People rarely read every question and every answer on an FAQ, the idea is that they can look up the answers to their specific questions, and it also serves as a useful resource for anarchists like myself to reference specific answers when someone else asks us a question. I prefer to answer them directly, then back up my answer with a link to where they can read more, and a quote from an anarchist FAQ to back up my position:
Some may object to the length of many of the answers and that is a valid point. However, some questions and issues cannot be dealt with quickly and be considered as remotely convincing. For example, simply stating that anarchists think that capitalism is exploitative and that claims otherwise are wrong may be both correct and short but it hardly a convincing reply to someone aware of the various defences of profit, interest and rent invented by capitalist economists.
“don’t bother explaining your opinions or perspectives because nobody will bother to read it”
Do you really think that’s a constructive point to make? I should just give up, should I? Just let fascism take over, without trying to help people understand how and why it’s happening?
No thanks. If you really believed it, you wouldn’t have written it.
One of the most important aspects of writing is to choose an appropriate style and language for your intended audience. The purpose of an FAQ is typically to address common questions from laypersons, but this is not written in a way that a layperson is inclined to consume.
It’s dense while also being aggressively loquacious. A.1.1 spends over 200 words before it even starts to meaningfully answer the question. Then, after answering the question in about a half a dozen words, continues with a philosophical essay about what hierarchy means. Yes, some questions are nuanced and may need elaboration, but this document goes far beyond elaboration into rambling.
Who is this FAQ for?
On top of this there is a complete lack of page formatting, making it not only stylistically difficult to read, but also tiring as you track lines the entire width of your screen.
If you want to win people over, give them something they might want to read, not something that’s going to discourage them literally the instant they see the page before a single word is even processed.
Thank you for the feedback. I also explain things in my own words and use the FAQ as a supplementary resource as well as linking to various other sources, depending on the topic. Read it or don’t, your call. I can lead you to water, whether you drink, that’s up to you!
People rarely read every question and every answer on an FAQ, the idea is that they can look up the answers to their specific questions, and it also serves as a useful resource for anarchists like myself to reference specific answers when someone else asks us a question. I prefer to answer them directly, then back up my answer with a link to where they can read more, and a quote from an anarchist FAQ to back up my position:
Bro, you’re on the Internet. People barely read titles.
“don’t bother explaining your opinions or perspectives because nobody will bother to read it”
Do you really think that’s a constructive point to make? I should just give up, should I? Just let fascism take over, without trying to help people understand how and why it’s happening?
No thanks. If you really believed it, you wouldn’t have written it.
One of the most important aspects of writing is to choose an appropriate style and language for your intended audience. The purpose of an FAQ is typically to address common questions from laypersons, but this is not written in a way that a layperson is inclined to consume.
It’s dense while also being aggressively loquacious. A.1.1 spends over 200 words before it even starts to meaningfully answer the question. Then, after answering the question in about a half a dozen words, continues with a philosophical essay about what hierarchy means. Yes, some questions are nuanced and may need elaboration, but this document goes far beyond elaboration into rambling.
Who is this FAQ for?
On top of this there is a complete lack of page formatting, making it not only stylistically difficult to read, but also tiring as you track lines the entire width of your screen.
If you want to win people over, give them something they might want to read, not something that’s going to discourage them literally the instant they see the page before a single word is even processed.
Thank you for the feedback. I also explain things in my own words and use the FAQ as a supplementary resource as well as linking to various other sources, depending on the topic. Read it or don’t, your call. I can lead you to water, whether you drink, that’s up to you!
Much love, solidarity forever.