Text Speak, Let's Stamp It Out!

[Dcontrol]

Right as of late there has been loads of text speak on the forums and people have been complaining. It is not hard to type out the full word. One of the most common words being used at the moment is "ppl" which means people. This has to stop because it is infuriating members of the site. It also *puts on moderators hat :D* is in conflict with rule number #1 of the forum which is

1. Spamming. Spam stands for Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages. This means don't just post one word or otherwise useless replies. Text speak is also generally not allowed. Text Speak was created for mobile phones that have a character limit, these forums do not have a character limit in your post, so please do not post messages containing Text Speak that can be hard to read.

Although it isn't spam it is text speak. Also I've noticed a few members using asterisks in their posts, this is strictly forbidden but only as long as you aren't suggesting a swear word. Please can monster members old and new adhere to these rules. *takes off moderators hat*

You can discuss away............

[damien©]

I agree, could we also stop the "Do you like me" threads aswell...

Remember I'm a Lover not a Fighter!

BTW That is my attempt at being funny again!

Whats the official 360monster.com view on using the likes of BTW, LOL, STFU, etc...

[Dcontrol]

I agree, could we also stop the "Do you like me" threads aswell...

Remember I'm a Lover not a Fighter!

BTW That is my attempt at being funny again!

Whats the official 360monster.com view on using the likes of BTW, LOL, STFU, etc...

Officially I'm not sure but I personally don't mind lol or btw. STFU is a bit abusive in my eyes.

[KatzMotel]

wut r u ppl complaining about????

*****
STFU
*****

...

**

[JJBDude]

I understand that it can be annoying for members to see text speak on the forums, but I don't think this should mean people have to stop typing the way they do.

I always suggest to people to type with appropriate grammar so that others can understand what you are trying to say better but at the end of the day I think it's a personal choice. If this thread is to try and encourage people to get rid of text speak then fair enough, but I've gained the impression that this thread hasn't been created to encourage, but instead to force.....

[damien©]

I understand that people can be bad at spelling or grammar or just plain typing errors. However using Text Speak is on purpose where as the others may be done to some form of disability, poor education or just an accident.

My point Text Speak is on Purpose, Bad Spelling and Grammar isn't.

[carocat]

Well, I just made a post in another thread using the word 'ppl' and then I read this... 'Ppl' is pretty much the only word I abbreviate.

Now, although I agree with you, as it is really hard to read, there may be some people (see, I've made an effort!) who are dyslexic or just never paid attention in school.

Imo (is that allowed?) it is a slippery slope asking people (again!) to abandon the way they type and post.

But, if you or another member of staff could provide us with a list of allowed abbreviations, that would be great! :)

[KatzMotel]

Now, although I agree with you, as it is really hard to read, there may be some people (see, I've made an effort!) who are dyslexic or just never paid attention in school.
As aforementioned though, text talk is purposefully implemented. Any idiot knows how to spell 'you'... some just choose not to.

[linkofhyrule]

I'm definitely with you, D. I won't name names but there are two or three people who have been using nothing but text speak, with no grammar. It's really annoying because I have to take an extra minute or two to make sure I'm reading it right.

I'm totally fine with people using "u", "ppl", and a few other things once in a while, but when sentences read like this: "hay u ppl shud talk 2 Jim bout that game were playin 2nite", I get .

I don't mind "lol", "btw", "wtf", "lmao" or any other of those abbreviations, where each letter means something and they're pretty widely known, because I tend to use them some, and I think they're pretty easy to understand since there's maybe one in a sentence.

Now, I'm off to spank my pet monkey. Wee! :D

[D4VY]

As aforementioned though, text talk is purposefully implemented. Any idiot knows how to spell 'you'... some just choose not to.

Some just don't know how too. :)

[Dcontrol]

wut r u ppl complaining about????

*****
STFU
*****

...

**

Theres always one! I knew someone would do it to me! :D

The thing is some people treat the forum as if it is one big messenger conversation on times and everybody has used abbreviations or variations of words when they have been in a messenger conversation. I see it regular on my messenger conversations I doesn't bother me I am used to it. But the forum is a different matter as it is used by people from different countries and they may not understand what has been written if it is abbreviated, even though we might know individually. Quite happy with the response so far. Keep your views coming.

[AfroJoe]

Whats the official 360monster.com view on using the likes of BTW, LOL, STFU, etc...

I don't actually have a problem with that stuff because people generally know what it means and doesn't get on my nerves as much as the whole "hu r u?" type stuff. You know, the really un-necessary shortening of 3-letter words.

[brum]

ok if abbriviations annoy you (text speak)! then you should stamp it all out you cant allow 'wtf' and 'stfu' but not allow things like 'y' or 'ppl' its the moden generation! so you either say no to all or just dont read that certain bit of thread that has 'text language'

young ones now adays!

[AfroJoe]

Why not, though, seeing as they're completely different things?

"WTF", "STFU", etc, are abbreviations for phrases, whereas "y" and "ppl" are simply watered-down versions of words that really don't NEED to be shortened.

[AK.]

that text thing really does my head, it needs to stop, and im alrite with btw stfu, tbh etc....

[Dcontrol]

ok if abbriviations annoy you (text speak)! then you should stamp it all out you cant allow 'wtf' and 'stfu' but not allow things like 'y' or 'ppl' its the moden generation! so you either say no to all or just dont read that certain bit of thread that has 'text language'

young ones now adays!

As it was said it isn't about personal preference since it doesn't bother me too much. I've had people complaining to me about text speak so therefore it must be acted upon since it really annoys people. One of the last things we want is for members not to use our forums just because of the way someone types.

I didn't say that "wtf" and "stfu" would be allowed. I have said that text speak should be stamped out in general. I know people are going to have different views on this topic but thats what a forum is for discussions. We will see what happens further down the line.

[WACCOE]

*doesn't read rest of fred*

*again*

Anyway, telling people who ae used to talking in Text Speak to start tying normally is like starting to tell everyone to use correct grammar etc, when in actual fact it's an internet forum and some people just really can't be assed.

[brum]

i was just saying what i said as an open statement, i prefer using full words but using 'ppl' to me is the same as using 'wtf'!
but anyway upto mods that they want to do!

[backin-strachan]

IMO I think this is a bit much. Who doesnt text speak, hardly anyone but there are hardly any people on here that do. I havent seen much. If I am in a rush to finish a post I will perhaps use it but generally I will print the whole word but tbh I think this is a bit much.

[padds78]

Well ill sit on the fence on this one:D because it does not bother me either way :D :D

[backin-strachan]

Yeah same hear but the fence Im sitting on is hanging over allowing text words rather than not allowing them:)

[just Jam Man]

Well i think the likes of BTW etc. are TLA's (three letter acronyms) and there isn't much wrong with them as they are prt of teh english language! Your never gona stop people using text speak! I just wish this forum would be less harsh it makes everyone more tense! It should just be laid back!

[WACCOE]

I think we should stop the use of the word 'teh' as it is for full-on gays - who think they are 1337.

[carocat]

Is there a spellcheck on this?

[Tobes]

http://www.360monster.com/forum/showthread.php?p=78823#post78823

Boom tish...

Teh only thing (yeh TB, I am 1337) I have a problem with is that ^^^.

LOL, BTW etc are like people have said acronyms so there all good.

STFU is a bit extreme so if you see me using it you know I'm . Yeh damn right I said . But hey I saw it in a preview on this site so it must be cool.

[Tobes]

OH BTW if people want to download the google taskbar it has a built in spell check. I use it to check most of my posts before I post. The one thing I do do is rewrite the word I misspelled so I try not to misspell it in the future. Yeh I got a C in English and yeh I do write for a popular news site.

[AfroJoe]

Shame it can't fix your grammar, eh? ;)

[bingo83]

I dont see there being a problem with the so called text speak, it has been adopted into modern language and anyone on the internet who uses or has heard of MSN Messenger, Trillian or any similar software will know all the meanings of all the abreviations.

Its not as if people post in entirely Text Speak so there is no real problem.

[damien©]

Do people use Text Speak on MSN Messenger?

Haven't came across it myself.... Maybe I'm not chatting on there enough.

[carocat]

Or maybe you're not chatting to the right ppl?

[just Jam Man]

ppl?

omg lol that has just wee'd all over this thread! LOLdihino

[linkofhyrule]

Its not as if people post in entirely Text Speak so there is no real problem.
Actually, as of late I have seen a few recent new members posting with no grammar whatsoever and all text speak. I'm not bothered by a few words like that in a whole post, but I really hate posts that are all text speak (N)

[WACCOE]

Do people use Text Speak on MSN Messenger?

Haven't came across it myself.... Maybe I'm not chatting on there enough.

You MUST be joking?


95% of ppl speak in Text Speak on MSN.

(:/)

[Fleeboi]

Text speak is faggatory, but 1337 speak saves you a little time and effort. Grammar is a must, I hate reading things without any punctuation and bad spelling, the less of that the better.

Worst thing is smileys, I don't mind the odd one, but loads of them on the screen at once annoy me, particularly the monkey one, curse you Thornbag. lol.

[carocat]

What about things like d/l?

[Tobes]

That would be a acronym

[WACCOE]

That would be an acronym

Tut tut.

:D



What dya (<--- w/e) mean "curse me", Wilkie? :p

[Killer 57]

Honestly, I'm not all that bothered about Text Speak, Yeah it's annoying at times, but I can look past it, As long as they're readable I don't have a problem with it. I also see a lot of you going on about bad grammar, as it was pointed out earlier in this thread, bad grammar isn't intentional, Well Most of the time, and cracking down on it would just be ridicules, considering almost this entire forum uses bad grammar on a occasion ( Except for BL and AJ, AJ caught me misusing "your" once :( ).

Anyway I'm tired, been working all weekend and today.

[WACCOE]

I Class This as been gay Aswell.

¬_¬

[D4VY]

Text speak is just a quicker way of getting out what you're trying to say I spose. It also encourages lazyness in my opinion.

Man I sounded like an old man then...

[ArtG]

I dont see there being a problem with the so called text speak, it has been adopted into modern language and anyone on the internet who uses or has heard of MSN Messenger, Trillian or any similar software will know all the meanings of all the abreviations.

Its not as if people post in entirely Text Speak so there is no real problem.

The problem that I personally have with "text speak" is that it translates into real life situations. I helped one of my teachers grade some papers back in high school. Some of the papers were downright awful and actually included "text speak" in them. Kids that young should never fully adopt text speak. I don't mind not capitializing things, but it goes too far and could be harmful to children in their schoolwork, which can have a big impact.

I shiver to think what they would write if they had to write them on paper rather than in a word processor, which can catch some errors.

I'll admit, I'm somewhat of a "grammar nazi" but I think everyone should make a conscious effort to at least write how they would write as if they were writing a rough draft for a paper or something. Errors will always happen, but as long as things are readable, it gives your words more power if they are written correctly.

/Grammar nazi off.

[carocat]

The problem that I personally have with "text speak" is that it translates into real life situations. I helped one of my teachers grade some papers back in high school. Some of the papers were downright awful and actually included "text speak" in them. Kids that young should never fully adopt text speak. I don't mind not capitializing things, but it goes too far and could be harmful to children in their schoolwork, which can have a big impact.

I shiver to think what they would write if they had to write them on paper rather than in a word processor, which can catch some errors.

I'll admit, I'm somewhat of a "grammar nazi" but I think everyone should make a conscious effort to at least write how they would write as if they were writing a rough draft for a paper or something. Errors will always happen, but as long as things are readable, it gives your words more power if they are written correctly.

/Grammar nazi off.

So how should this be implemented on an Internet forum? Slap on the wrist, telling off, ban?

[Raisedbyflames]

haha then you will love me spelling

[ArtG]

So how should this be implemented on an Internet forum? Slap on the wrist, telling off, ban?

Nothing can be done, sadly. You can't ban someone or punish someone for their spelling and grammar (or lack thereof). Most of it is unintentional and already a habit that is hard to break.

[carocat]

Nothing can be done, sadly. You can't ban someone or punish someone for their spelling and grammar (or lack thereof). Most of it is unintentional and already a habit that is hard to break.

Well, it is stated in the forum rules:

1. Spamming. Spam stands for Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages. This means don't just post one word or otherwise useless replies. Text speak is also generally not allowed. Text Speak was created for mobile phones that have a character limit, these forums do not have a character limit in your post, so please do not post messages containing Text Speak that can be hard to read.

Question is, as Text Speak is clearly stated as against the forum rules. That said something to ensure that forum rules are maintained needs to be implemented.

Several other things stated in the forum rules will incur bans...

[damien©]

You MUST be joking?


95% of ppl speak in Text Speak on MSN.

(:/)

NAr, use abbreviations and others like LOL, BTW and that...

But it's defiantly not text speak. I'm not good at that text speak crap anyway even on my mobile, thats probably explains why I don't or people I talk to don't.

Why would you use text speak if you had a keyboard, surely you only use text speak on a mobile because it's easier and you have a character limit.

[ArtG]

Well, it is stated in the forum rules:

Question is, as Text Speak is clearly stated as against the forum rules. That said something to ensure that forum rules are maintained needs to be implemented.

Several other things stated in the forum rules will incur bans...

I suppose, but it would be a huge undertaking to try to stamp it all out, especially with the boards growing day by day. It would need the dedication of all the members to report the text speak to the moderators and administrators to keep it clean. Speaking on a personal level, though, I don't think forums are meant to be English classes. Unless it is to the point where the post is totally unreadable, moderation time is better spent by deleting or editing offensive posts, not making sure all the posters are using correct grammar and avoiding acronyms like "ppl".

If you look at the poll on the front page, 40 percent of our readership (so far) is 20 years old or younger and because these people were growing up when the Internet was beginning to become so integral to Western lifestyle, the age group isn't necessarily a bastion of spelling and grammar. (I'm a part of that age group and I'm sorry to any of the same age group I offend, but you have to admit the writing and grammar /spelling of our age group is generally appalling.)

Are we to potentially discipline 40 percent of our readership over a couple of acronyms and spelling and grammar errors and take up the moderation teams' time and the staff's time for this when there are much more important things at hand? Besides, other than a few posters, our forum members are extremely good at keeping their messages coherent and mistake/acronym free. (Especially when you look at some other gaming forum websites.)

[carocat]

I agree, I was just trying to contribute to the discussion. All I'm trying to say is that although some (few) member use text speak it is not the majority and it is imo impossible to enforce. :)

[ArtG]

I agree, I was just trying to contribute to the discussion. All I'm trying to say is that although some (few) member use text speak it is not the majority and it is imo impossible to enforce. :)

Sorry if I came off belligerent at all. :) Just contributing to the discussion as well. (Y)

[carocat]

Sorry if I came off belligerent at all. :) Just contributing to the discussion as well. (Y)

Nah, you didn't. I just realised my post wasn't clear enough! :)

[Dcontrol]

Post #47 I do agree with you ArtG as you make some valid points. But as you may have read it is not me you have to convince it is the members that are really annoyed by the text speak. Its a shame I must spread some rep around before giving it to you again as it was worthy of rep and I can relate to what you are saying. I will rep you another time when I can (Y)

Some wise words which are appreciated.

[RiLu@]

I dont know what's the problem with this thing you call "text speak", it doesn't go against anybody, it's not offensive.

Just don't it at school!!

Remember FREEDOM OF SPEACH