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Improper language

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:33 pm
by lifeishell91
I beleive that all members at Gamebanshee should use proper language because when someone uses imporper words (friggan, for example) or shorthand (4 instead of for) it causes the posts to become illegible and an unpleasentry to most members.

You do not have to use sophisticated language, just make the words simple, use correct grammer and spelling, but if you do not know the spelling of a word, say so that other readers do not misinterpret the word used. This way, the posts are legible.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 2:40 pm
by Yeltsu
I agree, but shouldn't this be in SYM?

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 3:44 pm
by Robnark
imporper? unpleasentry?

hehe :p

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:04 pm
by Volk
Hey we can all dream of some things, but most wont come true, this sadly is one of those things, when you have a community as large as GB i dont think anyone taking the easy way out of spelling will even be bothered to read this post.

This has been an issue on more then one forum when people are spelling illiteratly because their lazy and i do agree its damn annoying to read someones post and see something thats more numbers then it is letters, or you get illegibile crap like this " how du i kill hm cuz it like need to trad 4 it cuz it good 2 ".

Personaly im glad that dosent happen on GB as much as it dose on other forums because its honestly one of my pet peeves when people have a english speeking country as their location yet they choose to spell things wrong because their lazy.

Clearly no one here is asking for university level language but i understand, its quite painful the read some of the posts people make, so i usualy dont bother to read them if they dont make sense or the poster didnt make at least a half decent effort to spell properly.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 4:47 pm
by Xandax
[QUOTE=Volk]<snip>, so i usualy dont bother to read them if they dont make sense or the poster didnt make at least a half decent effort to spell properly.[/QUOTE]

This is usually also the best approch.

I try to reply to most posts in a respectfull manner if I can answer the question - even if it is "poorly written" (to be somewhat neutral), but that is mostly due to my moderator status.
On other forums - I simply ignore people that write as such.

It is often also very easy to see if somebody has problems with the language compared to lazy/leet posters. Everybody should have respect for people with difficulties with english, because many posters first languages, or even second at times, aren't english.

But the substitution of 4 instead of for, or u instead of you and similar ... I hate it. How long does it take to type 2 or 3 extra characters - a few tens of a second.

The problem is growing around the Internet, but I think it is very much due to SMS that this "language" has developed. There you can only fit a certain number of characters into a message, so it pays to keep it short. However, when typing on the Internet, you have all the time in the world (sort of :D ), and time is not really an importent factor.

So while I agree that people should try and write proberly, I would still advice people to just ignore such posts instead of getting worked up about it.


(and sorry, but I can't move this to SYM, I have no "powers" in this sub-forum :cool: )

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:22 pm
by Maruchan
I hope I have not offended anyone with my short hand :( I dont use it to much just when I fell the need to do it for the effect Like kinda and gonna But I dont do this( Im up 4 dat r u 2) I dont like it :mad:

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:30 pm
by Volk
Those who dont speak english as their mother language have a fairly easy time knowing what spelling mistakes are truely mistakes and which are just plain done out lazyness.

Adding or missing a letter, and generaly things that dont butcher the whole sentance are common, i do that all the time, basicaly its just a matter of simply paragraphing, punctuating and making sure what you type makes sense.

I bet that if everyone posting on forums did that most people would be more then happy, theres very few people who are spelling fanatics.

*EDIT* Not likely most people only have problems with those who use sentances made up of one or two characters like you demonstrated.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:44 pm
by Lost One
I don't think it's a big issue. Internet creates its own slang, that's what I think. And while it may be unpleasing to the eye, it is still a form of comprehensible language.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 6:57 pm
by dragon wench
Maybe it is because I have taught English as a second language, but I generally find it is easy to tell if somebody is being lazy or if they are not a native speaker.
I have a really hard time taking poorly expressed posts seriously when they are clearly written by somebody whose mother tongue is English. I really do not think there ever is a justification to mutilate a language. Excepting, as others have pointed out, when a medium like text messaging is involved.
Bad spelling is a particular peeve, and, unless an individual is dyslexic, there is no excuse for it. Even if somebody does not have a dictionary, there are various online versions, and failing that, you can paste what you have written into a Word document and run a spell check. (not that this method should be relied upon...)
The point of language is to communicate, so when I see a sentence filled with abominations like "4," "R," "U," "cuz," I automatically assume the individual responsible is not really making much effort to communicate and I don't feel compelled to take any interest or respond.

However, I have nothing but respect for people who post in a language that is not their mother tongue. Writing in a language where you don't intuitively know the rules of grammar, or you don't instinctively grasp nuance is incredibly daunting.

Er.. okay, I'll stop ranting now :D

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 7:51 pm
by rebel3_6_1
[QUOTE=Volk]people are spelling illiteratly because their lazy[/QUOTE]


Lol, sorry I just think it's funny that you misspelled illiterately and misused "their" when the proper spelling would be "they're" in a post complaining about other people misusing and misspelling words. :D

People make mistakes-sometimes because they are lazy, sometimes because they are used to a different language, and sometimes because they are unaware they are making mistakes. It really doesn't bother me that bad. I guess I've gotten used to it.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 7:52 pm
by Scayde
I think Texan should be considered a 'Mother Language' :D

I can't spell worth a flip !..and it is hard to look up a word when you can't spell it...it is also hard for people who are functionally illiterate yet trying the best they can..by using tools such as 'Word' or Works to check everything first, but if the spell check substitutes sale for sail..they will often miss something like this..also..if they happened to misspell a word which by happenstance turns out to be another words spelled properly, those are going to slip under the net.

It's a shame we all are not on the same educational level..but as long as someone is considerate and trying to be an active and contributing part of the community...not rude or hostile...and in general doing their obvious best..I have not problem trying to decipher what they are wanting to say ;-)

I wish Buck had Spell Check in SYM :(

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 7:53 pm
by Scayde
[QUOTE=rebel3_6_1]Lol, sorry I just think it's funny that you misspelled illiterately and misused "their" when the proper spelling would be "they're" in a post complaining about other people misusing and misspelling words. :D [/QUOTE]


See..that's what I am talking about :D

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:03 pm
by dragon wench
[QUOTE=Scayde]
I wish Buck had Spell Check in SYM :(
[/QUOTE]

Indeed yes! :D That would be a great idea, I wonder how much it would slow things down?

You mean Texan is not an official Mother Tongue? :D

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:04 pm
by Volk
Very funny Rebel you can correct my english when you speek 3 languages fluently like i do.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 8:08 pm
by rebel3_6_1
I speak English fluently and can speak Mexican.....um.....I mean Spanish....well enough to carry on a conversation, but as far as speaking 3 languages fluently, alas, that is something I cannot do. :( Like I said though, I've got no problem with people spelling things however they want to spell them. I just thought it was kinda funny.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:08 pm
by Aegis
[QUOTE=Volk]Very funny Rebel you can correct my english when you speek 3 languages fluently like i do.[/QUOTE]
Careful, Volk. He wasn't making a personal crack ;) Just pointing out a bit of irony in the comment...

BTW, 'speak' ;) :p

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:22 pm
by Weasel
[QUOTE=Scayde]
I wish Buck had Spell Check in SYM :(
[/QUOTE]

If he did I would just spend my time going back and correcting the words to conform to my taste. :D

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:45 pm
by werebeargoddess
I don't really mind it when people misspell something. I mean, people make mistakes all the time. Sure, some people who make spelling errors make them simply because they're lazy, but that doesn't mean that everyone who misspells something is lazy. And not everyone's native tongue is English, so they really can't help it if they misspell something.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:48 pm
by Aegis
Well, misspelling is fine, as you said, every one does it from time to time. It's the blatant laziness that seems to bother a lot of people. A great example is the use of 'L337' language, or IMS chat language. Those are just plan obnoxious and annoying.

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 10:06 pm
by Bloodstalker
Am I the only one who thought this thread would teach me some new profanity? :o