I raised the question in my recent video about the role of editors in polite society. In the video, I exposed mistakes in grammar and spelling made by companies, corporations, and newspapers. I had doubts about whether paying for an editor was a worthwhile investment as a self-published author. Self-published authors may lack the funds to hire professional editors due to financial constraints. To pay for an editor, and come across errors like I see on a day-to-day basis in mainstream media, would be upsetting for me since I don’t have the funds easily and I would feel nervous about how well they would do the job.
In addition, I explored the concept of political correctness in relation to the restriction of criticising others, which is intended to promote inclusivity and opportunity. I am confident that this has achieved success in this specific area. In this age of political correctness, it's possible for someone with a learning disability to work as an editor. This may be comprehensible to certain individuals, but not to everyone. I don't have any biases or opinions about this particular situation.
AI might be utilised by editing companies, instead of individuals. If that's the case, writers could easily acquire the software for their own computers. Should editing companies only rely on AI for editing, then one would think they ought to charge writers a lower fee. I'm uncertain about the prices charged by editors since I haven't submitted my work to one yet. Seeing daily errors in newspapers makes me question whether I should send my work to an editor. The editors in these newspaper companies serve as role models for other editors seeking employment.
If they are not achieving high standards in their editing, is it because polite society is turning a blind eye to those errors? Does polite society ignore these errors to avoid being impolite or potentially discriminating? Is the fact that polite society overlooks these small errors a positive thing? Will overlooking these minor errors lead to greater opportunities and options for people? I know I am benefiting from polite society in the sense that I could save money which I don’t have to spend on an editor.
I feel convinced that perhaps an editor is not the right next step. If polite society didn’t turn a blind eye to these errors, opportunities such as becoming self-published would not exist. Without this opportunity, only the privileged few could write and publish books. In this polite society, multiple viewpoints can be shared through fiction or news, as long as the individuals have an audience.
Will the indifference towards spelling and grammar errors have an impact on our intellectual development? Will it have any significance? Do people worry about the impact on future generations? Reading William Shakespeare is challenging for me. Even in English lessons, the writings of classical authors appear to be of a much higher standard. It appears that standards and abilities, including mine, have taken a nosedive.
Is this about social etiquette? In polite society, is it expected that if you point out a mistake, a crowd of people will attack and insult you? Is it possible to face legal repercussions for discrimination? Is that the current definition of polite society? A threat? Or is it an expanded opportunity instead? Or is it both? One definition to some, another definition to others? Perhaps it is both these definitions simultaneously. In which case, is that a bad thing?
While our standards and abilities appear to have declined over time, it is evident that individuals with large audiences wield significant influence on society. Over the past centuries, it appears the intellect has received the highest approval ratings, resulting in a greater level of respect from the masses. In the modern era, respect and approval are easily achieved through having followers.
However, even that is artificially created. Currently, it is widely acknowledged that individuals with differing views face significant censorship. There was a time on social media platforms when anyone's opinions on their posts could reach a vast number of people. The situation has changed, and now people are confined to their groups and echo chambers. As a result, their ability to generate fresh ideas and perspectives is restricted.
Expressing controversial opinions has turned into a daunting experience for a portion of the population, maybe even a large portion. I can't help but wonder, has this also impacted people's trust in seeking an editor's help?
What if the writer is concerned that an editor is undermining the points they were trying to make in their controversial writing? Imagine a future where strict legislation makes sending dissenting written pieces to an editor a risky endeavour. There is a possibility that the editor could report the writer's writing to a government authority. Could that be a foreseeable future? Certainly not if the role of an editor is not seen as necessary anymore.
As I sit here editing my work in my office, I have found it to be a long and tiring process. Once you write a book you want to put it away for a while and not have to deal with it, or at least that’s how I feel about it. I have been writing a piece for three weeks, and I’d like to take a break from it now. However, it needs editing before it goes out to be self-published on any platform.
For the reasons I mentioned earlier, specifically relating to costs and living in a more accepting society to some extent, I feel a stronger obligation to do my editing. But as these questions swirled through my mind, I thought I would put them down on a video and on paper to find out what other people think. What are your thoughts? Please let me know in the comments