Which is better way to get a point across? Telling? Or Showing?

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Which is better way to get a point across? Telling? Or Showing?

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In a recent writing class the instructors talked about “showing” somebody something — making it so the reader can “feel” the experience rather than just being told about it. Then they asked me if there was something that I have told people about in the past where it might be more interesting to “show” them. I immediately thought about IRS audits, which I have been warning (uh, telling) people about for a long time. On my IRS audit page you can read my latest attempt to “tell”. Here is the “show” version:

“Ohmygoodness! How did I ever let things come to this? This auditor doesn’t understand my business at all. This unpadded chair is torturing me and I’m crammed up against the gray metal desk stuffed into his tiny cubicle. Now he is waving that paternal finger, lecturing me that my books aren’t done very well. I’m biting my tongue so I don’t yell at him, “Listen, you twit – you have no idea what I do. I report every penny I make and I resent your accusations”, but that probably wouldn’t be a good idea. Plus I keep losing my concentration because it’s a lot more interesting to listen to that poor schmuck in the next cubicle begging for mercy – Jeez, now his auditor’s demanding to examine two more years of tax returns, and the guy’s LLC as well. I hope my auditor isn’t listening to that. This is terrifying…. That Groom guy was right; I should have done a lot more to prepare for this. Maybe I could fake a heart attack or something; I gotta get out of here….”

I don’t know enough about writing or the personalities of people reading what I write to know which is better….what do you think?

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