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BS: lower case posts with no punctuation

Murray MacLeod 01 Jul 01 - 11:08 PM
katlaughing 01 Jul 01 - 11:09 PM
Murray MacLeod 01 Jul 01 - 11:27 PM
katlaughing 01 Jul 01 - 11:42 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 01 Jul 01 - 11:51 PM
katlaughing 02 Jul 01 - 12:03 AM
katlaughing 02 Jul 01 - 12:09 AM
mg 02 Jul 01 - 12:25 AM
Jon Freeman 02 Jul 01 - 12:40 AM
katlaughing 02 Jul 01 - 01:02 AM
Terry K 02 Jul 01 - 01:11 AM
texastoolman 02 Jul 01 - 01:31 AM
Terry K 02 Jul 01 - 01:37 AM
Ebbie 02 Jul 01 - 01:49 AM
texastoolman 02 Jul 01 - 01:59 AM
Murray MacLeod 02 Jul 01 - 02:13 AM
RichM 02 Jul 01 - 03:36 AM
Dave the Gnome 02 Jul 01 - 04:05 AM
Firecat 02 Jul 01 - 05:56 AM
ard mhacha 02 Jul 01 - 06:08 AM
The Cat's Whiskers 02 Jul 01 - 06:21 AM
Gervase 02 Jul 01 - 06:24 AM
McGrath of Harlow 02 Jul 01 - 07:13 AM
Geoff the Duck 02 Jul 01 - 07:20 AM
McGrath of Harlow 02 Jul 01 - 07:39 AM
Bill D 02 Jul 01 - 10:35 AM
Jim Dixon 02 Jul 01 - 11:04 AM
Jon Freeman 02 Jul 01 - 11:07 AM
Amos 02 Jul 01 - 11:29 AM
CET 02 Jul 01 - 11:36 AM
chip a 02 Jul 01 - 12:07 PM
Jon Freeman 02 Jul 01 - 12:22 PM
Don Firth 02 Jul 01 - 12:30 PM
texastoolman 02 Jul 01 - 12:35 PM
marty D 02 Jul 01 - 01:24 PM
katlaughing 02 Jul 01 - 01:28 PM
wysiwyg 02 Jul 01 - 01:37 PM
McGrath of Harlow 02 Jul 01 - 04:14 PM
Kim C 02 Jul 01 - 05:33 PM
Áine 02 Jul 01 - 06:07 PM
Amos 02 Jul 01 - 11:13 PM
Murray MacLeod 02 Jul 01 - 11:22 PM
bbc 03 Jul 01 - 09:45 AM
katlaughing 03 Jul 01 - 11:00 AM
Les from Hull 03 Jul 01 - 11:20 AM
Kim C 03 Jul 01 - 11:30 AM
Gervase 03 Jul 01 - 11:38 AM
Don Firth 03 Jul 01 - 12:23 PM
Mary in Kentucky 03 Jul 01 - 01:02 PM
bbc 03 Jul 01 - 01:09 PM

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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:08 PM

I would hope that this is not in fact an issue of classism, Susan.

My feeling is that the vast majority of posts written like this are written by educated people (alright,young educated people, let's be ageist instead of classist) who know full well how to write properly, but who choose not to, for reasons best known to themselves.

That is their prerogative, just as it is mine to take issue with, and to poke gentle fun at, their stance.

Murray


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:09 PM

Like Spaw, I try to use as much emoticons :>\ and **BG**, etc. as possible in my postings to give some sort of idea of how I might sound were I speaking to you in person.

I like to play around with the spelling of words. I started using "kewl" because I like the looks of it. I started using "phoaks" because it contains the word "oak" which, to me, symbolises the longevity and steadfastness of "folk" music and thus, folk musicians, i.e. you all.

A long time ago, I would sometimes sign off with something run together to express my feelings, such as "katlaughingforrealthistime." It has always been in fun and nobody's ever really complained about it; some have even emulated it, perhaps too the extreme?

I don't mind no CAPS and I have a friend who refuses to capitalise his name or the word "I" because he does see it as a classist issue. I respect his choice.

I don't mind typos or missed punctuation, either. I admire people's words and the fact that they have made the effort to communicate.

It does bother me to try to read something made up of a lot of letter abbreviations. Sometimes I skip those.

On the whole, I've learned that instant electronic communication such as we have here is a bit more relaxed about conventions. It took me awhile to accept and understand that. Now, I see it as a lot of fun, esp. as I have to be so careful when writing for a real gig.

BTW, 53, no problem, no editors who are here AS editors.:-)

luvyakat laughing and leaving spaces just for those who may get irritated


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:27 PM

Kat, I had Bart Simpson in mind rather than you when i wrote "kewl". That is how he pronounces it, to my ear at least.

Regarding lack of capitals, well to say it bothers me would be to overstate the issue. It does however smack to me something of the poseur, and pretentiousness of any sort always makes my hackles rise.

And please, do not alter your trademark signatures on my account! *BG*

Murray


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:42 PM

Murray,

No prob, man! (Was that "Bart" enough for you?)**BG** He does say "kew-ull" doesn't he? The spelling always reminds me of Kew Gardens which has always fascinated me, the Gardens that is, not that the spelling brings it up, oh, well....you know what I mean!

Anyway, I was just commenting, didn't take anything personally and this is just for you:

katwhohasabigsmileonherfacetomatchMurray'semoticon!


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 01 Jul 01 - 11:51 PM

I take the point that if the person refuses to at least spell and punctuate properly (or try) then they don't deserve the time it takes to try to figure out what they are trying to say. Sorry, but like them, I do NOT have the time to waste. IF they don't want to take that amount of time, they obviously don't respect the reader enough.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:03 AM

Jaysus, George, betcha take no prisoners, too, huh?**BG**

How do you tell the difference when someone has tried or not? Some people, like InOBU have real disorders (which he has explained) which 'cause problems with spelling and punctuation; some, like Susan's friend, are new to keyboards of any kind and need a helping hand.

Sorry, but I'd be willing to bet you've missed out on some special postings with that kind of rigid policy.

kat who uses lower case "k" because once in a while, the person who first signed on as "Kat" shows up and I do not wish to cause her any trouble...


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:09 AM

I forgot to say, it may not be a matter of them taking the time. It may be the best they can do. And, really, this isn't English class. What of our English as a second language members?


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: mg
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:25 AM

I think we have too little to worry about if we can worry about all caps, no caps, whatever. If you don't like the format, just skip the post. If you don't care for what the person usually has to say, just skip the post. There are enough rules that have to be imposed on people for social order, safety, etc., to worry about their typing style. This is recreation for heavens' sake. And if you would prefer not to get carpal tunnel or some other RSD, be easy on the space bar and don't capitalize. Or just put everything in all caps. mg


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:40 AM

"What of our English as a second language members?"

Good question kat but perhaps that one could be twisted the other way... I really don't know but is it possible that these people are the most affected by the use of all lowercase and lack a lack of punctuation when it comes to trying to read a post?

Jon


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:02 AM

I don't know, Jon, a good question and I suppose it might be.

I just think we have to be a little forgiving, after all we are all human *beans* and all make mistakes.**BG**


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Terry K
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:11 AM

It's a manners thing.

Speak as you would like to be spoken to, write as you would wish to be written to. Isn't it all about having respect for your reader/listener? Surely that is what good manners are all about, so if we all do our best - including those with disabilities - that's all we can ask.

Cheers, Terry


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: texastoolman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:31 AM

you kow
i'm just sorry as all get out
if the way i choose to write
offended any of ya'lls deep sensibilities
but that's how i choose to do it
and if you don't like it
then just disregard anything i might have to say
and please go on to the next message
it took me awhile to figure out how to do thisw
without running everything together
perhaps some of the other folks
who write in don't know how it works
my god some of you folks
can sure be condescinding
as far as i know
i still have a right to express myself
anyway i please
if i'm wrong in this
just say so
and i won't bother you again
tex


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Terry K
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:37 AM

...just so long as you did your best, tex


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Ebbie
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:49 AM

I like your poetry, tex. :) Truthfully.

Ebbie


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: texastoolman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:59 AM

thank you ebbie
i'm glad you understand my intent
it means somethng to me coming from you
you have real heart
tex


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 02:13 AM

I could use an explanatory footnote to the first line of your poem, tex.
"You kow" Now, this might me a typo for "You know", or it might me directed at kat/katlaughing, which would be linguistically quite clever, but very insulting and in dreadfully poor taste, or it might be directed at me, in which case I will refrain from taking umbrage on the grounds that I have been called much worse in my time.

Murray


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: RichM
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 03:36 AM

periods are important
semicolons too
and leaving out your commas
will never never do
and leaving out a capital
is a capital offence

but in these times when toys and furniture
and many other things
are bought unassembled
and you must put them together

I offer the do it yourself
punctuation kit

see below and add where necessary, or by choice

! ? : ; ' . , - >br<


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 04:05 AM

\have you read the new book by jeff noone\
\its very weird because it has no capitals or puntuation\
\apart from back-slashes\
\and carriage returns\

His earlier books are grammaticaly normal even if the stories are a bit strange. I have not yet started this one but it seems to be about the music business. Is the '\' and absense of any other punctuation anything to do with that? How rap songs are written? Modern day parlance? Or am I completely daft?

Cheers

DtG


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Firecat
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 05:56 AM

the only reason people post in lower case letters and without punctuation a lot of the time is because its a lot quicker and easier

itsevenquickerandeasierbynotevenputtingspacesineventhoughthewritingcanturnouttonotbethateasytoread

Right, back to normal then!


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 06:08 AM

Hello All, A very nice debate, but , please tell me why almost everyone refers to an interesting, good etc, subject as COOL. When I was young anything good was referred to as s--t hot, sounds a dam more descriptive than CCCCOOL, anyway, even in Summer here its always bloody CCCCOOL. Slan Ard Mhacha.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: The Cat's Whiskers
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 06:21 AM

Lack of punctuation has it's merits I guess, it's the abreviations like "m8", "r", "u", "b4" and "2k1" that REALLY piss me off! What do you think of smileys?? :-)


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Gervase
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 06:24 AM

Iy may be quicker, but it does take longer to read and the point of the posting is harder to get. I'm with Jon on this - I imagine it's harder for people for whom English isn't their first language to get their heads around postings which have no caps or punctuation.
The best thing would be if everyone was taught basic keyboard skills at primary school level. I'm lucky enough to been taught to touch-type on an old-fashioned manual tripewriter, but it wasn't hard to learn, and it does make life a heck of a lot easier in this keyboard-dominated age. There are any number of bits of software out there (some freeware), which a very useful for learning and honing keyboard skills
The only problem is, because typing becomes an extension of thinking, sometimes I tend to ramble on and on and on and ...
...at which helpful nurse slams lid of laptop down on crazed fingers and administers large tranquilliser...
I had a problem with wordsrunningtogether once when I spilled tea on the keyboard and buggered up the space bar. It drove me completely mad, so I can't imagine what sort of mind would actually want to type like that!


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 07:13 AM

after all we are all human *beans* says kat.

I wouldn't bet on it myself.

My screen spelling used to be diabolical. I have no difficulty in spelling, but my fingers stray, and somehow on the screen my eyes don't pick up the typos. But then I found a little spellchecker that works with writing posts, and it makes life a lot easier for anybody trying to read what I've written - and it spots any Upper Case letters I've missed as well, or inappropriately put in.

I don't find it any quicker to leave out capitals letters. I suppose if I only had one hand I might, but typing with two fingers, one on each hand it is just as quick. After all, you can only put in one letter at a time, and whether it is upper case or lower case makes no difference to that.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 07:20 AM

In my experience of life, my purpose in talking to someone was to communicate ideas. If you wish to transfer an idea, then you must be understood by the recipient of the idea. If you know the person well, you will have a commonality of experiences including language, slang terms and shortcuts of expression. In that circumstance it is appropriate to use these shortcuts and slang terms.
If I am speaking to a stranger, I try to use an even tone of voice, and restrict my vocabulary to words likely to be in common parlance. It is polite, and also my meaning is more likely to be understood. It shows that you respect the needs of the other person! I could speak in Dailect or use only Technical Jargon, but I choose not to out of consideration to my audience, and also because there is no point in me speaking if I do not intend to be understood!!!
My suggestion to the low(ercase)lifes who do not use any capitals or punctuation would be. Please treat ME with some respect! What is the point of wasting your time posting if we are going to automatically ignore unintelligible gibberish?
Quack!!!
GtD


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 07:39 AM

What really makes it difficult to read is when people write long posts without putting in paragraph breaks. That is no doubt sometimes because they don't know how to - but I find I tend to skip right over the posts, and I'm sure I'm not the only one.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 10:35 AM

and a big QUACK
of agreement to Geoff the Duck...well said!

Slang, cant, dialect, jargon and random spelling & punctuation are perfectly useful and acceptable in some circumstances, but I simply do NOT understand folks who cannot (or will not) make the effort to be comprehensible to those who don't know the code.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:04 AM

How come "kewl" isn't spelled "QL"?


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:07 AM

McGrath, you're certainly not alone as I skip them too. That is unless I can see that someone has not left a blank line between paragraphs or alternatively has failed to use line breaks. In these instances, as a general rule, I edit the post to make it easier for all to read.

Jon


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:29 AM

As with any symbol system, especially a rich and flexible one like English, you have to differentiate in receiving posts between the intention to communicate genuinely but with a creative flourish, as in Tex' cummings-like poems, and the kind of insitutionalized attitude of neglect and indifferent passive-aggression which someone else might demonstrate by typing in all lower case because he "just didn't care" to use a convention. Similar symptom, totally different cause, and what is really interesting is that we can and do detect the difference with a fairly high degree of accuracy. When we get it wrong, and start treating a poetic flourish as a case of disrespectful ignoral of standard conventions, then, of course, we can really embarass ourselves. So perhaps it is a wise course not to be overly judgmental and condescending until the rights of the matter are really clear.

And e.e.cummings was not being pretentious, IMHO; he was being genuinely poetic in a direction not taken before. Bear in mind he preceded the Beat generation and their experimental typefaces by 20 years or perhaps a bit less; and I believe that his experiment was actually a success in that it opened a new modality to poetry.

A


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: CET
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:36 AM

Sigh.

I'm an editor by trade. Part of my job is teaching Canadian Forces members and federal civil servants to write plain English. Every group includes somebody who says, "Why do I have to bother with [punctuation, capitalization, etc.--skill he or she lacks] when people understand me?" I always reply, "How do you know they understand you? Have you asked them all?" And, sure enough, I soon find that many are accustomed to handling barrages of telephone calls and e-mails demanding clarification of their written instructions, requests and explanations. I do my level best to teach them to get to the point, and explain that point in simple sentences following the conventions of written English, so their work can be done with the release of the original message.

Many people believe that writing in a fancy or complex way makes them seem more interesting or appealing. I think that this is a delusion, and that people who use odd or contrived writing styles -- including those writing e-mails and Internet posts -- do so for one of two reasons: they don't know enough words, or they are not taking the trouble to use the words they know.

In my admittedly arrogant opinion.

Charmion


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: chip a
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:07 PM

Hooray for you, Geoff the Duck! I couldn't agree more. Lets remember that we're not talking to ourselves here.

I don't mind reading posts written in all lower case or any other way if I don't have to struggle to understand them. If it's hard to read, I skip it and go on.

I never learned how to write and use punctuation very well during my short stay in public school. I'll bet there are lots of others like me who are doing their best even if it's not up to the standards of the grammar police. I do try to make it readable though.

What's a line break?

Chip A.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:22 PM

A line break is a bit of HTML that looks like this: <br>

With the text entry system at Mudcat, text that is not separated by one blank line will appear as one big chunk in the final post unless HTML such as the line break is added - you've probably seen lyric posts where all the lines of a verse appear as one line of text or as a paragraph.

Jon


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:30 PM

If I have something to say that I feel is worth saying, I try to say it as clearly and understandably as possible. Why make it difficult if you are really trying to communicate?

Unique style is one thing. If consistent, it can be polished until it's understandable. That's what Don Marquis and e.e.cummings did. That's far different from just being a lazy slob.

Don Firth


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: texastoolman
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 12:35 PM

good for you amos
you understand what i'm doing as well
i am a poet by nature
have been since my teen-age years
i have and will cotinue to write in this fashion
i imagine i talk the same way
those who don't like my writing
probably wouldn't like my accent either
t s (tough situation)
in regards murray's comment about my typo
as dylan said "you're a cow"
not kat
................................tex


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: marty D
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:24 PM

Hang tough Murray. Even if some people aren't doing it on purpose due to lack of keyboard skills or various ailments, it still LOOKS like the rapid 'Dumbing Down' that makes some of us shake our heads in wonder. The problem of course is that in this day and age ANY suggestion that implies people could try harder, immediately becomes a 'Political issue'. I sure don't have it all together as far as grammatical or spelling skills, but I at least re-read what I've written a couple of times before pushing the button.

Still get in trouble now and then though!

marty


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:28 PM

thanks fer thet, Tex
yer a real gentleman
with the accent to prove it, I'll bet
'course, so's McGrath, defending m'carcass
i reckon we've all got our foibles
so let's not loose the foils
nor slings and arrows
just doing our best and being kewl!**BG**


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: wysiwyg
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 01:37 PM

"So perhaps it is a wise course not to be overly judgmental and condescending until the rights of the matter are really clear."

Yes, once we are sure what's right, then we want to go ahead and be as judgmental and condescending as we like.

Really? There'a new goal to shoot for!

;~)

~Susan


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 04:14 PM

For a new paragraph you put a P (or p)in those angle brackets instead of a BR - or do it with BR (or br) twice. The single BR is what you need when you need to make it a new line in a song or poem.

Sooner or later we'll get some joker who decides the way to get noticed is to switch the lower case and upper case around.

tHIS IS THE KIND OF THING i MEAN...


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Kim C
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 05:33 PM

I was an English major so of course I can appreciate good punctuation and spelieeng

Seriously... I guess many of us have our own unique way of speaking, and some may want that to translate to the written word.

My brother, who just turned 46, is new to computers and e-mail and all that. He doesn't type too well. But he ain't heavy, so I don't hold it agin him. ;-)

Also I think there is a difference between formal and informal speech/writing, and that there is a time and place for each.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Áine
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 06:07 PM

Dear Murray,

I humbly beg your pardon for puttin' a twist in your britches and using lower case in some of my postings. I confess, in front of God and the Mudcat, that I have typed without using the Shift key -- mea culpa.

However, I have done this terrible thing to communicate to a fellow 'Catter, shamefully neglecting to use my little finger on the keyboard, only as an homage to Dom Marquis (and, of course, archie and mehitabel); an author and characters which are dear to myself and the 'Catter who shall not be named.

Please accept my apologia for distressing you. I did not know what I did do. However, I shall remain 'tourjour gay, tourjour gay' and assume my very small identity and similarly small typing style when it suits me. as for yourself, dear murray, take the bosses advice and 'skip it' if it bothers you too much -- otherwise, i'll have to sic mehitabel on ya...

-- Áine


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Amos
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:13 PM

For those who wish to continue citing the cockroach, please note it is "toujours" and "gai", meaning "keep on smilin'" or "keep your pecker up" or "always lighthearted" or something of the kind. "Toujours" is a contraction (well, maybe a compression) of tous les jours and "gai" means gay in the old-fashioned cheery sense.:>)

Walther P. Picky-Picky
Anal-Retentive Sans Portfolio


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jul 01 - 11:22 PM

Wasn't going to mention this, kinda hoped the thread would die, but the author of Archie and Mehitabel has twice been misspelt as Dom Marquis. He was in fact as I recollect, Don Marquis.

"Dom Marquis" would probably be a kewl title for a musical about the life and times of de Sade, however.

Murray Anal Retentive Avec Portfolio


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: bbc
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 09:45 AM

Maybe it's just me. This is the 2nd thread I've opened today that seems to have a lot of anger in it. You might want to think *why* the way others post makes you angry. Like Kim, I was an English major. I also took typing in school. As long as I can figure out what something says, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how it was written. I do have some concerns about society, since it doesn't seem that kids are being taught spelling & grammar anymore. Many of the teachers of my generation seem to have little grasp of proper sentence form. On Mudcat, though, I am interested in *what* people say, not how they say it. The things that concern me are negative attitudes & emotions. Out-of-the-norm structure could be caused by so many things of which we are unaware--lack of education, non-English speakers, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, etc. Do you want to inhibit such folks from joining our discussions? I don't.

respectfully,

bbc


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 11:00 AM

well-said, bbc


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Les from Hull
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 11:20 AM

Well I've also stayed out of this so far, but here's my two small copper coins worth.

I'm more interested in what people have to say, than in the way they say it. Personally I don't care too much how people post (although all capital letters is hard to read, so I probably won't). Like many of us say, there may be all sorts of reasons why people write the way they do.

But like others here, I suspect, I'm much more impressed by well-written, correctly typed and spelt postings. I can't help it. It's the way I am. I used to teach effective writing, so I'm glad to see when people have writing skills and use them.

If people are interested enough, they will improve their writing skills. There are classes, books and tutoring available, the same as for musical skills. It's a useful life skill, being able to write well. It's one I would certainly recommend. But it's not often vital.

Les


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Kim C
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 11:30 AM

Good writing skills are important. But not everyone has them, and some people never learn. At least us math-impaired folks have the advantage of the hand-held calculator, without which I would be a complete and total mathematical idiot. I don't think any of my pards think less of me because my math skills aren't too great.

Now, if we could come up with a spell/grammar check that actually WORKED.............


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Gervase
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 11:38 AM

Speech recognition software's getting better all the time. I've tried out IBM's ViaVoice on a couple of Macs and been impressed by the results.
The program has to "learn" the user's voice pattern, and the more time spent "coaching" it the better the end result, but it does allow you to blather away to the machine and see the results as text, complete with proper capitalisation, punctuation and formatting.
For meself I still prefer to type (particularly as colleagues could be puzzled if I start ranting at the screen when posting here!), and I don't think any program is yet able to write HTML - which means that even a post written by a speech-recognition program would need to be tweaked and formatted with the line-breaks and other odds and sods.
But if your not a natural with the tripewriter, then ViaVoice (or its rival, Dragon Dictate) would seem a pretty good alternative.


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Don Firth
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 12:23 PM

bbc, I agree with what you say, and I am not angry or hostile. My concern is as follows: you say On Mudcat, though, I am interested in *what* people say, not how they say it. Me also. The problem is that sometimes whatsomeone says is rendered so difficult to figure out by the way they say it that I wonder if I want to be bothered to spend the time and effort to decode it. If a person is challenged in some way, that's one thing. But if one really wishes to be understood, I think they should at least make minimal effort to be understandable. Seems simple enough to me.

"Style" is fine. But when style interferes with comprehensibility, it defeats the purpose.

Don Firth


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 01:02 PM

Speaking as one with minimal disabilities myself, I've observed that people with disabilities are usually the ones who spend extra time making their communications understandable, ie whatever it takes to blend in and not appear different from others.

My 82-year-old uncle who sends me email spends a lot of time hunting and pecking his letters, and I've seen improvement as he learns to type faster. His letters are longer now! ;-)


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Subject: RE: BS: lower case posts with no punctuation
From: bbc
Date: 03 Jul 01 - 01:09 PM

True enough, Don. There are certainly times I get aggravated trying to understand what's being said through the idiosyncrasies. It's always our choice to not read. I've embarrassed myself a few times, though, assuming that something was done by choice when, in fact, it was the best that person could manage. I'd prefer to give the benefit of the doubt. And, yes, you are right, Mary. Many times, those w/ problems try harder than others. The world's a big place w/ many kinds in it. Let's just continue to be aware of that fact. I love the broadness of the world Mudcat puts me in touch w/--more than my day-to-day life ever could!

best,

bbc


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