Forums > Social Discussion > Txtspk

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGangerImproper spelling is alright in my books, but I look at people that constantly use shorthand in speech and writing as idiots.
Really? So you think that doctors, secretaries, journalists, university professors and pretty much anyone that deals with having to communicate high volumes of information is an idiot? Wow ...

Originally Posted By: doppelGanger Language is something common to everyone, and when you dismantle it into jibberish I feel you take another step away from a cultured/civilized society.
You know that language is just made up right? ..... by the people who use it .... its just a social construct to faciliate communication. Language is dynamic, when a word becomes popular enough it "officially" becomes apart of language, there are many more words in use today as there where in shakespears time. Give it time a lol will appear in the dictionary.

I think that you will find it is the social memes that perpetuate ignorance and ill will that create an uncivilized society.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
I am not talking about notation on charts and shorthand taking notes in school. I am talking about the usage as it applies to txtspk, as the title implies.

I know language is made up, but no where in history has it fallen apart as it has now. I don't care if it appears in the dictionary, I fear it. I would also like to point out that it is my personal opinion, again.

Human

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Yeah, the doctors I go talk to say lol ur in 4 sum trble cuz u smoke 2 much.

Human

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
common shorthand abbreviations for uni students dont look that different to common chat or text shorthand

they both serve the purpose of efficently communicating information. What is to fear?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Well for one, note taking is for one's self, not a communication tool. And I already told you what I fear, a bunch of uneducated morons.

Human

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: NathanielEveristOriginally Posted By: Bek66
...but yes, I'm a bit of a spelling Nazi...typos, I can understand, but blatant mis-spellings drive me nuts!!! Internet slang makes me want to axe-murder someone...


Uv gotta relax no need 2 get ir8 abot it net slang makez u luk kewl n all da girlz will luv u 4eva if u do it on dier myspace payge. roflmao.

I used to be a member of The Third Reich of spelling and grammar too, but eventually I got tired and overrun of and by the vast majority of people on the internet. After a lot of thinking, I realised that many of the people on the internet may not have perfect English because the majority of the world doesn't speak it as a first language, people born after 1993 included.

If it still bothers you, transform that negative feeling into something positive, like an affirmation of your own sense of intellectual superiority,

Remember, in a flame war, everybody gets burnt.

I said the above in another thread where a similar topic came up.

I have mixed opinions about txtspeak. On the one hand, I can see the "communication function" argument, where language is simply a means of communication, and so long as it does just that, there isn't a problem, in fact, abbreviation and simplification may even make the process more efficient.

But then, there are good things to be said for the complexity of language. The extensiveness of one's lexicon allows for a greater degree of detail and accuracy in communication, and correct spelling and grammar play a role in this. One of the big problems with txtspeak is that it lessens the internet's as a tool for education through "osmosis".

I endeavor to utilise correct spelling and grammar for the above reason, I hope that it'll help people to learn in subtle ways as reading books improves one's understanding of the language.

To me, txtspeak is quantity. It's quick and effective, but only allows for communication of basic concepts.
While proper English is quality, while taking a little more time is more beautiful and complete as a means of communication.

That's just my two cents, and why do I have a feeling that I'm going to regret getting involved in this?

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: NathanielEverist
That's just my two cents, and why do I have a feeling that I'm going to regret getting involved in this?



Originally Posted By: (apparently)President Nathaniel Everist
"...In; a flame, war... everybody, gets;;;;;;; buuuuurrrnt."

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: NathanielEverist
To me, txtspeak is quantity. It's quick and effective, but only allows for communication of basic concepts.
While proper English is quality, while taking a little more time is more beautiful and complete as a means of communication.

Which is why I know nothing intelligent is going to be portrayed when I see lolz code

I agree with you 100%.

Human

Posted: 17th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: Mother_Natures_Son

Originally Posted By: (apparently)President Nathaniel Everist
"...In; a flame, war... everybody, gets;;;;;;; buuuuurrrnt."



Hahaha, that's so funny man, great selection.

Doppel, yeah, I'm yet to see anything intelligent communicated through txtspeak, I'd probably like to see it though, it'd be good for a laugh.

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
I can only imagine my someday kids bringing home their spelling assignments after that stuff weaseled its way into the books. Hopefully that day comes well after I'm dead

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGangerWell for one, note taking is for one's self, not a communication tool.
Are you really being serious? Im going to assume that you are, abbriviations are used everywhere to speed up communication, if i had to talk to other tech people using the unabrivated version it would take forever, some examples

WWW - world wide web
HTTP - hyper text transfer protocol
ISP - internet service provider
API - application programming interface
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
etc etc etc

Originally Posted By: doppelGanger And I already told you what I fear, a bunch of uneducated morons.
I think you are going to have to define the term "uneducated morons" for me

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
I really don't see how shorthand degrades language. When I read OMG it conveys an identical meaning then if I read Oh my god.

In a sentence, a bunch of abbreviations and short hand, conveys the exact same meaning as a regular sentence. If the sentence is poorly written, it is as poorly written in regular language as it is in short hand. The problem isn't the change of the language, it's the application of it. I think peoples grasp of language is declineing, but I think this has more to do with television and movies and efficient casual communication then anything else. When ink was expensive, and writeing a letter was slow and tedious with a quill pen, and it cost a lot to deliver your mail and it didn't get their quickly, people put a lot of effort into writeing quality letters. Today, you can mash out a message on your cell phone for a fraction of a cent and have it delivered instantly with drasticly less time and effort as before. If you read old letters and diarys, even common pepople had a greater mastery of language then people did today.

Secondly, if you presume that people who use shorthand are dumb, and you strongly believe that language is dumbing down and everyones getting stupid, then you will be more likely to perceive that anything you read in shorthand is dumb, and that everyone is dumb, and getting dumber.

The less people know the more they believe

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: ben-ja-menOriginally Posted By: doppelGangerWell for one, note taking is for one's self, not a communication tool.
Are you really being serious? Im going to assume that you are, abbriviations are used everywhere to speed up communication, if i had to talk to other tech people using the unabrivated version it would take forever, some examples

WWW - world wide web
HTTP - hyper text transfer protocol
ISP - internet service provider
API - application programming interface
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
etc etc etc

Originally Posted By: doppelGanger And I already told you what I fear, a bunch of uneducated morons.
I think you are going to have to define the term "uneducated morons" for me

You're not impressing me. I am very familiar with abbreviations and short hand, there is a line of distinction that I don't think your acknowledging. If you can't take the extra two seconds to write 'be right back,' then I really don't want to talk to you. It's that simple, and again I would like to express that it's a personal opinion, and I really don't give a damn what you think or your argument. I don't like it, I'm not going to like it, and your pointing out internet protocols that I am intimately familiar with is not helping your argument.

I really don't talk to people that send me texts consisting of archaic BS, and I don't really need to argue that point with you, because again, I could care less what you think of my standards. So... yes? I am being serious.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: railspinnerSecondly, if you presume that people who use shorthand are dumb, and you strongly believe that language is dumbing down and everyones getting stupid, then you will be more likely to perceive that anything you read in shorthand is dumb, and that everyone is dumb, and getting dumber.

You have a nasty habit of not reading and or comprehending anything I say, yet insisting on posting anyway. I think I said what you said at least twice before in this very thread. Yeah, I do perceive them as dumb, and yeah, I am more likely to perceive them as dumb. I am not denying that. Thanks for pointing out my point in an argument against me... again.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Quote:
I really don't talk to people that send me texts consisting of archaic BS, and I don't really need to argue that point with you, because again, I could care less what you think of my standards.

Maybe you should learn the language before you start trashing people for not adhering to it.

The less people know the more they believe

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGanger...not to say I think those people are idiots right off the bat...

That's for you ben-ja-min and railspinner. READ.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGanger there is a line of distinction that I don't think your acknowledging. If you can't take the extra two seconds to write 'be right back,' then I really don't want to talk to you.
How is writing brb instead of be right back any different from writing ISP instead of internet service provider?

Originally Posted By: doppelGanger I really don't talk to people that send me texts consisting of archaic BS, and I don't really need to argue that point with you
so you posted it in a discussion forum because ..... ?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
I don't write ISP, I write internet service provider.

[Old link]

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGangerI don't write ISP, I write internet service provider.
so you agree that there is no difference then?

Originally Posted By: doppelGangerNot that I really need to give you a reason, but here you go.
so what was it that you where looking to discuss in this thread exactly?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Once again I would like to point out that the line of distinction is lost on you.

And I think if you still haven't figured out what this thread is about you should leave, as it is very clearly stated in the first post what it is about. I don't like txtspk, and I am here to say I don't; once again, I could care less about your embracing it.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
You are more than welcome to give your opinion, but your arguing is annoying.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
you stating that you dislike something is not a discussion. Apart from "i dont like it" you havnt offered any distinction between the two uses of shorthand, if you are unable to articulate the distinction just say so.

"Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves."
George Gordon, Lord Byron : English poet
Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)

food for thought

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: ben-ja-menyou stating that you dislike something is not a discussion. Apart from "i dont like it" you havnt offered any distinction between the two uses of shorthand, if you are unable to articulate the distinction just say so.

"Those who will not reason, are bigots, those who cannot, are fools, and those who dare not, are slaves."
George Gordon, Lord Byron : English poet
Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)

food for thought

Yeah cover your invectives in a quote, here you go @$$ I'll spell it out for you, as if it is not obvious:

TXTSPK Is the garbage you receive on your phone in messages, emails, and crappy internet posts: Here

All your inadequate examples are in a technically savvy realm where there is no threat of turning into a retarded zombie, the acronyms were also coined at the time of inventing the protocol or what have you. And they were not coined by little 8 year old's in some chat room.

If you still don't see the distinction then I would re-consider my previous suggestion of leaving and or leaving the annoying argument at the door.

My apologies I didn't think I had to dumb it down that far for you to get it.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: railspinnerQuote:
I really don't talk to people that send me texts consisting of archaic BS, and I don't really need to argue that point with you, because again, I could care less what you think of my standards.

Maybe you should learn the language before you start trashing people for not adhering to it.

Archaic: of, relating to, or characteristic of an earlier or more primitive time.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/archaic

That was pretty petty railspinner.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Ah see thats what I was missing, I wasnt aware that some acronyms are magic and can turn a normal person into a "retarded zombie"

thanks for the clarification.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous and talented? Who are you NOT to be?

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
I am glad you can finally see the line.

Human

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
I personally use "brb" for the fantastic reason that if I need to leave the PC I'd rather just do it, it helps if I really need to be swift.

I occasionally use abbreviations in an sms message also because otherwise it may have to be spread over two messages, costing me more money needlessly.

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
Originally Posted By: doppelGanger I am glad you can finally see the line.

Yep...there's a line there.

I agree, textspk is stupid when used in a format like this, it denotes laziness more than anything else but it just so happens that people who write in that style don't really have anything much interesting to say.

I'm not fussed with the odd bit of shorthand, like OP, OMG, in fact in the poi world we have our own brand of shorthand used to describe moves CS, BTB, OTH etc with the full text being as tedious to read as it is to type out.

But crap like this...

Quote:Yeah, the doctors I go talk to say lol ur in 4 sum trble cuz u smoke 2 much

is just plain annoying, and if I can't get the message by reading that sentence the first time I read it, I won't reread it in an attempt to decipher it, preferring instead to label it as gibberish.

I don't think we have much of a problem with it here ion Hop, contrary to Doc's post, but in any other forum that I use if you try typing like that, you get a spanking.

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
[Old link]


Yes - excessive use of textpeak is irritating.

FFS though, everyone uses reductions in text. Hundreds of them are now considered legitimate.

Posted: 18th Jan 2009
h3h3 7h1$ 7hr34Ð 1$ ƒµ££ 0ƒ 73h £µ£2

£0£ £0£ £0£

Ben's points on shorthand being a useful tool is very valid indeed.

But I think there is a distinction between txt speak and shorthand.

If I get a text in shorthand, or a post on a forum or whatever, I'd ignore it. Other than that, frothing at the mouth about it (something I used to do), really isn't worth it.



Originally Posted By: Ben-ja-menif i had to talk to other tech people using the unabrivated version it would take forever, some examples

WWW - world wide web
HTTP - hyper text transfer protocol
ISP - internet service provider
API - application programming interface
SMTP - Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.
etc etc etc


Irony

The existance of flamethrowers says that someone, somewhere, at sometime said "I need to set that thing on fire, but it's too far away."