In Ha Jin's essay "The Bane of the Internet", she uses a lot of informal words and phrases to describe the other characters. Her narrative is mostly based on the usual common use of slang and easier words by Americans in their daily lives. Informal or slang are words that are used to describe things in an easier and casual way. The use of 'nuts' and 'hothead' to describe her sister is one such example. These phrases mean to show that her sister is easily angered, doesn't have much patience and is crazy (not in a bad way) in her eyes.
This righteous and lively indignation on the part of Californians after the long period of deathlike apathy, in which they have witnessed the destruction of other groves unmoved, seems strange until the rapid growth that right public opinion has made during the last few years is considered and the peculiar interest that attaches to the Calaveras giants.
