Rant Punctuation and general spelling on the forums

Damn those colonial oiks for *******ising our beautiful language!
[/fake rage]

edit: b.a.s.t.a.r.d.i.s.i.n.g is NOT a frikkin swearword! [/real rage]

 

I'd argue that we show our idiosyncrasies every day, at any given moment. It's the one flaw that makes us all human. It may be verbally, physically or in written form, etc. It's not a formal requirement, it just.. happens!

The 'just being polite' is indeed accepting something, but you grasped the wrong end of the stick by assuming that people should keep themselves to themselves.

 

Right, no quotes for me, but I will just chip in with my opinion:

It is all laziness. No question about it. Attempting to spell a word incorrectly automatically invokes the spell checker (I don't know, is it browser-independent?) and capitalisation (unfortunately the spell checker seems to want this word to be American...) is down to a single keystroke - Shift with the left hand little finger.

And as for the idea that it is sometimes not a person's fault - be that through dyslexia or youth, then I completely disagree. Dyslexia affects the spelling and/or memory of the spelling of words, and occasionally letters. Computer keyboards seem to have eliminated the problem of incorrectly drawn letters, and for spellings, see above. And today's youth is perfectly capable of writing correctly - take this post as an example (written by a 15 year old).

As for the whole issue with -ise vs -ize, does it really matter? The ratio stands at 3:2 of -ise : -ize in the British National Corpus, which gives a moderately reliable view of the spellings that people used in the late 20th century. Many of our members are American, and the only spelling they grew up with was -ize, while our Australian and New Zealand members only grew up with -ise. As a cultural difference, not an actual mistake, why do we object so strongly to -ize? Although, to be honest, I try to use -ise as much as possible

 

Take the stick out yer bum, this is a tech forum ur not writing an essay for ur uni degree.

A diverse community, being well educated is not a prerequisite to joining.

Anyone and everyone with an interest in tech is welcome.

 

well L33T 5PEEk 12 4 4LTeRn4t1ve 4LpH48eT PH0R tEH En9l15H L4n9u49e Th4t 12 u5ed Pr1M4R1Ly 0N TEh 819 l4N. 1t U5e2 v4R10U2 k0M81N4t10N2 0F 45C11 cH4R4CTEr2 T0 Repl4cE l4t1N4te LEttEr2. Ph0R EX4MpLE, LeeT 5PELL1n92 0f TeH W0rd LeET 1ncLUdE 1337 4Nd l33T; eLeEt m4Y 8E 5pelLed 31337 0r 3l33T.

 

so what about those who are dyslexic? doesnt the site have a spell checker or somet?

 

I don't understand how people spell so poorly when their browsers have integrated spell checkers - or is that not the case with IE and Firefox? Are they really being that lazy and not right-clicking to see the correct spelling? Perhaps it's because many view the forums through their smartphones.

I use chrome and their spell checker is very good - couldn't do without it regardless of how good my English is .

 

Dear god, the people with their panties in a wad wedged up their butt crack is unbelievable. Really bothers you the way some one uses "alot, leet speak or whatever? Hows' 'bout engaging them in pm in a helpful, constructive manner to improve their ways, if'n they so choose.

Sure, calling out, shaming or linking to the horrible offenders is such a helpful thing

There really need to be some cheese for all the whine in this thread.

 

and fer teh "british" engrish snobs who have teh vapours at any other spellin' in engrish, I demand you go back to original old english then!
how dare you speeek modurn engrish!!!!!! (alot)

<shakes fist>

 

+1

My personal best/worst (depending on how you view it) was ten sms messages long - explaining the probable causes of a solder joint failing and what to expect when returning said item for refund/repair/replacement.

I'm fully aware that my grammar isn't "correct" in most places I form sentences roughly how I'd speak - but not spelt how I'd speak - should I be submitting a formal piece of writing, draughting a letter etcetera I'd go to lengths to make everything just so.

My "dyslexia" corresponds to miss-spelling as a thing sounds to my ear. For example writing comes out "wrighting" I'll write/type it, see it's wrong, correct it, then make exactly the same mistake in the next sentence. However, I'll see it's wrong, correct it, then do it again; confused the hell out of my English teachers at school, I could spell horribly complex words because they sounded right to me, but would stumble at something really simple if it didn't.

 

My own thoughts, since my sentiments are similar to E_C:

Posting on this forum is entirely voluntary, there is no requirement to post in any thread. Therefore anyone who posts on this forum is driven by their own desire to express their opinion to other readers. If you intend for others to read, understand, and reply to your post then you need properly construct it or else readers will lose interest or simply fail to understand the message you're trying to convey. Considering that you have put forth a post with the intention of having others read it it's quite understandable for those readers to be frustrated when your unintelligible post wastes their time.

That's because you didn't use a "Z".

EDIT: And curse you redcoats for having accents which don't correctly pronounce the words you insist on spelling correctly!

 

We may and do sometimes show them but we're not obliged to explain them, that was my point.

So, leading on from there it is you who has misinterpreted me or not bothered to read my post. I do not assume people should keep themselves to themselves at all I have merely said people are not obliged to tell you or anyone else.

This may come as a surprise to you but before the internet people in this country grew up without feeling the need to publish to the world their ills, misfortunes and woes. Some people are still like that and like to maintain a degree of privacy and self respect

 

Baring your soul is what I said taken to the logical extreme and then a bit more. A small "Oh, by the way, I'm a little bit X so I might need help with Y" is all that's needed but makes a world of difference. We're a community of tech enthusiasts, not a baying crowd of hounds looking to pick on anyone who looks weak.

 

As I said, I still don't know what 1337 speak is, other than pretentious boll*cks

A baying pack of hounds is exactly what people on this forum can be like on occasion. Noone is obliged to explain their short comings if they choose not to and suggesting they do so under the guise of someone might need help is up to them to determine not for you to expect or demand

 

I'll 'demand' it because it benefits me and the community to know (including the newcomer). I can understand why you might not to reveal this information; I was diagnosed with RP about two years ago and I didn't want to talk to anyone about it for the first few months (although it was not something that affected them, had it done I would have probably told them more readily) and I have no problem with people witholding information for similar reasons but the simple fact of the matter is that if you come across as rude then that's how you'll be perceived.

 

So are you saying if someone who can't spell or punctuated correctly, for whatever reason I.e. medical, education etc., refuses your 'demand' to explain his short comings you perceive him as being rude? Because that's what your post implies. Whatever happened to a person's right to privacy?

Oh and your reference "you" above I take to mean one, since it does not apply to me.

 

I wouldn't demand to know. I'm simply saying that if you don't explain it then I'm going to be inclined to believe that you're just lazy or don't understand the appropriate netiquet.

Yes, that's what I meant

 

Funny that because your earlier post seems to contradict that:

So on the subject on netiquette and rudeness, called anyone on the forum's mother a wh*re lately? Oh I forgot, you were joking

 

You obviously noticed that 'demand' was in quotation marks. You were the first person to mention anything about demanding an explanation, I was quoting you. I suppose I should have pointed that out but it should now be clear anyway.

Well that just highlights the fact that things are taken at face value on the internet.