Removed.

Yeah see Swissy, some people appreciate the effort! Oh BTW I voted no!

MissyV

Me too!

Markus

Text speak does have it's place, and that is when using a medium where you need to convey a message and space is limited, for example, an SMS message. On a forum such as this, the maximum character limit for a single post is far, far higher, and I unless you are being extremely verbose, I very much doubt you'll hit this limit, and therefore there is no need for your entire message to be written in text speak.

I don't have a problem with the odd text speak word, m8 and things of that ilk, however, if the complete message is in text speak then it does tend to jar a little, mainly as I'm getting old and it takes the grey matter a little while to decipher things

I tend to ignore the majority of messages completely written in text speak, though if, for example, there was a request in Computer Related for help and it was written in text speak and I had an answer to the query, I probably would get out my super secret agent decoder ring and try and work out what is being said.

As for banning the use of text speak. That is an interesting question. We are not talking about banning a user if they use one instance m8. My take on the "ban" would be that the terms and conditions you agree to when you sign up would explicitly mention that the use of text speak is (severely?) frowned upon and thus you should not write a complete message in text speak if at all possible. Granted no-one really reads the T&C's but it would at least be there and could be quoted if someone queries why their text speak posting has been commented on.
In regards to how police things, well, what is wrong with issuing an infraction?

Before you all leap on me for suggesting this, I should clarify what I mean. You can have an infraction level that has zero points associated with it, and/or you can specify that it is a warning. Thus the infraction would not increment your points, which would lead you closer to a temporary ban. Perhaps the code that shows the "Infraction Received" message could be changed to read "Warning Issued" when you give a warning infraction, thus it would be clearer that a warning rather than a normal infraction was given. If the only warning infraction is for text speak use then you could change the message to reflect that.
One could argue this is somewhat draconian, but it might get the point across to the user that text speak is frowned upon.

scoobynutta555

It's the people who dish out stupid infractions in the first place who are at fault not the Webmaster, wouldn't you agree?

s1lko

Careful, you'll get an infraction for that kind of talk

reano

iTrader: (2)

This sounds sensible m8.....

Scoobyols69

I'm Against this reason because:

1. I use to use text form in all my sentences on here
2. its quick and easy
3. everyone understands it
4. So your saying people cant use sayings like " IMHO" so they will have to write it out fully " In my Honest Opinion !!!

thats what i think anyway but not up to me!
Users pay for using this forum so i think they got every right to type how they want to as long as its not offensive to anyone!!!

SCOOBY_69ER

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Markus

We are not talking about single or multiple uses of abbreviations, so LOL, IMHO and things like that would be ok. It's when the entire message is in text speak, for example "Hi m8s how duz u fit a dump vlave to a scoob coz I cant work out wat u need 2 do, ta" though usually they are far longer than that example.

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Exactly.

BEFORE you vote peeps, please make sure you're clear on what is being referred to by the term text speak! Abbreviations such as LOL etc do NOT constitute text speak!

Also, please remember, we're not advocating people being banned instantly for using it or anything quite so extreme. We're simply trying to ascertain if SN, as a community, would much rather not see posts composed in text speak.

Ns04

David Lock

I abhor test speak. But that's because I am old and have to translate the bloody message (not that I get many!). I have never used it and, for that matter, never sent a Text message.

Who remembers using TELEX. Wonderful thing because you could do away with formalities and get straight to the point "WHERE IS MY ORDER?" and avoid all flowery language that you would need in a letter. This all worked very well in practice without the equivalent of text speak although common abbreviations were fine "AWAIT REPLY IDC" for example.

I also have a very unfair stereotype image of people who use text speak being uneducated youths hanging around street corners whose main communication seems to be "well that's well good, innit". Of course this doesn't apply to SN members (apart from .........)

I think it would be fine for people to post in text speak if they are obviously chatting to a mate on the board but if it's a post for general consumption then they should use the Queen's English. Innit. dl

ex-webby

OK

I have a proposal.

Why don't we try a different approach.

I agree with Markus, and others who say the odd bit here and there isn't an issue.. but entire posts are the problem.

Why don't we just try, between us, to politely encourage people who post ENTIRE messages in text speak.

Just a simple 'Hi X, its kind of frowned upon to type entirely in text speak here. Not a major issue, but we'd appreciate it if you would keep it to a minimum, so us old codgers can understand you! '

From all of this, I can't bring myself to put a hard and fast rule in, so lets just all attempt to encourage people.

Not that I think there are very many.

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

Nope Mr. Webby you are (in this case) wrong , people who cannot take the time and effort to use the english language correctly should expect to be both ridiculed and banished by ostracism.
It is the height of laziness and also smacks of ignorance.

People who genuinely suffer from dyslexia more often than not take extra care and effort over spelling and punctuation. Its is all too often used as an excuse for laziness and is in fact disrespectful to those who are afflicted.
Besides which, this discussion isn't about spelling or grammar; it is about the deliberate *******isation of our native tongue for the purposes of being trendy.

I refer you to a previous comment I made that received a surprising number of PMs in support:
Andy.

If you really need to type in coloquialisms then join street-legal.com, street-racers.com or any other 'krooze' forum where you can l33t to your heart's content.
HTH

scoobynutta555

Agreed. Unintelligible drivel reflects badly on the forum, and on Impreza owners. Nobody should expect degree level English, however, a post should provide easy reading.

My posts are not without fault, but I should think the average person would be able to comprehend them quite easily.

scoobynutta555

Also, I may add, posting on this forum has encouraged me to improve my spelling and grammar and I actually thank pedants for highlighting my errors. Something the population as a whole could benefit from!

Text speak is a lazy way of communication especially as you're not limited to a certain number of letters per post as you are with a mobile.

stuart n

I fink txt speek shd b banned

NUTTYNICK

I've got to say that on other forums I used to frequent, and possibly renowned as one of the more **** ones when it came to capital letters or text speak, there was a method of dealing with it.

It was known amongst its members that text speak and shouting was frowned upon, even listed in the posting rules. A polite word to those that wandered from the rules was usually all it took. Repeat offenders were continually warned until they were banned, simple.

Text speak does appear to have some stigma attached to it in the fact that you have to be illiterate to understand it. Being older, but not that old, I find it incredibly difficult to understand and trust me, I deal with more acronyms that you could imagine on a daily basis.

You wouldn't write in English on an Italian car forum and expect many answers, you would write in the native language. For this forum, it's Queens English. Let's stick to it

Lisawrx

iTrader: (1)

I'm with you on the part, that at this time, it may not be best to put something to hard into place. As I've said, discourage and see how that goes, in whatever way that can be done.

I doubt virtually anyone has a problem with the odd 'txt spk' word or so, it's only excessive use, that creates an issue. That extent of use should be discouraged. Marcus makes valid points, and if possible, if the quiet word to discourage doesn't work, could the next step possibly the issue of infractions which carry no points? If this is possible, it provides a clear message from members about the useage without actually risking points adding up to a ban. That way it's more of a warning than too much of a 'dictatorship', as some people could take it as.

On a lighter note, less of the old codger, I'm only a mere 26, and I don't use or understand text speak

Removed.

That sounds like a reasonable compromise. So, provided that it is done in in a polite, friendly way, Webby, as the arbiter of "The Rules" has no objection to us requesting that those that make extensive use of txt or l33t speak respect the wishes of the community and use something akin to English.

NO witch hunts, grammar or spelling extremists, or petty use of infractions.

Does that sound about right?

djmisio85

Everyone should get firefox and get the application that puts a little red line underneath a word if you spell it wrong.
My firefox at work has this, sadly the guy who installed it was a yank, and when I write a word like "tyre" it says that the word is spelt wrong..... americans eh.....

I hate people who can't spell, or use English properly. In some other thread, someone wrote, "I could of ......." when we all know it should be "I could have......"

Its chav talk, a form of slang for uneducated people. I have students here in Japan who can write better English than some of the chavs on this website

Sad but true

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Sorted

dynamix

iTrader: (3)

Are we getting the Smiley then to make it easier to remind people ?

One person's gentle persuasion is another person's reason for infracting.....

jonny_693

iTrader: (5)

Excellent proposal, only last time people did that it turned into a ten page newbie bashing.

SJ_Skyline

I think someone found the key to the wine cupboard last night!

Leslie

I can't see why it should be a problem to require all those who wirsh to post on this forum to use plain English.

Text speak was born from the use of mobile phones for a significant reason and I think that is where it should stay.

Used on a forum like this is a lazy and unnecessary way to communicate and I also think it is important to uphold our language before it falls into disrepute.

Les

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

A 7 page thread to decide that the best course of action is to politely ask offenders to not use 'text speak'?

And you lot say you're not '****'.

SJ_Skyline

Les,

You might argue that textspeak is synonymous with newspeak. Now there's a scary thought!

psigeek

iTrader: (17)

Banned please.

Bubba po

I think what we were all looking for was an assurance that a post politely asking offenders not to use text speak would not be construed as "trolling" or "insulting another member" and therefore be subject to an infraction.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

True. My only worry is that the infraction system is forcing everybody to post in such a 'PC' manner that we are starting to lose some of the 'harmless banter' that made this site so great.

Yes, we have to stop trolling, but not at the expense of limiting discussion.