I’m not sure if this is the right spot or not for this. I guess I’m just ranting a little. I don't even know if I should say anything because I think I'm going to offend some of you but I can't stand to see the way some people write there messages here. Is it just me?

What I mean is the poster does not use proper grammar. Not so much a misspelled word or a forgotten period here or there but an entire post of that. I just got done attempting to read someone’s original post and it was filled with teenage slang internet words such as tghr, before, and text. Yes I’m not sure why text has to be shortened to text or txting but I accept it.

Anyway the sentences do not start with capital letters; there aren’t two spaces to distinguish when a new sentence is supposed to start. The first sentence is a long run on that should be seriously 10 different sentences. It is all one long paragraph and it’s really hard to read.

Anyway, I guess I’m wondering, is this just me or does anybody else get annoyed by this?

OIC watt you are talking 'bout...

It irritates me also to see the slang, the shortcut, the gross errors in spelling and grammar, and the non sequences of events and circumstances described. It shows me that people are not either learning how to write correctly or they just do not give a fig.

Having said that, there is no viable solution that I can see. One can imagine that these people talk exactly like they write, which can be hard to understand. In the spirit of tolerance and acceptance, it surely is not worth trying to make corrections. It will just put the other person on the defense and could get even fouler.

No its not just you and this has been discussed before. We are living in a time when text messaging and its shortcuts have become part of the communication skills for young people. So they think it extends to all internet activity.

Please do not hesitate to tell a poster, that you would like to help them, but you aren't going to waste your time trying to decipher what they posted. If their issue is impoirtant enough to them to ask a question about, then it should be important enough to spend the time to type it out so most people can understand it it.

I completely agree with you on this.
When I see a continual offender I send the following:

The use of proper English ISN'T an optional extra for use of this site, it is a prerequisite. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=prerequisite)

The use of bad grammar and chat speak is seriously frowned upon.

Please type in coherent (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=coherent) sentences (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=sentence).

Thank you for your time.

Ok it's a little harsh, but in some cases it completey needed.

Feel free to ask these people for a translation into proper English, but please bear in mind we do have non-english speaking members ;)

HaHa! I have to agree ESPECIALLY since there is a spellcheck button on this website!

Thank God! I thought I was the only one. Like I said it's one thing for a mis-spelled word or forgotten period. That's not a big deal but when the whole message is like that I just can't imagine how they passed English is school.

I actually did tell a poster about 2 weeks ago that I had no idea what she had just wrote. Sadly that was the truth. It was a good 6 paragraphs all linked together with 3 periods and a bunch of teenage acronyms and abbreviations I didn't understand.

Yeah... I think what they don't understand is the fact we are doing them a favor by answering and reading their questions, so when the message is all screwed up it's a bigger burden on the poster. All you can do is really leave it or ask them to rewrite it...

I agree Chuff... Totally...

Its hard to read slang words, sometimes new poster don't even add FULL STOPS or COMMA's.
Another thing that gets to me and sometimes ill be reading the said post but stop have way through because it hurts my eyes, when posters just right a FULL paragraph with no new paragraphs at all or space lines!

I actually did tell a poster about 2 weeks ago that I had no idea what she had just wrote. Sadly that was the truth. It was a good 6 paragraphs all linked together with 3 periods and a bunch of teenage acronyms and abbreviations I didn't understand.

Oh was I there too and passed the same comment as you? As remember it about 2 weeks ago.

Yes, it is hard to decipher sometimes, and if it's too much trouble I don't think it hurts to mention that it would be easier to help if it were written better. On the other hand, I think it's good to err on the side of tolerance because people from ALL KINDS of worlds and cultures and upbringings post here, and that's a big part of the fun of it. If most of the regulars use reasonably coherent language (which they do), that sets the overall tone of the site, and those who are too far from that mainstream will either moderate their flakiness, or flake off their own accord without being told.

I'm with ordinaryguy about giving some benefit of the doubt too. I can take the txt ones, the poor english ones, even the ones that seem like bs from the gate - some of those I simply pass on. It's the seemingly sincere ones that either turn out to be thinly disguised bs (if that gets someone off then how silly?) or go on and on. I expect some on and on in the discussion forums but when its started as a genuine question and morphs into how much attention can be manipulated from it, it gives me the willies! I am not keen on enabling dishonest or disrespectful behaviors.

1753

[hoping someone gets that joke]

So, NK, what do you REALLY think?

I am more likely to cut somebody a little slack that comes here for help, than somebody trying to help. One of my biggest grips are a lack of important details in questions.

I am spelling and typing impaired. I sometimes spend longer correcting an answer than writing it in the first place. With spell check, I see no need for many of the things I see here. And by the way, to, too, two, hear, here, there, their, etc. are all different words, each with a proper place to use it.

I am going to throw my 2 cents in here since I am an educator. This is a problem for the students that I teach as well. Do you know how many essays I grade that use there instead of their or they spell before before. It is amazing how often this happens.

I never knew that sentances were supposed to have two spaces between them. Some of my worst habbits are forgetting to put a question mark after a question, and common typographical errors.

I do try to use capital letters when nessesary.

I will also admit that I kind of lean with ordinary guy, aside from the crude "chat talk" which I personally do not care for, some cultures speak in different methods. They have different ways of describing things. I often use words that people find amusing.

I use words that a professinal would use, big words, that I can pronounce, but have trouble spelling sometimes. In real life they are used in my southen backwoods accent, which also makes it all the more interesting.

Such statements as:

"The tire is flat, judging from this nail in the tire, we can conclude that this nail punctured the tire and thus deflated it rendering it out of service. I recommend installing the spare tire."

The typographical requirement of 2 spaces after a period ending a sentence is no longer in force. It died with the advent of variable fonts. In the days of typewriters and printers with monospaced fonts, it made text easier to read. However, with computerized typography, its no longer necessary.

I also tend to be verbose and precise in my use of language. But I look at it this way. The person posting a question is asking us to donate our time to read their question and also donate our expertise in answering it. Given that, they should expend some of their time to make the question complete and easy to read.

:rolleyes:
I'm not sure if this is the right spot or not for this. I guess I'm just ranting a little. I don't even know if I should say anything because I think I'm going to offend some of you but I can't stand to see the way some people write there messages here. Is it just me?

What I mean is the poster does not use proper grammar. Not so much a misspelled word or a forgotten period here or there but an entire post of that. I just got done attempting to read someone's original post and it was filled with teenage slang internet words such as tghr, b4, and txt. Yes I'm not sure why text has to be shortened to txt or txting but I accept it.

Anyway the sentences do not start with capital letters; there aren't two spaces to distinguish when a new sentence is supposed to start. The first sentence is a long run on that should be seriously 10 different sentences. It is all one long paragraph and it's really hard to read.

Anyways, I guess I'm wondering, is this just me or does anybody else get annoyed by this?
I won't say it totally gets to me, but you tend to notice grammatical errors, what drives me off the edge is the abbrevations, boyfriend, text, like you said for those of use that's don't have a lot of the new abbreviation savvy, it's totally frustrating. Now maybe the persons text that you were reading... was a teenager?? Also maybe they were typing as fast as they were thinking and the capitals weren't their focus, just their question? Lots of reasons, but I think proofreading your work would help a lot of people, I just think they get so excited, it just gets away from 'em!!

[QUOTE=J_9]So, NK, what do you REALLY think?[/QUOT

Needs to breathe in, breathe out and count to 10!! Calm down, mellow out and all the other words of wisdom that help!! :p :p
Just kidding!!

1753

[hoping someone gets that joke]


Lol, those owls brighten my day. Anyhoo, I've had trouble answering some posts because of the grammar in it, would help if they took the time to explain in a way we could all understand.

LOL Sentra - you got it!

Like chuff said, I think I'm going to offend some of you but…

I think we who can do should teach by example. If it is 'readable', read it and reply without comment on the format or spelling. If it is 'un-readable', simply ask them if they could make their point a little clearer. Be kind and gentle. Some people, and not just the younger ones, have struggled to post asking for help. We don't want to restrict our help to those who can read and write properly. Do we?

As for the text thingy, all the kids are doing it. It isn't so difficult to work out. For some people any kind of communication is better than none. Let us give them a break. Okay?

This is the way people are communicating today and we just need to accept that fact. Not everyone is good on a computer but at least they are trying.

And finally, if I may. Some of you comment on “doing them a favour by answering their post.” Doesn't sound very charitable does it? Can we all agree that we do this because we want to help people? And that we are not trying to chalk up points or enhance our Karma?

I have been writing a long time and I know sometimes my brain gets ahead of my fingers and mistakes occur. I try to catch them but some still get through. Forgive me and each other.

Hello:

I'm disappointed at the level of education in this country. My first thought, upon reading some of the posts, are this person is too stupid to even understand what I'm saying. It's probably true, too, but there isn't an education requirement to ask questions, and after I get over my initial rankle, I'll answer.

I do find myself, however, using phrases (like going to, or I dunno) that I don't ordinarily use, but I want my advice to sound familiar and conversational. Shouldn't we write for the reader? What good does it do them, if they don't understand what we said?

Of course, I guess we all have different reasons for giving of our time. Me? I'm waiting to be discovered...

excon

:cool:
Hello:

I'm disappointed at the level of education in this country. My first thought, upon reading some of the posts, are this person is too stupid to even understand what I'm saying. It's probably true, too, but there isn't an education requirement to ask questions, and after I get over my initial rankle, I'll answer.

I do find myself, however, using phrases (like gonna, or I dunno) that I don't ordinarily use, but I want my advice to sound familiar and conversational. Shouldn't we write for the reader? What good does it do them, if they don't understand what we said?

Of course, I guess we all have different reasons for giving of our time. Me? I'm waiting to be discovered........

excon
Comic relief, always works!! :cool: Unfortunately we've become a country of fast talkers and abbreviated messages, the microwave is too slow, (and the internet, how many times to you say to yours, "come-on"... 'cause it's too slow.) Traffic lights, they are only fast if your on the phone or adusting the mirror to check your lipstick! Then of course you have to understand, not eveyone is as fortunate, to be educated , so to them just getting an answer to a question that's burning in their head is all that matters!! OK I ranted enough, Life is good!:cool:

Like chuff said, I think I'm going to offend some of you but…

I think we who can do should teach by example. If it is 'readable', read it and reply without comment on the format or spelling. If it is 'un-readable', simply ask them if they could make their point a little clearer. Be kind and gentle. Some people, and not just the younger ones, have struggled to post asking for help. We don't want to restrict our help to those who can read and write properly. Do we?

As for the text thingy, all the kids are doing it. It isn’t so difficult to work out. For some people any kind of communication is better than none. Let us give them a break. Okay?

This is the way people are communicating today and we just need to accept that fact. Not everyone is good on a computer but at least they are trying.

And finally, if I may. Some of you comment on “doing them a favour by answering their post.” Doesn‘t sound very charitable does it? Can we all agree that we do this because we want to help people? And that we are not trying to chalk up points or enhance our Karma?

I have been writing a long time and I know sometimes my brain gets ahead of my fingers and mistakes occur. I try to catch them but some still get through. Forgive me and each other.


AMEN BLUE ROSE!! WITH YOU 100% ON THIS ONE!!

To me this is a site to help people. Who more than likely have a great deal of pain they are dealing with. Yes, some of the messages are hard to decipher, but most, you can understand clearly, that they are in pain and in need of help.

Actually, I was more annoyed at someone correcting someone's grammar, on a previous post, when it was very clear what the poster was saying. And that poster was in true pain.
Her grammar and words were not the best and the abbreviations were many, but it was clear she was in pain. It still annoys me when I think about it. It was the first time the poster came here and I don't believe she came her for an English lesson.

Anyway, I do understand what you are saying, but please keep in mind, most of these folks have some serious pain and hurt they are experiencing, they need our understanding and the best guidance we can give them. Hopefully they come back, and you will start to see the healing process. If you wish to help them out grammatically, then Private message them.

Sorry, still upset at this issue. Bad enough folks are hurting, they have to express it with the correct punctuation and spelling? I know the trend today is all the abbreviations, but
In a way they have created their own language, and thankfully we are wise enough to adapt.

Sorry again, but this one just got to me.

Maybe what we are discussing is more like what is implied with how some of it gets posted. It can come off as a kind of who cares attitude, like whatever and soooooo -- and while its all good and fine to feel free like that, there still remains in the world (even cyber world) a cause and effect connection. And one of the oldest still in force is this: Manners matter, even here.

If there is genuine reason to be posting like some are, then that is different. But all any of us have here to make any kind of impression is words with little tone to them. That means all the other nuances-- spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, creativity. Etc take on the role instead. If it comes across as disrespectful, then that is not good. Newcomers who hang around learn that, newcomers that don't learn that don't get responded to as much and usually don't stay. It solves itself like that as long as we respond well ourselves.

Val,

I do understand what you are saying, and yes, manners always do matter. Disrespect is never acceptable in any arena. Fortunately, I haven't come across any disrespect on any of the post I have read. I spend most of my time in the Relationship threads, which sadly, most of the posters are in deep turmoil or and or pain.

I do apologize if I came across as to having my knickers too much twisted, it just struck a cord with me. I read some of these post, from guys and girls, who actually tell us they are crying while typing, it rips my heart out every time. I think under those conditions it is hard to think about proper grammar and such, when the emotions start pouring out on the keyboard.

I most definitely know what all of you mean about the abbreviations. I usually have to read those post several times.

Anway, just my thoughts on it all.

Allheart

[QUOTE=Allheart]To me this is a site to help people. Who more than likely have a great deal of pain they are dealing with. Yes, some of the messages are hard to decipher, but most, you can understand clearly, that they are in pain and in need of help.

Actually, I was more annoyed at someone correcting someone's grammar, on a previous post, when it was very clear what the poster was saying. And that poster was in true pain.
Her grammar and words were not the best and the abbreviations were many, but it was clear she was in pain. It still annoys me when I think about it. It was the first time the poster came here and I don't believe she came her for an English lesson.

Anyway, I do understand what you are saying, but please keep in mind, most of these folks have some serious pain and hurt they are experiencing, they need our understanding and the best guidance we can give them. Hopefully they come back, and you will start to see the healing process. If you wish to help them out grammatically, then Private message them.

Sorry, still upset at this issue. Bad enough folks are hurting, they have to express it with the correct punctuation and spelling? I know the trend today is all the abbreviations, but
In a way they have created their own language, and thankfully we are wise enough to adapt.

Sorry again, but this one just got to me.[/QUOTE

TOTALLY AGREE!!

The point of this site is to give opinions, reflection and advice to people who are looking for outside help. So I totally agree we're getting away from this point if we're grading their spelling and use correct sentence application.

but I want my advice to sound familiar and conversational. Shouldn't we write for the reader? What good does it do them, if they don't understand what we said?

I totally agree with this one!!

In the medical boards, it is almost essential that correct grammar be used. Many abbreviations can and do mean many different things. So, for me to answer accurately I have to be able to understand what the message is EXACTLY.

I also like to answer in a manner that the OP will understand. I could go off and talk in all medical terms, but that may go over a lot of heads.

When I run into the long runon paragraphs I usually have to just pass that question up. I also have a hard time... reading posts that go from... one idea to another... using elipses... I am guilty of it myself... though.:rolleyes:

Although it is much easier reading in good ole' plain english and correct sentence and paragraph structure.

The point of this site is to give opinions, reflection and advice to people who are looking for outside help. So I totally agree we're getting away from this point if we're grading their spelling and use correct sentence application.

While I agree that it is not always pertinent to correct grammar and spelling, I do agree there are times when its appropriate. I certainly agree that the "point of this site is to give opinions, reflection and advice to people who are looking for outside help". But I don't agree that the opinions, reflection and advice be restricted to the question asked. What's wrong with also advising people that they can communicate better if they use proper grammar and spelling?

While I agree that it is not always pertinent to correct grammar and spelling, I do agree there are times when its appropriate. I certainly agree that the "point of this site is to give opinions, reflection and advice to people who are looking for outside help". But I don't agree that the opinions, reflection and advice be restricted to the question asked. What's wrong with also advising people that they can communicate better if they use proper grammer and spelling?

Exactly. I'm reading some of your comments and I want to make it clear, as I did in my original post that I'm not talking about someone who misspells a word or forgets a period here and there. I get the gist of what that person is saying. I actually wish I had copied a couple of these that I'm referring to so that you can see what I'm really getting at because I think some people are assuming that some of us are correcting every little bit of grammar which is not the case.

Before you jdg me I tnk you shld no that I'm knot a bad peeps I'm saying you don't no me so why did you say you new me

Above is just a bad example I came up with on the spot. Imagine that for about 10 paragraphs that isn't separated by any periods or breaks. It's just hard to read, and while I appreciate that we should be helping others when they are down and agree that for some to come here it does take some courage that gibberish is absurd. I can get a "b4" instead of before or a "u" instead of you but to do that in multiple paragraphs is with other words is just annoying. It doesn't help me the reader or the poster as I can't offer help to that person. What's worse is that some people will just not answer so the original poster is left feeling that his or her problem wasn't worth answering which may not be the case.

LOL - Sorry I do get what you are saying. Oh my. I haven't come across any that bad, not even close.

I agree, I am definitely guilty of it myself, but I always 'try' to use proper grammar when typing, texting, or writing a letter to someone.
'u' for you, is acceptable, '2' for to, is pushing it... but things like tnk, tghr, or any other completely unnecessary abbreviation is just silly..
Oh and one more think I want to point out, imagine all the people replying to this post and how much they would have made sure they used correct grammar haha

When I first posted this it was after I noticed this happening a lot. Naturally as this post was in full swing I could not find an example to save my life. But the following is an example of what I was talking about.


hi me and this guy like each otha bu he doesnt want a relationship wich i said cool
bu we still play and da bu we havnt slept with each otha we jus kiss and touch bu the otha day we went out and i dint let him do wat he wanted he wanted to go further bu i dint let him so he was in a mood and said wat u wanna do now i said dnt know wat u wanna do he said go hom i was soo cut up the way he said it so i said ok he said u ok i just walked away then went bak coz i wass so pissd off with him we talked then i said i kno u want me to fuk of so i will he said ok we havnt talked for bou 1 week i saw him 4 days after the incident and i jus dint talk to him at all i could see he wanted to even ma sista said he keeps lookin at u and wants to talk to u then i was goin i said bye and kissed all my friends guys and girls and he jus looked at me and was soo upset i dint say bye he was like lookin to say to me u not gonna say bye i couldnt belive i could get that out of him because hes 1 of them that likes to jus have fun with girls and used to gettin his way bu with me he dint then ma sista saw him look gobsmaked that i was kiisn otha guys on the cheek ofcourse and not lettin on to him we havent spoken 4 abou 1 week bu its killin me coz i kno he wants to talk to me bu priide is stopin him please help me its always me who makes the first step to talk most of the time now i think its his turn please help me after everythin i still like him its drivin me crazy coz i kno im toio good for him but can't help it.


That is exactly the kind of gibberash I was referring too. Forget this forum, how can someone get through life like that. I know sometimes I can get a little scarcastic but I'm not lying when I say I can read my 6 year old nephews stuff better than that.

I agree completely!

I am guilty of commenting to a poster that she should complete her education and THEN worry about a guy because of JUST such a post.

Most of the time, I won't even read them. What kind of help are they getting if others like myself have that attitude? I wouldn't try to respond to someone speaking Greek, German, or Japanese, either.

I speak English. And a little bit of French. Speak (type) in those languages if you'd like my help.

I don't speak txt fluently. I can understand some of it, but I choose not to make myself look that stupid.

I realize that some posters are in AGONY when they post. I do my best to help those I can without comment. And I'm not worried about normal grammar and spelling mistakes---those happen to the best of us (and I'm terrible about typing faster than I should and transposing letters). Like Chuff, it's the nonsense that they should send to their friends in a text message on a phone.

I realize that some posters are in AGONY when they post. I do my best to help those I can without comment. And I'm not worried about normal grammar and spelling mistakes---those happen to the best of us (and I'm terrible about typing faster than I should and transposing letters). Like Chuff, it's the nonsense that they should send to their friends in a text message on a phone.


Exactly. I think some people took my original post to mean every little grammar error. That's not what I meant at all. I also type faster than I can think or is it think faster than I can type? Either way I don't care if someone misspells a word or forgets a period. If I can get the main gist of what the poster is saying that's fine. And as you point out some people are in emotional pain. I know one poster PM a few days later after I helped her and admitted she was in tears when we were corresponding. Even though it's a faceless interaction it does take a lot of courage for some people to come here and just admit that something isn't going right. That step alone is huge for some people. I can understand that and I'm not knocking them for bad grammar.

But that example above. What the hell is that? Jeez, I live in Florida and everything's bilingual down here, and although I don't speak Spanish I can still pick it up words easier than that that thing up above which was supposed to be some kind of English. That's not sarcasm again either. That's the honest to God truth. I can pick up words in a different language easier than I can read that "English" above.

I'm sorry but if they want adult help type like and adult. Actually if they want help at any age, type that age. Just make it understandable to the reader.