I want people who are intelligent to start writing - I feel the written words scares people who are in power, as the written content is like committing to something which might contradict with their Institution’s mission, organisation or community’s values. This stops lot of intellectuals from writing, they have been lured and bribed by the powers into silence.

Who has time to read nowadays in the age of shortening attention spans? Yes, it is true; few people have developed the muscles to read long-form content. But we want to reach out to those few people who still read plus we try to make readers of those addicted to social media.

Reading has changed my life for sure. In college, I battled low confidence and struggled with alcohol and smoking addiction. This was when I discovered books by Swami Vivekananda. I relished several volumes during one summer. It gave me the confidence to overcome my addiction, which was a response to my low self-esteem. I believe a video or a series of videos on YouTube wouldn’t have made such radical changes in me as those volumes of books did. The level of intimacy with a book is such that you are most receptive and attentive to imbibing the ideas and virtues of the author.

In this essay, I urge good writers or those who love writing to start or keep writing.

Here are my reasons why the written word is the best form of media.

You can search text files for words, phrases

Firstly, the written word allows for easy searchability. Searching within text is simple, unlike trying to find a specific moment in a YouTube video or an audio file. If you want to search inside a YouTube video or an audio lecture, you will need to use AI tools to transcribe the content into text. So why not have a text file in the first place?

Last I heard was Youtube is planning to make all words in the video searchable, but not sure they have done this yet.

Focused Attention

Moreover, when reading, you cannot multitask. Reading requires you to be 100% present with the text, unlike audio or video, which you can consume while doing dishes or driving. This slowing down helps you grasp the nuances of the ideas presented. Being focused means you don’t drift into a dream world of thoughts. You are present with the author; otherwise, you cannot read further. This is the highest respect anyone aspiring to put forth an idea can achieve.

Reaching your ideas to a New Audience

Written content also enables you to reach a new audience. We generally communicate with our colleagues and families, and often there are ideas they just don’t understand. To validate your ideas, you need to reach outside your regular community. The written word steelman’s your ideas and makes it easy to receive written feedback. You are no longer limited to your social circle and can now get feedback from a wider audience.Ideas in written form are better explained and can make the strongest case.

Shaping Society

In addition, the written word shapes society. The intellectual is feared by the status quo! It is said that the French Revolution was a fight of the intellectuals for vanity rather than a fight for liberty. If Marx had not written those words while fainting in the library, there would be no communism. The Communist Russians and Hitler’s Nazis both gave intellectuals equal status to those of the ruling members and thus bribed the intellectual class into silence. So it is impertinent that our intellectuals don’t get bribed into silence which will end up in mass sufferings of the commons.

Uphold our values and prevent the downward spiralling of mass culture.

In contrast to low-cost discussions that occur in national media or under the guise of podcasts, written content places the responsibility on the publication or the writer.

Writing is being responsible, This fact can make us uneasy about putting anything on paper, leading to the avoidance of writing. However, in the process, we create low-quality content assets without nuance or deeper thinking thus downgrading our culture.

Building Block of Media

Furthermore, written content serves as the building block for all media creations. If you want to make a YouTube video, you need to create a storyboard.

Better Personal Knowledge Management System

Another compelling reason to favour the written word is better recollection. Due to the ubiquitous nature of video content and less rigid copyright rules, videos on platforms like YouTube often resemble each other. I can’t recall the exact YouTube video that inspired me, but I remember where I read a particular idea. For instance, I frequently forward an article by Sajith Pai on product-market fit as one of the best pieces of content. Text files can be bookmarked or saved, making them a better medium for personal knowledge management. The best knowledge management systems should make input and retrieval of information as efficient as possible.

Minimal Resource Requirement

Lastly, written content requires minimal resources. At the very least, it needs the least material resources, though the cognitive costs are the highest. You don’t need editing software or even a laptop; pen and paper will do.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the written word is a powerful medium that fosters deep understanding, reaches wider audiences, shapes society, and encourages critical thinking. We must embrace writing as a means to inspire and create lasting change.