Herein a Facebook message from my oldest niece. And what I wanted to say.

[GorillaMan]

@Harriet the Spry

If **Lobsang ** finds an opportunity to make sure she knows not to write like that on tests and job applications, I think he’s done his part.

I don’t think Lobsang needs to confirm this, given the following, which seems to me evidence enough that she’s not going to type everything like that:

@Lobsang

I’ve seen handwritten things from her that are perfect in both spelling and grammar (and with immaculate handwriting to boot).

@Kalhoun

Better off, meaning that if her text isn’t directed specifically at someone who can understand it, she might not be communicating clearly. This one was directed at her uncle. This one wasn’t as cryptic as a lot of the texting shorthand can be. My father would have a difficult time understanding this form of shorthand. I certainly don’t want to read a newspaper article in texting shorthand. There’s a time and place for it.

And a Facebook message to an uncle is, as far as I can see, a time and a place for it, should she wish. You yourself acknowledge that it didn’t stretch the boundaries of such communication. Newspaper articles have nothing to do with it.

[Kalhoun]

@GorillaMan

And a Facebook message to an uncle is, as far as I can see, a time and a place for it, should she wish. You yourself acknowledge that it didn’t stretch the boundaries of such communication. Newspaper articles have nothing to do with it.

And since I did acknowledge it, with qualifications, why did you feel the need to comment on my contribution to the thread as if it were out of line or somehow wrong???

[ZipperJJ]

At least your niece thinks you’re cool and hip enough to be “spoken to” like that, right?

You should just reply to her with “ORLY?”

That one makes me laugh.

[GorillaMan]

@Kalhoun

And since I did acknowledge it, with qualifications, why did you feel the need to comment on my contribution to the thread as if it were out of line or somehow wrong???

Because your advice to Lobsang was suggesting correcting the kid for inappropriate use of such writing, when there’s no evidence of inappropriate use, and your defence of this included comments about newspaper articles and your own father, which have absolutely nothing to do with it.

[Dangerosa]

@Leaffan

My 10 year old daughter IMs just like that too. But, as mentioned above by others, her school writing is impeccable. I was actually “chatting” with her yesterday using the Gmail chat feature. When I typed “Whazzup?” she replied with “Adults don’t type like that.”

How do you like them apples!

Unfortunately, if my chat windows at work (which we use extensively for business communication) are any indication - they do.

Some casual watercooler lol! in a chat window - acceptable - entire chat conversations asking for professional information that look like the come out of the WoW chat window - make the person look like an idiot.

Communication - in order to work - needs to be targeted towards the recipient. I’d probably just tell her that this particular recipient isn’t up on chat speak, finds it difficult to read, and slightly annoying.

I wouldn’t write a thank you note to my grandmother that used “thx” - but I might use “thx” in one of those business chats.

[chappachula]

I just asked my 16 year old neice about using “u” instead of you, 8 instead of wait, etc.

Her reaction–(after she finished rolling her eyes in exasperation at adult stupidity):
"What, do think I want to look like a dumb 7th grader? "

[Joey_P]

@Cisco

Cut her some slack, she’s 12. When I first got on AOL, age ~15, i WaNTeD To TaLK LiKe THiS OR IN ALL CAPS. It’s “fun”. You should take it as a compliment - she sees you as young and hip. She wouldn’t talk to some old fuddy duddy that way (per your assertion that she’s smarter than that.)

I know 20 year olds that write like their texting. It doesn’t make sense to me. I understand that when you’re texting, you can save a lot of time, but when your typing with a full keyboard?

[Santo_Rugger]

During a tech writing class in college, the professor mentioned that we should use proper punctuation and grammar in emails. I scoffed at the idea at the time. Then I joined the Dope.

@elbows

Just last week I was having a cup of tea with an accomplished young woman, in town looking for housing as she’ll be attending a prestigious university to take her Master’s degree. She was, in every way, intelligent, well spoken and poised.

Later in casual conversation she used the phrase, “True that!”.

I suddenly felt terribly, terribly old.

Speaking of college, I was in lecture with one of my favorite professors, probably discussing welded joints. I said something to the effect of, “Do we use the yield strength of the weaker of the parent and daughter for conservatism?” His very unexpected reply, “True that!” caused much laughter coming from a guy more than twice our age.