Which is more powerful? The written word or the spoken word?? [View All]

[kentuck]

I'm thinking in political context. Do people like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly have more influence than say a Frank Rich or Maureen Dowd? Is it because of the number of people they reach or the substance of what they say or write?

Personally, I believe, with all things equal, that the written word is more powerful than the spoken word. Simply because, it is much easier to deceive oneself with words that are spoken than with words that are written, in my opinion. Spoken words are usually before an audience. Usually, the only audience for written words is one's self. There is no incentive to impress or to distort your words when you are writing, as some may be prone to do when they are speaking to an audience. Just a thought.