Question Marks?

Question marks are powerful pieces of punctuation? They instantly melt hard-edged clarity and dissolve conviction into a nebulous space of exploration, wondering, curiosity, experimentation, inclusion, playfulness, and wild abandon. A place with no fixed boundaries, edges, or endpoints.

As a kid, I loved watching re-runs of the old Batman TV series from the 60s. I loved the Riddler especially, played by Frank Gorshin. Was he truly evil? Or just mischievous and misunderstood? Mostly, I loved his question-mark bedecked green suit and tie, his bowler hat, and high-pitched cackle. I loved how he unveiled each diabolical scheme with a riddle for his unsuspecting victims as well as the audience to figure out.

The London Live Coding? scene uses question marks prolifically. It invites us to look deeper, to stay slippy and unstuck as we weave and meander, try things out, try thing on, and try our best, but most of all, not worry when things go a bit sideways and we have to try again to make something great and unexpected.

Is abuse of question marks almost reckless? Is it an assault on language? It certainly doesn’t aid in communication? But in the confusion and unfolding what-ifs? It welcomes participation and imagination?

Can you use them more?