
讓大家最氣憤的政策改變,其實就只有一個:
No more societal and political discussions on our company Basecamp account.
在這個時空背景下,美國社會立場分歧這麼深,從左右派政治議題,到種族歧視問題,Basecamp 領導人大膽決定,禁止員工在公司內部的線上溝通頻道,討論社會及政治議題。
要去弄社會政治議題,可以,但請別在公司內。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 開頭還算溫和:說服大家把公司當產品看待
一開頭,Fried 就寫:
At Basecamp, we treat our company as a product. It's not a rigid thing that exists, it's a flexible, malleable idea that evolves. We aren't stuck with what we have, we can create what we want. Just as we improve products through iteration, we iterate on our company too.
Hmmm,為什麼要這樣開頭?為什麼要把「公司」跟「產品」劃上等號?
我們可以想像,Fried 肯定為了這篇文煩惱了一陣子。很多想法不斷的在他腦中盤旋,不同的開場,不同的句子...
但這個開頭,是一個很不錯的 framing:因為 Basecamp 的員工肯定很多 product fanatics - 就是最在乎產品好不好的 "builders"。Product lovers 的一個共同點,就是了解產品是會不斷改變的東西。如果說公司也是,就可以理解,公司也會改變。
然後,他非常小心的挑選最正面的說法。每一字每一句都是 product lovers 會認同的:
•flexible
•malleable
•evolve
•we can create what we want
•improve products
•iterate
用了一連串正面的同義字,就是要塑造 change = positive 的氣氛。
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 連大改變,都用「改版」來形容
下一步,就是用一個大家理解的方式,來描述「非常大的改變」:
Recently, we've made some internal company changes, which, taken in total, collectively feel like a full version change. It deserves an announcement.
什麼是大的改變?就有點像「改版」的意思。而且注意到,他不是寫 "We're making a full version change" 喔,而是說:"changes... taken in total, collectively feel like a full version change."
也就是說,在中間加了很多緩衝的字眼,淡化 "full version change"。
就像你如果要跟一個人說他是混蛋,哪一種說法比較直接:
The way you act sometimes, when people don't know you yet, can feel like you're a bit of an asshole. 或是 You're an asshole.
講完這個,他就要給大家打預防針了。
而且又是從「產品」開始:
In the product world, not all changes are enjoyed by all customers. Some changes are immediately appreciated. Some changes take time to steep, settle in, and get acquainted with. And to some, some changes never feel quite right — they may even be deal breakers.
哇噻,好幾劑預防針啊!
而且他用了三個意思差不多的字,鼓勵大家「耐心的習慣新的改變」:Some changes take time to steep, settle in, and get acquainted with。
Again 他的用字很細心。"Get acquainted with" 就好像跟我們說,
改變其實是我們的朋友,只要我們願意好好認識它。
但他們其實知道,有些改變是一些人完全,完全無法接受的。
所以才有最後一句:"They may even be deal breakers"。
They totally knew what was coming...
★★★★★★★★★★★★
📌 溫和就到這裡... 語氣開始轉變
接下來,他選擇美國人非常愛用的寫法,就是引用一位大家尊敬的人的話,來幫自己助陣:
As Huxley offers in The Doors of Perception, "We live together, we act on, and react to, one another; but always and in all circumstances we are by ourselves. The martyrs go hand in hand into the arena; they are crucified alone. Embraced, the lovers desperately try to fuse their insulated ecstasies into a single self-transcendence; in vain. By its very nature every embodied spirit is doomed to suffer and enjoy in solitude."
這裡藏了點玄機。
如果他的目的是說服大家接受這些改變,那為什麼要引用這一段!?
讀起來,這段話反應了他的心情:在做困難決定時的「孤獨」。如果是這樣,那這段話的用途就是「療癒」而不是「說服」。
因為如果目的是說服,為何不引用某個你的員工/讀者都非常敬佩的人的故事,這個人做了一個不受歡迎,但大部分讀者都會認同是正確的決定?
個人猜測:他上面好話已經寫完了。真正的意涵是:We're going forward, alone if necessary。
而且,他們還把自己的決定,frame 成 navigating somewhere,同時把另一邊寫成 circling nowhere
We all want different somethings. Some slightly different, some substantially. Companies, however, must settle the collective difference, pick a point, and navigate towards somewhere, lest they get stuck circling nowhere.
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📌 語氣變的很硬:No More
然後他就開始寫改革本身。
如果把所有改變的第一句話看過去,會發現全部都是 "No more..." 開頭。這個硬到不行了。
完整文章: https://bit.ly/3wT6x3z
圖片出處: https://bit.ly/34wWkO5
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Presentality每天都在追蹤與分析跟英文溝通/寫作有關的文章,如果想要透過我們這些「閱讀筆記」一起學習,可在 FB 追蹤我們:https://www.facebook.com/presentality/
📌 Presentality系列文章:
1. 看貝佐斯致亞馬遜股東的最後一封信,學一些英文寫作小撇步
https://bit.ly/3xCN1cC
2. 英文演講實用的結構與技巧
https://bit.ly/2PHu3Ax
3. 在演講中的四種敘述角度
https://bit.ly/39tNUtv
4. 詩人Amanda Gorman的英文演講技巧
https://bit.ly/39sI3on
5. 從 Most Dangerous Place 文章,看經濟學人寫作邏輯
https://bit.ly/3htqJEs
6. 寫作的終極目標是「提供價值」
https://bit.ly/3yA3gYe
7. 看 Bloomberg學資深記者如何寫文章
https://bit.ly/3i3am1P
in frame意思 在 Chris Ke Photography Facebook 的最佳解答
Shot for JUKSY 街星
in frame Reach
很神奇這幾年在工作拍攝上都有接觸到塗鴉藝術家
Reach大概是我見過最沒街頭感的一位
但他的作品卻是讓我覺得最有藝術意象的其中之一
(越像大師的人越低調的意思?)
9/19(六)-9/30(三) 在台北東區頂好廣場「噓!發呆練習所」
現場也會有本人的現場創作活動
喜歡的朋友一定要去逛逛~
拍攝日那天Reach也不斷推廣高雄觀光
身為同鄉我感到非常慚愧
希望大家都可以去高雄玩玩(?
in frame意思 在 Follow XiaoFei 跟著小飛玩 Facebook 的最佳貼文
實際發生的情況 VS 外人所看到的情況。
昨天我發布了跳水影片,這似乎使人們感到惱火。許多人認為這樣的發文是煽動危險的行為。
“很糟糕的示範,無知的人會跟著模仿然後發生意外而死”
為什麼總是別人表現得不負責任?
從來沒有人評論說“我可能會反覆跳水而死去?”
為什麼別人如此不信任?
是什麼讓您的判斷比其他所有人的判斷要好得多?
人們不必擔心觀看影片然後再重複播放。如果您相信這樣的人的存在,那麼“玩命關頭”的電影會讓您太害怕不敢離開家了,以免擔心遇到魯莽的駕駛員。
該影片用手機高影格率(慢動作)拍攝。長時間的飛行使它看起來像是跳得很高,但實際高度只有6.5公尺高。
雖然不是特別高,但是如果您背部落水或腹部落水,這種高度可能還是會覺得很痛。
我會知道,是因為我不擅長做後空翻,但無論如何我還是會嘗試。肚子落水上並不是致命的,但這也不是一件好事。
這就是為什麼我影片裡跳水方式都是伸直雙腳,雙手臂擺放在身體兩側。實際上,這是一個很好的動作示範。
我總是告訴人們在跳水之前檢查水的深度,並確保水中沒有障礙物。
但是當我們說“跳前先看一看”時,我們真正的意思是“在你行動前要先思考”。
爬上平台有風險嗎?
我要從穩定平台上跳下來嗎?
我的計劃著陸區在哪裡?
著陸區中是否有人或物體?
水的深度適合從這個高度跳嗎?
跳躍時我會在空中做什麼?
我計劃著陸的方向是什麼?
我可以在這些條件下游泳嗎?
跳水後如何離開水面?
我是否需要任何其他設備,例如手套或救生衣或頭盔?
尋問跳水區附近有人嗎?他們知道我在跳水嗎?
這些都不是複雜的問題,也不需要任何技術培訓。這只是基本常識。大多數人無需考慮即可自動執行此操作。
以上並不是特別危險。人們在人身安全方面通常是安全和負責的,有幾個重要例外。真正的安全提示在這裡:
1)跳懸崖時切勿飲酒。
您會驚訝於自然界發生了多少次與酒精有關的事故。
2)切勿向任何人施壓,讓他們嘗試自己不舒服的特技。
如果某人感到害怕,那是因為他們缺乏必要的技能或經驗。這會增加了風險。要教導/不要強迫或欺負霸凌
3)永遠知道你的極限在哪。
採取嬰兒的步驟。在不諮詢經驗豐富的人的情況下,請勿嘗試超出您的經驗水平的事情。忽略任何給您施加壓力或激你的人。他們不會是好朋友。
4)不要試圖做任何愚蠢的事情來打動一個女孩。
這不值得。在接受調查的10位女性中,有9位偏好沒有頭部受傷的男性。
現在去實驗在河邊玩得開心。嘗試去懸崖跳水。盡可能地爬高。在這過程,如果您在任何時候階段感到不舒服時,可以慢慢後退並從較低的地方跳下來,或者根本就不要跳。
和您信任的朋友一起去,並互相觀察注意對方。
首先檢查天氣。提前準備所需的裝備。您可能需要一個漂浮裝備(救生衣或浮標等)。如果您發現之後沒有足夠的裝備,則不需要嘗試去做未做好準備的事。選擇準備好的一天再去玩。
按照這些基本步驟進行操作,您很快就會意識到歇斯底里並不是實現水安全的正確方法。但知識教育和準備好卻是安全的方式。
*跳躍高度是根據h = 1 / 2gt ^ 2,t = 1.154s + -0.004s(240fps)從跳躍頂點確定的
What really happens VS what people see.
Yesterday I posted this which seemed to rile people up. Many people think posting like this is inciting dangerous behavior. "Bad Demonstration. Ignorant people will follow this and die". Why is it always other people who are behaving irresponsibly. No ever ever comments "I might try to repeat this and die" Why is there so much distrust of other people? What makes your judgement so much better than everyone else's?
People aren't at risk from watching a video and then trying to repeat it. If you believed people like that existed then the "fast and the furious "movies would make you too scared to leave the house for fear of reckless drivers.
The video was filmed at a high frame rate (slow motion). Long airtime gives it the appearance of being a very high jump, but it's only 6.5 meters. While not particularly high, this is still high enough to be painful if you landed on your back or stomach. I know, because I'm not good at doing backflips, but I still try anyway. Landing on your stomach isn’t fatal, but it’s not fun either. That's why I recommend jumping feet first, hands in, as seen in the video. It's actually quite a good demonstration.
I always tell people to check water depth and ensure there are no obstructions before jumping. But when we say "look before you jump" what we really mean is "Think before you act".
Is it risky to climb up to the platform?
Is the platform I am jumping from stable?
Where is my planned landing zone?
Are there any people or objects in the landing zone?
Is the depth of the water suitable for jumping from this height?
What will I do in the air while jumping?
What is my planned body orientation for landing?
Can I swim in these conditions?
How will I exit the water after jumping?
Do I need any additional equipment such as gloves or a life jacket?
Are there people nearby? Do they know I am jumping?
None of these are complicated questions and none require any technical training. This is just basic common sense. Most people do this automatically, without even having to think about it.
The above isn't especially dangerous. People are generally safe and responsible when it comes to their personal safety with a few important exceptions. The real safety tips are down here:
1) Never consume alcohol while cliff jumping. You'd be surprised how many accidents in nature involve alcohol.
2) Never pressure anyone into attempting a stunt they are not comfortable with. If someone is scared, it's because they lack the requisite skill or experience. This increases risk. Teach. Don't tease .
3) Know your limits. Take baby steps. Don't attempt something far above your experience level without consulting someone with more experience. Ignore anyone who is pressuring you. They're not being good friends.
4) Don't do anything stupid to impress a girl. It's not worth it. 9 out of 10 women surveyed preferred men without head injuries.
Now go out to the river and have some fun. Go cliff jumping. Climb as high as you feel comfortable. And if at any time if you feel uncomfortable, just back down and jump from somewhere lower, or not at all. Go with friends that you trust, and watch out for each other. Check the weather first. Prepare equipment you need in advance. You may need a flotation device. If you realize you don’t have enough equipment later, you don’t need to attempt anything you are not prepared for. Just come back and play another day.
Follow these basic steps and you will soon realize that hysteria isn’t the proper approach to water safety. Knowledge and preparation is.
*jump height determined using h= 1/2gt^2, t=1.154s+-0.004s (240fps), from apex of jump