BS: Internet Laziness

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Little dorritt
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 06:28 PM

The mention of telegrams reminds me of the story of that hollywood star who received an unpunctuated telegram enquirying about his age:
'How old Cary Grant?'
He replied:
'Old Cary Grant fine, how you?'

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 05:19 PM

One problem is that writing formally on a computer I tend to use a spell checker, not to check the spelling, but to catch the mistypings. That probably makes me more careless when actually typing - and then this carries over into posting, where there's no such facility.

I don't really think this matters much, it can even make it friendlier, and you get some lovely mis-spellings at times.

I suppose like any change of medium it affects the way people write - telegrams, charging by the word had an impact on the way people wrote in newspapers, and later in books. Keep it shoert, cut out the fripperies. I'm sure that's one of the sources of Hemingway's prose style, and as a result, of the way thousands of other people have written.

I suspect that the Internet will make us more careless with our words, maybe more generous with them.

I personally hope that emoticons and rows of initials (POGXT and that sort of thing)are a temporary fad that will die out. The suggestion that you have to rely on this kind of thing in order to make up for the fact that other people can't see your body language and facial expressions is a nonsense - letter-writers have managed perfectly well without them for thousands of years.

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 05:00 PM

The opportunity is there to make it what you want.
I tend to enjoy the challenge of improving my writing. I have watch my spelling and grammar improve remarkably.
With the postings from others, I keep an open mind and focus on the information they are contributing. In the end, the communication is all that really matters any way.

BB

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: GUEST,live from the U Dub, it's emily rain
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 04:56 PM

language evolves. i agree that the ease of electronic communication is probably speeding the process along, but i would never say that our changing standards reflect a decline... just a change.

having just read about a hundred pages of jean-jacques rousseau (who, along with his translator, is very precise in his syntax but also very full of shit), i rejoice to see people writing conversationally about something they truly understand. this is a revolution i support.

guestfully yours, emily

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 04:42 PM

Not everyone was blessed with college or University education, yours truly a prime example. This tool may improve reading and writing ability. I sometimes post without proof reading to save valuable time. Consider the following wisdom from one of my textbooks. I never condem someone for poor punctuation or spelling; would be like the kettle calling the pot black.

Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see
Thimks what Ne'er was nor is nor e'er shall be
In every work regard the writers end
Since none can compass more than they intend
And if the means be just the conduct true
Applause in spite of trivial faults is due
Pope Yours, Aye. Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Little dorritt
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 04:09 PM

when I post to the internet, I feel I am having a conversation, rather than writing a communication, and therefore pay little attention to either my spelling or grammar. Sorry if this offends, but life is too short to eat a dictionary. (That said, I was an adult literacy tutor for many years, so it's not that I can't spell it's more that I can't type!) The only real difficulty if you can call it that, are cultural ones. When I read some threads I don't have a clue what they are about, and I am sure that the same is true when folks look at u.k threads - but it is getting easier as time goes by.

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 03:02 PM

I think Cletus is peerless in his construction.

This is a literary classless forum, and whilst due respect is paid to the more erudite, most folk seem to get their point across in their own style, be it conversational or informative.

I agree with you, JenEllen, that this is merely a tool that replaces the quill, but my own pitfall is stabbing the 'submit' button before I've knocked the edges off my text.

When life was slower, I just had a bucket of correction fluid!

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Troll
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:58 PM

I'm a rotten typist so I take shortcuts.and keep postings short.With my typing speed if I tried to get eloquent, I'd lose my train of thought in short order. Maybe others have the same problem.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:57 PM

bluejay, like everything else, there are many levels of both attention and competence....I am a lousy typist, but an EXCELLENT proofreader. Trouble is, I get ina hurry (left THAT on on prrpose){also, that one, to show what I mean])and post without double checking..and often ,just as I have pushed the button, I see another error, which it is too late to correct. I am a 'decent to good' speller, but there again....

What I do when posting is try to make my post sound like 'me'....as if I was speaking...complete with pauses, emphasis of various sorts...etc...which means that it it NOT always stylisticly correct, but usually says it with the 'flavor' I want.

Some folk can write a lot better than they do here, but I actually prefer the little differences that convey personality. Others just naturally compose clearly as they type, ot stop and correct before they post. Makes it interesting, huh? *grin*

Subject: RE: BS: Internet Laziness
From: JenEllen
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:52 PM

You are complaining...but still misspelling and failing to capitalize....at least there were no double negatives (I hate that)..

Computer isn't the end of civilized language. It is a tool, plain and simple. You get out of it what you put into it. Just like a chainsaw is a tool, some people are loggers, some are amputees.

Some Mudcat posters are slack and lazy about what they write. Myself included. I have used conversational tone in many of my postings, but that is because it is supposed to convey that a conversation is taking place.

Many of the posters at this forum are quite eloquent in their writings, and pass along a sense of intellect and urgency whenever necessary. Maybe you are reading the wrong threads?

Subject: Internet Laziness
From: GUEST,BlueJay
Date: 19 Jan 00 - 02:43 PM

Perhaps this isn't the proper forum, but surely some of you have noticed that e-mail and forums such as Mudcat tend to breed laziness in writing style and construction. I read my own posting under "autoharp tuning" and was appalled at what I myself had written. I know I've sent e-mails with nisspelled words, but figure that they will know what i meant. Is the computer the end of civilized language? What do you think? I know that this isn't directly music oriented, but is "Ding Dong the Which is Dead" OK? I used to better on a piece of paper.