"U" instead of "You"

[Syntax Error]

Doesn't bother me when it's used in SMS (it's called SHORT Messaging System for a reason.) In message boards, bothers me a little, cuz I see how lazy people are at typing. For those not in the know, there's no character limit to forum posts (if you do reach the limit, you should just have been writing a book).

 

[Just Craig]

On the one hand, I feel like it's just a new form of ye olde Shorthand. ...I bet you could look it up on Wikipedia if you've never heard of it, but shorthand was the method of using abbreviations and symbols to speedily write in the days when typewriters were still uncommon.
(...So the concept and process is nothing new, just the format.)

Anyway, on the other hand, I also feel like it's a form of 1984's Newspeak, where language-- and by extension, society-- is dumbed down by the reduction of vocabulary...
(..."1984" is a book. It's a classic everybody should read at least once. )

 

[go nana go]

Y s0 S3r10us?
I h473 p30pl3 wh0 s4y 'cl1ps'
1nst34d 0f 'm4gs'. B4444w!

 

[Curious Georgie]

I personally always use proper grammar and spelling unless I'm trolling, but I don't particularly dislike the use of 'u' and the such unless it's really consistent and blatant.

 

[Lunar Templar]

the pic made me lol
but the only time i find using R and U as words, is when i'm texting on my phone, :/ only so many spaces, and i can get long winded some times, just not today

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Y s0 S3r10us?
I h473 p30pl3 wh0 s4y 'cl1ps'
1nst34d 0f 'm4gs'. B4444w!

You fuel my nightmares.

 

[CloakedOne]

I must gently agree with the extremely colorful poster you just showed us. The laziness of typing really has no excuse because, as the poster suggests, it's just two more finger strokes. no one is in that big of a hurry. If you know how to type better than hen-pecking at the keys, you're not saving any significant amount of time by shortening "you" to "u". I believe this is only slightly more permissible in texting (for certain phones) because clicking on the phone buttons is tedious and lengthy.

I have no problems with an evolving language because, well, our language is changing just like is always has ever since people starting making sounds denote something. However, when it comes to the difference between "you're" and "your", "there/their/they're," you're starting to mess with connotation and therefore clarity. There really is no excuse not to take the time to learn and apply the difference. At that point, it's not the evolution of language but the inexcusable and inexplicable confusion of it.

 

[child of lileth]

It's usually kind of annoying for me. But it's a good way to know the person doing it is usually 14 or under, and pretty much anything they say is irrelevant, or invalid to the argument anyway.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

It's usually kind of annoying for me. But it's a good way to know the person doing it is usually 14 or under, and pretty much anything they say is irrelevant, or invalid to the argument anyway.

Just have to say this, I got my first computer when I was 10, I stopped using "U" and "R" and such when I was 11.

 

[CK76]

I don't frequent places that use this kind of English same reason I don't go on Korean forums. No clue what they are saying. It took me 5 years to figure out "lol" did not mean "lots of love" giving messages a far creepier feeling from friends.

 

[JoshGod]

Y R U a grammar nazi

jokes aside i dont tend to use letters but i dont have problems with people who do.

 

[Zhukov]

Well, im just curious, whats your opinion on people typing letters and numbers instead of words?
Personally, I dont really understand why you would.
[snip]
Anywho, whats your opinion on this?

I also found this picture.

Spoiler: Warning, Harsh Language

]

*facepalm*

*facepalm* *facepalm* *facepalm*

See that big ol' image of yours? Did you read the part about apostrophes? Because you really should.

Alot of people blame "English is not my first language", but I dont really know of any languages that have words consisting of singular letters and numbers.

Oh for the love of...

Clearly you are not qualified to criticise how other people use the language.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

I think I'll print this on a huge poster and hang it up in my apartment. It truly is epic, thank ye very much!

So, some ranting: Firstly, I find it hilarious that some self-confessed grammar nazis made simple mistakes while posting. I know it's no big deal, but throwing rocks in glass houses isn't such a grand idea, no? Secondly, I know I can't expect perfect English from everybody, but idiotic abbreviations like "u," "r," and "y" instead of "you, are, and why" must stop. Similarly, telling "their," "there," and "they're" apart isn't difficult. Use the correct one, please. Thirdly, nothing annoys me more than people using "would/could of." It's "have," you imbeciles!
Perhaps we should just send people who cannot form correct sentences to grammar concentration camps (by which I mean 1st grade English, of course).

//Grammar Nazi #3424 signing off

 

[Lord Kofun]

I have a new wallpaper.

My girlfriend and I are the same way with this sort of thing. Even in text messages and emails to people we've (SEE THAT?!) known for years, we still type everything out. I actually proof-read one of my younger friend's essays for his high school english class, and it was filled with contractions, "I" and "me" at every turn, and blatant misspellings that could have been fixed with a single reread on his part. I almost killed him on the spot.

[edit]
Also, saying that poster has "harsh language" is like saying Dead Space has "some violence."

 

[Assassin Xaero]

Alot of people blame "English is not my first language", but I dont really know of any languages that have words consisting of singular letters and numbers.

Really? Most the time I see little kids, teenage girls, and people who suck at texting do that stuff. What annoys me even more is when people make up their own things like that. There was this one guy that would always type "y" meaning "you".

 

[Dapsen]

That was fucking amazing dude.

Thank you.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Sometimes it is actually just faster to type things like u instead of you in a game. Things like cum instead of com really need to die I can understade things like l8 and h8 but that is just awful.

 

[pluizig]

Why doesn't the 'rant picture' use periods?