I have several relatives who are teachers or professors. They all lament the apparent decline of writing skills, and the reliance on slang (with text-speak being one variant) to convey ideas. Even the ability to verbally express a whole sentence, without the use of fill words and with an object, a subject and a verb, seems to be a skill that many are not teaching their kids. Yet here and there, one finds individuals who speak clearly, write well, and construct logical and even persuasive arguements. Perhaps this is as it always was, but it seems to me that those with the ability to communicate clearly have a better chance at success than the rest of us.