The class of people described in this piece are not going to read this (except you read to them or send to their inbox). They are already writing their comments and cursing the writer and the topic. They are the ones that do not click on links or bother to imagine what an article’s title could be saying beyond the obvious. They just see a title and have a go apparently looking to add their voice to the discuss they most times know nothing about.
Most times I post articles on my Facebook timeline and in my cheeky usual style go with stylish headlines. These headlines are designed to spur more people to be interested in the content and credit to the smart ones many really do click and read the content. For those without time to read, they move on. There is though these really large number of Facebook illiterates. Illiterates because I hate to separate a man who cannot read from that who can read but does not read despite the ability. They are different branches of the same tree. They do likewise for all kinds of links not just those from Nigeria or this blog.
To this class, who make up a huge number of users on social media and the loudest barrels, you have to make the title of every piece say everything and where that is not possible as is often the case, you have to bear their ignorant rants as they savour their own mental shackles brought about by their own making.
This piece is dedicated to that class of learned illiterates. Who know how to read and are able to read but rather than read beyond headlines go ahead to create the content of most headlines based on the shackles of their own minds. If you read this, it is highly likely you do not belong to that class.
For the sake of those who belong to this unique class of educated illiterates, I’d ask that you share on your Facebook wall. May be, just may be, we will get some of them to read this. Those who do not know are those helping evil to prevail in our land. To save Nigeria, you first must know what needs to be known before you begin to act. How can you know if you do not read?
This is @omojuwa
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Foolish is the best description for these essay.
This is very interesting.!
maybe, just maybe…
As much as I regard your little piece….I still feel it’s a matter of choice….so am sharing nothing !
One does not need to read everything that comes ones way, just as every write up or postings does not necessarily deserve a response or a comment. Those who get their excitements from responses to their write ups should not be angry with or insult others who ignore such write ups. Sometimes, the less you get introduced to some issues the better for you.
a brilliant write up
@Omojuwa, I respect you in so many ways and this is no ass-kissing. But I’ll like to offer you a piece of advice, you might want to power down a lil on your vituperation whenever you write an article that concerns members of the public. This one definitely sounds condescending. But what you said is true, though.
Welldone, we need more of ds
You dont need to insult people because they critisiced your article or else people will not see difference between you and them if you know you are doing good work keep it up if otherwise desist from it a good name is better than gold
This is certain, my fellow facebook users. Most attimes when a head light is release especiall issues bothering the nation I.e corruption, religious clashes. We tend to use or guess to say the detail. U might believe this when you open comments. Ppl insulting one another calling all sotr of names. Most instances gentle men & ladies withraw and lament hw ppl ar these nasty. In the other hand, I blame the writers, they usually mk a headline that will caught the attention of readers in such away they sees it as bizness as usual `we knw it all`.
Information, they say is power, wisdom is really hoe one uses the information in his or her custody. Obviously your intention is to use your knowledge of this medium to humiliate those less knowledgable, that mr blogger is unwise.
stop being reactive mr. Man.
I STOPPED READING THIS ESSAY MIDWAY; WHAT DOES THAT MAKE ME?
I’m not sharing.
Wat U see as interesting maybe very boring to me and to say d truth, this essay is baseless and condescending. Therez no point in sharing it!
This is a good message. The message here is not that you must read or comment on any article that you see. What the writer is saying is that if you have not read an article, dont jump into commenting on it by just looking at the title. Simple and short!
Thank you @Mo. One would have thought the piece above was an easy thing to grasp but alas here is Nigeria where the simple things are made complicated. You have to spoon feed people to grab the most simple things. Isn’t it sad that you write a simple piece about avoiding a situation where you say the wrong things about an article without reading it and Nigerians some how, some way have found a way to make it look like I just said they must read every article. Nigerian leaders have a lot of work in their hands really!
The truth behind the article is that a black man doesn’t read. Even comedians like Ariel Spears Make jokes about it.
So you just dragged me to your site to read this. This is interesting though and while i was still expecting to be done with the introduction and continue with the main article, i just realized that the article has ended.
@Japh. It is an interesting piece and what you have written is true. I can still see that many people do not understand this article. Huh…… Peeps, he’s just saying that many people don’t read articles b4 commenting on it. Its like judging the book by its cover.
@victor. Don’t generalize.If you must put down the black man, have the decency to speak for yourself.I personally detest misleading headlines by bloggers looking for hits. I do however agree with the facebook illiterates thingy. A cursory glance at the status of your friends on facebook will let you in on this open secret.
I disagree with the dude that said there is a thin line between ignorance and illiteracy. You can be literate and also ignorant. The article is in my humble opinion a bit like trolling for hits.i.e post this to on your wall to prove you are not an educated illiterate. Which accomplishes nothing but more hits for the blogger.
I am impressed with the level of discuss on this article. I go to lots of websites and I really love the banter in the comments section. Hopefully, it could become cool to post thoughtful comments on Naija blogs.
@duenhegooner, nicely said!
The important point the writer has made is that we have a very poor habit in this part of the world, more importantly we have a way of displaying our ignorance in the way we contribute to contemporary issues.
I know for sure that i don’t belong to the described class of illiterates, neither to I belong to the praise-singing class that think every poetic write up is brilliant without actually analyzing the message. They marvel at the delivery and pay little attention to the actual message.
I have no problem with a writer calling people illiterate vs ignorant..Semantics. I have no problem if an article is written in a condescending tone..freedom of speech.
Oh well, my main point here is that people are busy! Not everybody has time to read through an article, that is why writers use headlines. Headlines are important; and if you write a misleading headline and people respond back to the headline without reading the body of the message, you cant fault them and call them ignorant. The writer should be blamed not the reader and I cant believe the misleading headline made me open this tab. I kept it open for 3 days till i finally got a chance to read it. Phew! Good job Omojuwa!
This post is honestly full of shit. Read it twice and still don’t get the point
Its long over due for us Nigerians to discredit the statement “to keep something from a Nigerian,keep it in a book”… we Need to READ and change this “it will be well” manners!!!
Every one in life has his or her opinion about issues,therefore, someone somewhere should not peak offense at this individual differences. The comments above buttress this.However,for the sake of objectivity, it is wrong to pass judgement from a distance. Read if you can and don’t pass comments if you have not cos you could be wrong.I think this is wise.
Funny guy you….There is nothing like “educated illiterates” nor learned illiterates otherwise literacy is all about ability to read and write. You can not be educated and still be an illiterate and neither learned and still be an illiterate. Once you are learned or educated, you can never be an illiterate again. Illiteracy is inability to read and write….but you can say “uneducated literate” because you can be literate and still be uneducated. Education is not about all ability to read and write. I hope you will find this usefull….I follow you on twitter and think you are an inspiration to many youths.
This article is a piece of crap,omojuwa is obviously bored with his life!!! Surrounding ur life with baseless n pointless dramas won’t help!!!
Honestly, this couldn’t come at a better time. This is simply giving voice to the displeasure of many writers and bloggers. I don’t know what it’d cost some people to take just a couple of minutes out to read or even click like or share so that the more sensible ones can do so. IT BEATS ME. Truly, they prefer to engage in useless discussions, make snide remarks, comment on every other picture they see, these are the ones whose knowledge never increase cos they never saturate it with anything but junk. I’d be sure to share this. Kudos Sir. The learned illiterates need to see this.
everyone is free to decide what to and what not to read, just because you posted an article doesn’t necessitate i must read it. So wat if the article negates my norms or offend me believes or even if its explicit in nature, does that mean it is a must read?
Just because an article is having a fancy title doesn’t make it a must read.
Jezzz, can you guys just prove him wrong for once? Mehn….we have got alot of work to do in this country sha.
Hahahahaha.d way sum of you are reacting proves exactly wat d article says.summary in one word: ‘olodos’
The guy is not forcing or begging you to read his articles….all he is saying is that you should read before commenting on the issue. And as expected, some funny individuals are making that same mistake already. READ BEFORE COMMENTING ON ANY ARTICLE….how hard is that?
So hard brother @Tony, it is a tough one…..Iti akwu ajoka…..
Na wa ooo! I shudder at the thought that most of the commenters above are eligible voters of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. How Jonathan became Nigeria’s President is no longer a mystery then.
@kelz, you really needed to grasp the idea behind this article but alas you didn’t. I smite my breast and weep for you. Read before commenting!!! It’s that simple, don’t just overlook links before creating an opinion. Duh!
Pls kindly stop “crucifying” omojuwa because he simply speaking the truth…most nigerians do not read…why would u have the ability to do something and not do…like having the ability to talk and not talking…crazy right?exactly!!!the truth is bitter but everyone has to hear it…I wonder how a new generation of leaders will be possible with negligent and nonchalant literates…
Nice one! I love this piece cos its theme is to encourage people to read and understand a write-up which will help in making empirical criticism from the context of the piece written. I understood why there was so much power.
Now ?? knw why Nigeria is d way it is!!!!if u re making d same mistake dis article is tryin to correct, den i wonder wt u read in d article @al.
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