Trailblazing Mediocrity

I understand that to live is to change. I understand we all change as we mature and the very processes and tools we use to live our lives change second to second. Unfortunately, on many levels, our society dictates that those unwilling to change with the times are often left behind. Just because that's so, it doesn't necessarily mean change is a good thing.

Some changes are useful and downright necessary. I would submit that identifying chips placed in your pets is a good thing; in humans, not so much.

Some changes are senseless. Is it really necessary we force some of our family and friends to work on Thanksgiving Day so we can get a head start on buying crap made in China to give to those same friends and family members on Christmas Day?

Then there are those changes manifested out of pure laziness and weak attempts to make some outlandish statement.

I just completed reading a book (which I will not name) by an author I respect (who I will not mention), whose publisher felt it reasonable to print a book where no quotes are used in dialogue between characters. When I stumbled upon the first sequence of dialogue, I was certain the printers had made a grave error. It did not take long, however, to figure out intent. What an absolute shame and travesty to the literary world.

I would like to mention I am seldom offended by anything. As a matter of fact, I am the least offended person I know. I don't tell another man how to spend his money, his time, or how to live his life. I leave people to their own devices of coping and surviving, and expect the same in return. But I have to tell you, this overall meaningless, truly insignificant discovery in this book angered me.

I don't really know why, other than I found it so utterly ridiculous and unnecessary. Not to mention the difficulties encountered interpreting which character was actually speaking. I viewed it as lazy, disrespectful to the literary process and a pathetic attempt to blaze an unnecessary trail in hopes the rest of the writing world would view it as "avant-garde" and be persuade to become just as lazy and haphazard.

Call me crazy or old fashion, but becoming that careless and non-creative in our writing is a change I believe we should all reject, and with authority. We celebrate and praise mediocrity enough in our society. Literature and the written word should be protected from such pathetic attempts and held to a much higher standard.