When I see car for sale ads on Craigslist and elsewhere where the person appears to lack education, I quickly start subtracting thousands from their asking price, if not ignoring the ad completely. My favorite is "new breaks"! Yep, I bet there are new breaks. I honestly think that the writer intended to write "new brakes", but I have my doubts as to whether the writer has the ability to manage the maintenance on any newer car.
Rant on text spelling and punctuation on BITOG
- Thread starter JDD
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Mobile 1 :^P
Originally Posted By: GROUCHO MARX
Please feel free to openly correct my spelling and grammar. Mori use to do this for me, but he;s no longer here.
We could use a new sherriff to replace him.
What happened to Mori?
He had some great photos along with his commentary.
Please feel free to openly correct my spelling and grammar. Mori use to do this for me, but he;s no longer here.
We could use a new sherriff to replace him.
What happened to Mori?
He had some great photos along with his commentary.
Mori is closer than you think .....
I agree.
I've found that the "texting" generation has some of the most horrific spelling and grammar skills imaginable. I've also never understood a few other things, such as:
The need to capitalize, bold or underline a single word for emphasis in a sentence. If you can't express yourself well enough to get your point across without a feeble attempt to emphasize single words then no amount of bolding, caps or underlines will help.
The overuse of acronyms. You're not being charged by the word, so spell it out so everyone understands. Again, in my opinion many of the acronyms come from the texting generation and I believe their overuse is sheer laziness.
Spelling. Everyone makes an occasional faux pas, but overall decent spelling makes you look much more intelligent and adds significant credibility to a post. I agree with JDD-when someone posts an ad on Craigslist and they can't even spell the name of the product they're selling, then I don't want to do business with them.
The use of profanity. Once of the things that I like about this site is the restriction on profanity. I'll never understand why someone feels that profanity laced posts validate their point, especially when it will only show up as [Censored].
I've found that the "texting" generation has some of the most horrific spelling and grammar skills imaginable. I've also never understood a few other things, such as:
The need to capitalize, bold or underline a single word for emphasis in a sentence. If you can't express yourself well enough to get your point across without a feeble attempt to emphasize single words then no amount of bolding, caps or underlines will help.
The overuse of acronyms. You're not being charged by the word, so spell it out so everyone understands. Again, in my opinion many of the acronyms come from the texting generation and I believe their overuse is sheer laziness.
Spelling. Everyone makes an occasional faux pas, but overall decent spelling makes you look much more intelligent and adds significant credibility to a post. I agree with JDD-when someone posts an ad on Craigslist and they can't even spell the name of the product they're selling, then I don't want to do business with them.
The use of profanity. Once of the things that I like about this site is the restriction on profanity. I'll never understand why someone feels that profanity laced posts validate their point, especially when it will only show up as [Censored].
This thread actually has bearing on another common theme here. Often a "newbie" gets told to use the search function of the website (as they should), but search can made less effective by poor spelling and grammar. For example, if I wanted to search for opinions on "brake fluid" I would miss many, many posts that offer opinions (often very valid ones) on "break fluid."
Likewise, looking for good "advice" on synthetic oil one would miss a lot of otherwise good "advise."
As mentioned previously, BITOGers are quite good compared to others in this regard. Some of the forums I haunt regarding Toyotas and Scions are almost impossible to read with any comprehension.
Minor mistakes are fine and easily forgiven, but the lack of effort to clearly communicate is baffling. When asking a question you are asking the favor of an answer. Why would one want to irritate the very people from whom you are asking help? Why would you want to make them work harder than they have to just to understand you?
My grammar is far from perfect, but I struggle to communicate effectively. Clarity in describing a situation can only help in finding an accurate answer.
Ahh, time for me to re-read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves."
Likewise, looking for good "advice" on synthetic oil one would miss a lot of otherwise good "advise."
As mentioned previously, BITOGers are quite good compared to others in this regard. Some of the forums I haunt regarding Toyotas and Scions are almost impossible to read with any comprehension.
Minor mistakes are fine and easily forgiven, but the lack of effort to clearly communicate is baffling. When asking a question you are asking the favor of an answer. Why would one want to irritate the very people from whom you are asking help? Why would you want to make them work harder than they have to just to understand you?
My grammar is far from perfect, but I struggle to communicate effectively. Clarity in describing a situation can only help in finding an accurate answer.
Ahh, time for me to re-read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves."
Paging John Browning................
Just remember to disobfuscate ambiguity!
Originally Posted By: crw
I wouldn't want anyone to feel unwelcome here or anywhere. But people do need to realize that if someone can't compose readable sentences, others will not take the time to decipher what the writer is trying to say. The challenge of communicating effectively rests mostly on the writer in this medium.
There are occasional posts here and elsewhere that I simply can't understand, and it's not because they're "over my head". I do make an exception for those who appear to be writing english as a second language. That is, I'll give them 30 seconds more in my attempt to interpret.
Ha ha, I'm always amazed by ads that say "Camero for sale...". Isn't "Camaro" written in several places right on the side of the car? Now, I could say that this is a characteristic of Camaro drivers. (I'm a Mustang guy.)
Your post just made my day. When I was a kid, the spoiled rich kid next door got a brand new Camaro with a spoiler. They took it in to a body shop to have some custom work done on it and when they brought it home---I kid you not---it had CAMERO painted on the spoiler. My brothers and I still laugh about it to this day.
I wouldn't want anyone to feel unwelcome here or anywhere. But people do need to realize that if someone can't compose readable sentences, others will not take the time to decipher what the writer is trying to say. The challenge of communicating effectively rests mostly on the writer in this medium.
There are occasional posts here and elsewhere that I simply can't understand, and it's not because they're "over my head". I do make an exception for those who appear to be writing english as a second language. That is, I'll give them 30 seconds more in my attempt to interpret.
Ha ha, I'm always amazed by ads that say "Camero for sale...". Isn't "Camaro" written in several places right on the side of the car? Now, I could say that this is a characteristic of Camaro drivers. (I'm a Mustang guy.)
Your post just made my day. When I was a kid, the spoiled rich kid next door got a brand new Camaro with a spoiler. They took it in to a body shop to have some custom work done on it and when they brought it home---I kid you not---it had CAMERO painted on the spoiler. My brothers and I still laugh about it to this day.
Originally Posted By: crw
When I see car for sale ads on Craigslist and elsewhere where the person appears to lack education, I quickly start subtracting thousands from their asking price, if not ignoring the ad completely. My favorite is "new breaks"! Yep, I bet there are new breaks. I honestly think that the writer intended to write "new brakes", but I have my doubts as to whether the writer has the ability to manage the maintenance on any newer car.
Yep, see lots of new "breaks" in ads...
When I see car for sale ads on Craigslist and elsewhere where the person appears to lack education, I quickly start subtracting thousands from their asking price, if not ignoring the ad completely. My favorite is "new breaks"! Yep, I bet there are new breaks. I honestly think that the writer intended to write "new brakes", but I have my doubts as to whether the writer has the ability to manage the maintenance on any newer car.
Yep, see lots of new "breaks" in ads...
To the Orginal Poster, "Amen" and "Amen". Being 49 You and I come from the same generation. My Father expoused the same line of thought that you have.."People will judge you by how you speak, and how you write, or your lack of ability thereof ." I don't mean to be a prude, and I like to "joke" as much as anyone, but speach and writing skills today are "sad" I admit to making "typos" way too often, however it is usualy unintentional.
To the Orginal original Poster poster, - "Amen" and "Amen". Being 49 You you and I come from the same generation. My Father expoused espoused the same line of thought that you have... "People will judge you by how you speak, and how you write, or your lack of ability thereof ." thereof". I don't mean to be a prude, and I like to "joke" as much as anyone, but speach speech and writing skills today are "sad". I admit to making "typos" way too often, however it is usualy usually unintentional.
Originally Posted By: Summerwind
To the Orginal Poster, "Amen" and "Amen". Being 49 You and I come from the same generation. My Father expoused the same line of thought that you have.."People will judge you by how you speak, and how you write, or your lack of ability thereof ." I don't mean to be a prude, and I like to "joke" as much as anyone, but speach and writing skills today are "sad" I admit to making "typos" way too often, however it is usualy unintentional.
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Originally Posted By: Summerwind
To the Orginal Poster, "Amen" and "Amen". Being 49 You and I come from the same generation. My Father expoused the same line of thought that you have.."People will judge you by how you speak, and how you write, or your lack of ability thereof ." I don't mean to be a prude, and I like to "joke" as much as anyone, but speach and writing skills today are "sad" I admit to making "typos" way too often, however it is usualy unintentional.
[color:#CC0000][/color]
Propflux01
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In my opinion, just get over it. I am 45, and old-school myself about spelling and punctuation. Let the idiots look like idiots. they will get treated accordingly.
this has become an interesting thread.
a few have stated that writing skills are due to lack of education. often times, it comes down to intelligence. i've known many highly intelligent people over the years that only have high school education, and their writing skills are far superior to that of all but a few bitogers.conversely, there are many bitogers that have sheepskins, and have the writing skills of a grade 5 student.
i try to post such that the highly intelligent people, people of average intelligence, and the stupid can understand what i write.
re:a couple of posted irritants.
non use of caps. due to a past hand injury, and the fact that i plunk along with one finger, it was a pita to use the caps when needed.once you get used to it, ... .
use of caps for emphasis. i do it, from time to time,to possibly eliminate the inevitable "are you saying that ...", or "do you mean that ...", which happens so often.i don't see any reason to explain a post. if one doesn't understand my post, he will not understand my explanation. clarity in writing is very important.
perhaps, a good thread topic would be to guess the education level of bitogers, based on post composition.
at any rate, have a good day, and enjoy the ball game.
a few have stated that writing skills are due to lack of education. often times, it comes down to intelligence. i've known many highly intelligent people over the years that only have high school education, and their writing skills are far superior to that of all but a few bitogers.conversely, there are many bitogers that have sheepskins, and have the writing skills of a grade 5 student.
i try to post such that the highly intelligent people, people of average intelligence, and the stupid can understand what i write.
re:a couple of posted irritants.
non use of caps. due to a past hand injury, and the fact that i plunk along with one finger, it was a pita to use the caps when needed.once you get used to it, ... .
use of caps for emphasis. i do it, from time to time,to possibly eliminate the inevitable "are you saying that ...", or "do you mean that ...", which happens so often.i don't see any reason to explain a post. if one doesn't understand my post, he will not understand my explanation. clarity in writing is very important.
perhaps, a good thread topic would be to guess the education level of bitogers, based on post composition.
at any rate, have a good day, and enjoy the ball game.
Try your best. And continue to learn.
Just never believe the garbage about "it doesn't matter". Absolutely it matters. Mistakes, even deadly mistakes have occurred due to what some may consider mere trivial spelling errors.
Just never believe the garbage about "it doesn't matter". Absolutely it matters. Mistakes, even deadly mistakes have occurred due to what some may consider mere trivial spelling errors.
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Originally Posted By: JDD
Your post just made my day. When I was a kid, the spoiled rich kid next door got a brand new Camaro with a spoiler. They took it in to a body shop to have some custom work done on it and when they brought it home---I kid you not---it had CAMERO painted on the spoiler. My brothers and I still laugh about it to this day.
That`s classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your post just made my day. When I was a kid, the spoiled rich kid next door got a brand new Camaro with a spoiler. They took it in to a body shop to have some custom work done on it and when they brought it home---I kid you not---it had CAMERO painted on the spoiler. My brothers and I still laugh about it to this day.
That`s classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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