If you could only chose 1 - Would you rather talk or write?

Question

A lot of really thoughtful answers...So thank you, and continue to give me something to think about!

take care everyone

Answer 1

My answer is talk, because it has the greatest immediate power and impact. Great writing is eternal, but it requires talking to emphasize its importance. The power of speech is phenomenal. It has led nations to war, peace, religious epiphanies, and confused obfuscation.
If you talk, you can deal with a variety of day-to-day issues that a more thoughtful, well-planned, bit of writing can't deal with with immediacy. John 3:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was God." "Let there be Light" was spoken, and there was light.
The rituals of every major religion calls for the spoken, not written word. Is any further clarification necessary?

Answer 2

I would choose talk rather than write, but in doing so I am aware that there is a software product which can convert my spoken word into words in letter form on the computer.

But even so the inability to write at will would be an enormous handicap.
I would need to keep notes on a recoding devise, and get other people to write things down for me.
I would have to find another way of recording my personal diary.

But speaking me is so important to me, keeping in touch with many people, in person, on the phone, in answering specific questions.
The big advantage in being able to speak but not write, is that I couldn't sign contract documents.

Answer 3

I would much rather write, for my voice expresses what I feel at the moment, my emotional restrictments stop me from really expressing my views, thoughts, theories and hypothesis'.
By writing, I can truly express who I am as a person, I am not rushed, I can take my time and I can do something worth while.

A voice is lost in the wind, only remembered ever by the person that heard it. And even then, many ears do not wish to even listen.

A piece of writing, a poem, a story, an article lives on forever.

Answer 4

Hmmm, I'm not good at speaking - meaning that I stumble over words and have a brain spasm when I'm put on the spot. With writing I think you would become taciturn and only write what you need to write.
However with speech, there is a level of emotion involved and when you say something, depending on the way you say it, there are different meanings.

For me, I find that I communicate better when writing.

Answer 5

Write, most definitely. I much prefer e-mail (or Y!A) to talking on the phone. 90% of talk is meaningless. (oops better make that 99%)

The reason I say that is that in most conversations the battle over air time dominates over reason. Most people spend much more energy thinking about what they are going to say next before they even listen to the other person.

Most talk happens at a pace that is so fast that there is little chance of understanding anything deeper than 'what time is it?'

OK so some conversations are fun but for me at least most conversations are confusing, frustrating and lead to misunderstanding...

... and thats not even addressing the fact that there are a lot of dishonest people out there and semi-dishonest people who use clever talk to trick people.

Answer 6

Even though I hate writing, I would choose it. Words on paper prevent the author from death. But aside from that, the option that really draws me to writing is if I couldn't communicate by writing, I probably would not be able to draw either. Drawing and painting pictures to me is a form of emotional communication and I would never want to give that up. I can express myself through that far better than talking.

Answer 7

Please forgive me for using a Hindu concept... but ...

I'd rather write, since talking uses prana. To be silent is very good for your breathing, a function of the prana body.

I would be left with writing. Since I write slowly, I could be almost as silent as I would by not talking. That would be restful and peaceful....

...except that is, if I were allowed to type on one of these computer screens....and then we would be in trouble all over again because my typing speed is quite fast.

Woe! My brain needs rest!

A sensational question. It really helped me a lot, just thinking out the answer.

Thank you so much!
LPM

Answer 8

Although I would miss witty repartee, I'd choose to write because then I'd have to think about what I wanted to say before saying it and I'd probably listen more and say less, which could only be a good thing. I also believe that my written expression more accurately represents how I feel & think. Spoken words can be lost, forgotten or misremembered, while written words are there to stay, and in their original form.

Answer 9

Write,
because there are no int eruptions and there is no possibility of saying something I did not mean ... and I have a captured audience. Writing, I do not have to watch the bored readers roll their eyes and respond with boredom. I can believe the readers have actually read what I wrote unlike talking when I can see that they are not listening.. In my mind I have control...

Answer 10

Write.
1) If you speak, once the words hit another's ears (unless it is recorded), it is gone. Written words can be read over and over to discern the meaning.
2. Although it is not as evident as before, there are still regional variations in language here in the States. For example, here if one says "fifty", people thing you are saying "fifteen". Even the so-called educated people in schools and colleges.
3. People usually take thought of what they are writing; when they speak, they just blurt things out that may be incorrect, spiteful, hateful, etc.