Shell-shocked by abbreviations and TXTSPK? Should we get with the program or try to save formal communication?

Text speak seems to have flooded all sources of our connectivity. In today's hyper connected world, especially here in the United States, that means more and more people are using abbreviations and texting shorthand who seem unlikely candidates for such practices. As a writer, I swore off text speak when it first started emerging. I managed to resist it for a long time. Alas, my downfall was my gaming habit. Well known and understood shorthand cuts down the time I need to type during a crucial part of killing that epic dragon over there.

Here is me all dressed up for a night of dragon slaying. Excuse the low res!

Ok so once I started slipping into abbreviations, I found I was totally lost with the abbreviations other people were using. Considering they all spring from someone deciding to type a phrase they use frequently in a lazy manner, it is probably pretty impossible to stay abreast of every abbreviation and slang and lingo you will encounter!

Some TXTSPK abbreviations I use often in game include:

LOL - laughing out loud/ laughed out loud, ironic because at most I usually only chuckled quietly. I tried to get CQ to catch fire, but that didn't go so well!

IRL- In real life, usually referring to the mundane world I live in, as opposed to my character.

1337 or leet - meaning "elite". Odd again, because I am usually being sarcastic and the person or thing being CALLED elite is usually far from it! Oh the wonders of online anonymity!

LFG/LFR - looking for group/raid. Usually useless to throw out there!

Then of course every zone has an abbreviation and sometimes the developers even name DIFFERENT zones names that have the SAME abbreviation!!! Is SS skyshrine or sinking sands??? NEED MORE CONTEXT!!!

Game was kind of easy to slip in to the abbreviations. You have a cap on how many characters can go in one channel message and really EVERYONE uses them. But then I caught myself using them IRL... erm I mean in real life.

People in my networks would ask me to like a new page for a venture or contest. I was already a fan but instead of saying: "Hey Jane! I am already a fan of your page and I love it! Good luck with expanding your awesome business!", I was now commenting simply: "AAF! Good luck!".

I catch myself doing this more and more and I still pause when I see myself do it. Has our communication gotten so fast and hurried that we do not have the time to type out a simple sentence? We have gone from handwritten letters to emails and now to 160 character texts or 140 character tweets. You know all those super sweet stories you read about letters being found written between separated sweethearts or famous people? Ever hear a story about a letter found in a pocket in a thrift store that was written 50 years ago to a soldier from home? How about the diaries they find written by famous people, do you like those stories?

It seems our generation will leave fewer and fewer of those stories for future generations. We don't keep diaries, we blog. (more irony since you are reading mine!). We don't pen letters, we email and Facebook message.

While this is worth a sad moment of silence, there is a bigger tragedy. We seem to be losing the ability to communicate with each other on a personal, thoughtful level. We don't take a full 20 minutes to devote to updating someone on what is happening. We don't have to wait for a reply and give it our undivided attention to read every page before replying.

An acceptable answer to a well thought email is now "k". Could you imagine if we still had to use a stamp to reply to people? Would you waste a stamp to say "k"?

Tell me what YOU think of the TXTSPK trend in comments. How can we focus more on meaningful interactions? Should we bother or should we just get with the program?

Wedding Dress Tips- Mini Dress

This was a tips and trends style article written during my tenure as a writer for American Stationery for their site theamericanwedding.com.

The mini dress trend is hot hot hot! But can it work for YOU? Here are some tips and tricks to help you make it happen!

Overdoing it

Make sure you understand trends. While some brides just love to be trendy and will want to go all out with the newest and latest ideas, there is nothing to say that if you follow one trend you must follow them all. Years from now when you look back at your photo album, you may regret how very dated your look appears. So we suggest going with just one or two trends. Mixing classic timeless pieces with newer styles is always a surefire way to make a statement without going overboard.

Accessories

Accessorizing with a short dress can be a lot of fun! Because the short dress can easily be styled to look trendy or classic you can have an excellent time playing with different accessories. Going for an up-do? Why not try some shoulder skimming earrings? Or try on a trendy ultra-chunky necklace for a gown with a plunging neckline. This is the shoe lover’s dream gown, what better way to show off your newest and most prized shoes than to wear a short gown?

Comfort

Sometimes it’s okay to forgo comfort for the sake of fashion, but on your wedding day, it’s not a good move. You want to feel and look radiant, plus you are wearing this dress for quite a few hours it’d be nice if you could you know sit, eat, dance, breathe. Keeping this in thought, a shorter dress can (depending on the style) help provide a lot of movement for you at the wedding and reception that bulkier and longer gowns can not. So for the bride that loves to dance the night away a shorter dress that isn’t too snug will provide both the ease of dancing and less fabric means you won’t overheat either.

Photography and Videography

This post was a blog written during my tenure as a blog writer for American Stationery which owns TheAmericanWedding.com.

A professional photographer is NOT necessarily a wedding photographer.  True wedding photographers are able to tell a “story” with their photographs.

If you have the opportunity to attend a Bridal Show, you will have the chance to meet several wedding photographers with a variety of sample albums for you to look through.  This is a great way to compare the different styles and approaches that are used for wedding pictures.  Another helpful way to aid in your search for the perfect photographer is to ask friends for their wedding albums and compare the work of each of their photographers.  Here are a few tips to help you assess one photographer’s work over another:

1. Look closely at all group shots.  Check the background.  Are the faces shadowed?
2. Are the bride and groom shots flattering?  Do the poses look natural?
3. Are the shots lit properly?  You can tell by skin tones – are they too light or too dark?
4. Are the sample photos creative? Are they all posed?  Are some of the shots candid?
5. Do the photographs tell a story of the event?

All of these elements indicate the talent of the photographer.  The correct use of lighting, shadows and background settings give dimension to the pictures and help make the subjects in them look more attractive.

Hiring a professional wedding photographer can be very expensive.  If you choose to spend less, you might consider hiring a talented amateur photographer instead.  Contact the local colleges or universities to see it they have a photography instructor or talented student who may be interested.  Also, you can check the local high schools, extension classes, the YMCA or the local camera shop.  Ask to see a portfolio since you probably will not have access to any references.

Videotaping a wedding is not as easy as it may look.  The ceremony should be discretely recorded.  Guests should not be aware of the videotaping activity.  A professional videographer will know how to set up the lighting so there will be no distraction during the ceremony.  Check with the wedding site as some churches do not allow videotaping during the ceremony.

When viewing a videographer’s work from other weddings, watch an entire recording.  This will let you see how talented he or she is at creating a story of one wedding.  Sample tapes, which usually consist of selected shots from several events, do not give you a story from beginning to end.

Never agree to hire the photographer to do the videotaping in addition to taking pictures.  The two skills are very different and cannot be performed by one person at the same event.  If the photographer you hired is employed by a company that also has videographers, check out their work.  The company may offer a special discounted price if you contract both through them.

The day after your wedding, your memories, photographs and videos will be all that you have left.  If you have saved some expense but are disappointed with the photographs, your savings may seem very insignificant.