# Capitalizing. If it's that important to you, say so here. Maybe I'll change. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2001, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888 "2001-01-19T17:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/41 "2001-01-22T04:15:34Z")
The eye strain arguement makes sense to me, but I couldn’t really care either way - as long as my name is spelled lower-case with an exclaimation mark… punk snot dead, broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/42 "2001-01-22T06:15:07Z")
> [@](#): > > **TVeblen** : Speaking only for myself, and without intending offense, that was hard to read, hazel-rah. Oh, I could do it but I had to slow down and take it almost word-by-word to get your meaning. haha, yeah, but was it because of the lack of capitalization or the run-on sentences? having got my rant about overly strict grammarians and a defense of hopelessly unreformable chatters off my chest, I defer, particularly to **wring**. Not so bad. I could get used to it. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Spritle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Spritle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spritle)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/43 "2001-01-22T12:37:02Z")
If God had wanted us to use the shift key, he would have given us pinky fingers. (that and booger removal) ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/44 "2001-01-22T13:25:18Z")
Since I’m late getting to this thread, I’ll just echo what others have said more eloquently than I could. I tend to skip over poorly written posts, because they are harder to read, and I will assume the writer isn’t that intelligent and has nothing valuable to add to the discussion. That sounds rather elitist, and I don’t do that in f/f conversation with people. I find that uneducated (in the formal sense) often do have valuable & interesting things to say. Unless you are ee cummings, Capitalize! 🙂 Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/45 "2001-01-22T13:34:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spritle \* > \*\*If God had wanted us to use the shift key, he would have given us pinky fingers. (that and booger removal) \*\* I happen to have two pinkies! You’re free to rent one if you’d like! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![racerx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5e9695/32.png) [@racerx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racerx)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/46 "2001-01-22T15:50:08Z")
Ahhhh. I appreciate everyone who was able to give an opinion in a non-kill-racerx manner. It makes me feel loved. I will try to use ol’ shifty in my posts, mostly for **wring**. I never considered vision a problem in communication, but now that I know, I would be inconsiderate to ignore this information. I started not using caps in InstMessages and prolly developed a bad habit that leaked into other online communication. FTR, I must break the mold, because I have a BA in Journalism with a minor in English (career in writing) and I don’t really care if others use caps and I wouldn’t dream of correcting them for improper usage (unless they asked me to.) I’ve always considered content and ideas more important than presentation. I also think it is wrong to assume that someone is of a lower intelligence because they don’t use caps and “proper” english. That sounds like prejudice to me. But I’ve never been one who seeks to change the world, so think how you will. Thanks again for the honesty. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/47 "2001-01-22T18:46:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hazel-rah \* > \*\* > Not so bad. I could get used to it. > > \*\* Oh, bravo, hazel-rah! I hope you’re not deafened by the sound of the wild applause coming at you from my computer. Cheers! delphica ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/48 "2001-01-23T22:44:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racerx \* > \*\* > Sorry for the egregious blunder with the name, Wonko. It’s Wonko the Sane, isn’t it. Pretend I just sent you a cyber muffin basket (with little robot muffins). One more time, sorry. \*\* If you just use capital letters only at the beginning of sentences and then only on the first letter of a word, or proper name, then I will be happy (and sane). Just don’t use every letter in a 4200 word post in upper-case (not every other either) capitalized and I’ll be happy. May the insanity re-commence! ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/49 "2001-01-23T22:58:37Z")
Cool name racerx! and thanks for the awesome robot muffins! ---
**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888/50 "2001-01-24T03:42:56Z")
I am firmly in favor of appropriate capitalization. Although I’m not severely impaired in the vision department, my eyes aren’t like new anymore and are no longer under warranty. I’ve worn glasses since I was thirteen, and to listen to the salesperson at the optical shop, I’m gonna need a crane to put my next pair of glasses on if I persist in using glass (as opposed to plastic) lenses. I’m a capitalist (so sue me – I like the pun) because it makes it easier for me to parse the message. If you really do not intend for others to read what you have to say and consider the merits of your message, then the lack of capitalization is no matter. You will be taken seriously by (and cause less eyestrain to) a wider audience if you show consideration for others in this admittedly small way. ~~Baloo [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/capitalizing-if-its-that-important-to-you-say-so-here-maybe-ill-change/50888.md?page=2)