Why is it that when you look back at a piece of writing your choice of words or even the topic matter seems increasingly irrelevant? The reality of it is that our world changes, and that over time the context for a piece of writing changes. Before you start to write, the following things effect what and how your write:

• Most recent uses of language you've read.
• Ideas that you are currently playing with in your head.
• Current events in your neighborhood and the world around you.
• Recent experiences you have experienced.

The minute you start writing, your words most closely reflect your most recent experience. These experiences fade to the background and all that is left is your own words, isolated and taken out of context. In many ways this is the 'R. D Lang' Problem, at a personal level. You fail to understand your own words.

When you read anything of your own or others, you should read attentively and try to understand the social context of words. Applying only today's social context will mislead you to the real meaning of the words, and trying to only read the historic context of the words will mislead you from today's biases.