Poll: How do you feel about people that use text spelling in normal posts?

[Eric the Orange]

Shortening of spelling on texts was originated to save space, as space was limited. For example "U" for "you" or "plz" for "please". But in a forum post like this space isn't an issue, but to some these abbreviations have become second nature, so they use them in any case where they are typing (and some have branched out into real life. Like saying lol when you think something is funny.)

Personally it's one of my pet peeves. I know it's not really a big deal but it just gets under my skin. My guess would be because I'm old, or at least was a teenager before cellphones became a common place item.

On a side note I acknowledge and am prepared for the fact that at least one person will respond to this thread in mostly abbreviation.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

It bothers me a little, but not too much if it's within reason. My general line of thinking is that if they don't care about the appearance of their post then it's probably not worth paying much attention to. If someone writes in complete textspeak, then I will just write them off as a bit of a moron.

 

[SageRuffin]

If I need a translator of some kind or subtitles to decipher the very language I speak, then I say fuck all that. Shorthand is one thing (the term "anime" for example), but "chat speak" can go fuck itself.

Here's something trippy: when I'm actually talking to someone through a chat client, outside of the occasional "lol" or "brb" or some such, nobody actually types like that.

 

[Eric the Orange]

If I need a translator of some kind or subtitles to decipher the very language I speak, then I say fuck all that. Shorthand is one thing (the term "anime" for example), but "chat speak" can go fuck itself.

Here's something trippy: when I'm actually talking to someone through a chat client, outside of the occasional "lol" or "brb" or some such, nobody actually types like that.

You could go the 80s rout with "Japanimation".

But as for text speak I don't know if it's common today honestly. But in the Mid to late 90s it was the "in" thing with teenagers.

 

[Tanis]

If I need a translator of some kind or subtitles to decipher the very language I speak, then I say fuck all that. Shorthand is one thing (the term "anime" for example), but "chat speak" can go fuck itself.

Here's something trippy: when I'm actually talking to someone through a chat client, outside of the occasional "lol" or "brb" or some such, nobody actually types like that.

And just two posts in and we have a winner.

It's one thing to mess up a word (to vs too or git/get) but it's another 2 txt liek dis.

We get it, you're retarded and your mother drank...heavily...when she was pregnant.
Why not stop wasting everyone's time and go die in a ditch somewhere.

 

[Fishyash]

This is my take on "chat speak" and I will delve into bad spelling too.

If you're writing a book, or a news article, you are obligated to dress up your language. Kind of like how you need to wear a suit to an important job interview.

However when we're communicating in a way that getting your point across matters more than the delivery of your point (a chat room, or an internet forum) I could not care less if you have the spelling of a stupid 7 year old.

It really doesn't make it much harder to understand poor spelling, hell, even subpar grammar. If you can understand the meaning of "lol brb afaik wuu2 asl" speak then it shouldn't impede on your understanding of the statement.

 

[Fishyash]

But as for text speak I don't know if it's common today honestly. But in the Mid to late 90s it was the "in" thing with teenagers.

Probably double posting but I thought I needed to comment on this (don't worry not a serious one).

Seriously... it would have taken you like a year to send a text message in proper english on one of those old phones because of the keypad. Not to mention the screens are so small that it would have taken a year to read the text too.

...I feel bad for people who did that outside of text messages, but the reason it existed in the first place was a practical one.

 

[Eric the Orange]

But as for text speak I don't know if it's common today honestly. But in the Mid to late 90s it was the "in" thing with teenagers.

Probably double posting but I thought I needed to comment on this (don't worry not a serious one).

Seriously... it would have taken you like a year to send a text message in proper english on one of those old phones because of the keypad. Not to mention the screens are so small that it would have taken a year to read the text too.

...I feel bad for people who did that outside of text messages, but the reason it existed in the first place was a practical one.

Trust me I understand the circumstances of it's creation make perfect sense, and If I did that sort of thing at the time I would have done so as well. This is more a discussion of using them in modern day typing. Like in a forum post or blog.

On a slightly comical side note my mother teaches middle schoolers and she told me that they would sometimes hand in school work written with text speak on it.

 

[Fishyash]

On a slightly comical side note my mother teaches middle schoolers and she told me that they would sometimes hand in school work written with text speak on it.

Even now?

Honestly I think text speak is useless now thanks to the introduction of autocomplete and now that most phones have a built in keyboard (some of them touchscreen!!!!1)

 

[Hazy992]

I took this off someone's Facebook page; ''ama pingg u in 5: ) , + jus ignor him hunn u gt beta shit to fink abwt :* xxx'' <--- Seriously people, cut this shit out.

And if you're not fluent in idiot here's a translation; ''I am going to Ping[footnote]Ping being an IM service[/footnote] you in 5 minutes And just ignore him honey you have better things to think about''

 

[Wintermoot]

it makes you look like a 12 year old kid that just discovered it.
the only thing I hate more is leet speak (which is something I fortunately rarely see on The Escapist) it only makes it harder for people to understand you.
PS
I sometimes use text spelling in chat with my friends mostly if I need to do something I type BRB but nothing beyond that.

 

[DazZ.]

"It bugs me" isn't a strong enough response.

I wouldn't respond to whoever was replying to me like that.

 

[Eric the Orange]

"It bugs me" isn't a strong enough response.

I wouldn't respond to whoever was replying to me like that.

Aw, well I try not to put to much negativity on things I post on the internet. I find that it just leads to more negativity, which will eventually spiral into a flame war. My general poll is along the lines of

like it
middle
don't like it

 

[Weslebear]

The only reason to ever use abbreviations to that degree is BECAUSE of a lack of a full keyboard and that typing with the traditional keypad on a mobile is a slow process so text speak sprung up to make things easier which is perfectly acceptable.

With access to a keyboard there is no reason to do it other than being a lazy cretin.

 

[Lilani]

Not gonna lie--it bugs me a lot and makes me assume the worst about their intelligence, maturity, and age.

 

[thylasos]

GIven that I don't use text "spelling", for lack of a less respectful word, in text messaging, I'd imagine you can extrapolate my view on it being used elsewhere.

 

[Jodah]

In chat services they can use it. Stuff like IMs, Twitter, and Facebook chat (not the actual status updates.) If it is a forum post or something similar anyone who does that consistently should be beaten with a rubber hose. Using simple abbreviations like WTF and BTW is okay and expected but seriously, if you use more than three of those in a single paragraph you are doing it wrong.

 

[DustyDrB]

It bugs me. I don't actually go that many places on the internet and don't text in real life. So I don't know what a third of it means.

The only time I ever use short-hand of any kind is when I'm taking notes. But then I use a lot of it. Delta symbol for "change", w/ for "with, using the symbols rather than letters for words like "add, plus, subtract, times, etc". My notes look like hieroglyphics.