# i am a lazy typer... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 17, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870 "2011-10-17T01:31:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/81 "2011-10-17T18:54:44Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Do keep in mind that she started this thread herself in order to talk specifically about her use of ellipses and pointing out that none of us do it but she’ll do it anyways because she’s special. There is also the possibility that her written tic is specifically _intended_ to annoy. She wouldn’t be the first poster to do that. Regards, Turnip ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/82 "2011-10-17T19:09:24Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I haven’t seen anyone propose that she shouldn’t be “allowed” to post. (If someone has, I’ve missed it.) Most people have mainly been pointing out that if she wishes to communicate well and be taken seriously on the board, her posting style works against that. If she doesn’t care about that, then she doesn’t care. And she raised the issue herself - no one Pitted her for it. > > Why do you take the trouble to capitalize and punctuate correctly, exactly? She said she’d been on other boards, and seems to be aware her posting style could work against her. It seems to me if she feels it goes against her enough, she’ll stop posting. On the other hand, maybe she doesn’t want to be taken seriously. Who knows? And it’s no trouble for me to capitalize and punctuate correctly; it’s habit. ---
**Author:** ![maggenpye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@maggenpye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maggenpye)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/83 "2011-10-17T19:13:34Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > Shouldn’t it be “typist” instead of “typer?” How come no one’s griping about that? Huh? > > **~Olive~** of course you can post any way you want. I think you see, though, that some people will take you less seriously if you insist on indulging in an affectation by your own admission. > > My personal vote–not that you asked–is that I read each one as a pause. The little voice in my head that translates written words into thoughts insists that you sound like you’re pausing for longer than the normal time you would if we were having an actual conversation in person. Thank you so much. Yes, typist is correct. ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/84 "2011-10-17T19:17:44Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > spare us the hissy fits over the flak you get or the people who assume you’re a teenager. That’s all we ask. > > And Welcome to the boards! thanks… i promise …no hissy fits … ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/85 "2011-10-17T19:22:39Z")
Written language is meant to effectively convey a message and is already handicapped by the fact that the vast majority of communication is non-verbal. By writing in a manner that is less than precise, as has been noted in any number of different ways upthread, the writer is muddying their message. On a board whose entire _raison d’etre_ is fighting ignorance, why would a person who wishes to contribute here intentionally choose to make themselves more poorly understood? In my opinion, it’s poor form, but then again, whatever floats your boat… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/86 "2011-10-17T19:29:09Z")
I now appreciate the webcomic [Homestuck](http://www.mspaintadventures.com/) a lot more. People really do add affectations to their posting. (The comic pokes fun of it by giving insane typing quirks to a species called Trolls, and they even use it when talking to each other in person. It’s even referenced as a sort of accent.) And, no, I am not making any implications towards **~Olive~** by this post. I just think that, if you think this is bad, you ought to read that comic. Try, say, this “[Pesterlog](http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003982).” ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/87 "2011-10-17T19:38:20Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > i use ellipsis … Why do you use them? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/88 "2011-10-17T19:40:53Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > She said she’d been on other boards, and seems to be aware her posting style could work against her. It seems to me if she feels it goes against her enough, she’ll stop posting. Well, y’know, we’re not responsible for her feeling she doesn’t fit in. She chose to come here, and she raised the issue herself. She basically asked for input by starting this thread. People have given her pointers on how she can fit in better. It’s simply a matter of fact that on this particular board, her posting style _will_ work against her. It’s up to her if she wants to change that. > [@](#): > > On the other hand, maybe she doesn’t want to be taken seriously. Who knows? From her posts, I have the impression she doesn’t care one way or the other. > [@](#): > > And it’s no trouble for me to capitalize and punctuate correctly; it’s habit. And you fit in just fine…😉 ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/89 "2011-10-17T20:23:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Why do you take the trouble to capitalize and punctuate correctly, exactly? I notice that she was perfectly able to capitalize and use the shift key properly when she signed up for her user name. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/90 "2011-10-17T20:47:10Z")
Personally, I love ellipses. I use them all the time myself. I’ve even thought that I use them to excess. But apparently not as much as the OP because no one has called me out on them - at least not yet! Then again, perhaps I just don’t post enough for my ellipses habit to be particularly annoying! 🙂 Or maybe its just that I use them correctly. Yes, let’s go with that, shall we? 'Cuz it’s either that or the ‘invisible poster syndrome’…and that explanation, while fitting, is just too hard on my delicate ego! Yes, let’s just go with proper usage. 😃 The OP, on the other hand - well, let’s just say she’s like the Johnny Appleseed of ellipses, scattering them about willy-nilly, with most of those seeds falling on arid ground. Really, it makes me very afraid for the future of my favorite punctuation… ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/91 "2011-10-17T20:51:58Z")
> [@LilyoftheField](#): > > Personally, I love ellipses. I use them all the time myself. I’ve even thought that I use them to excess. But apparently not as much as the OP because no one has called me out on them - at least not yet! Then again, perhaps I just don’t post enough for my ellipses habit to be particularly annoying! 🙂 > > Or maybe its just that I use them correctly. Yes, let’s go with that, shall we? 'Cuz it’s either that or the ‘invisible poster syndrome’…and that explanation, while fitting, is just too hard on my delicate ego! Yes, let’s just go with proper usage. 😃 > > The OP, on the other hand - well, let’s just say she’s like the Johnny Appleseed of ellipses, scattering them about willy-nilly, with most of those seeds falling on arid ground. > > Really, it makes me very afraid for the future of my favorite punctuation… Hey! Stop stealing my bit, with the judicious use of ellipses and the being invisible! :mad: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/92 "2011-10-17T20:58:04Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > Why do you use them? it all started about 12 years ago when i got a virus that messed with my brain …i had a hard time typing out thoughts …typing this way was very helpful to me and it has become habit … ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/93 "2011-10-17T21:03:09Z")
A bad grammar, lazy typing, ellipse inducing brain virus. What’s not to love?😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/94 "2011-10-17T21:11:31Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > i am happy here … **so far you all seem like a nice group of people** …from all over …that is what i like …the diversity of people … (bolding mine) Take that back. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/95 "2011-10-17T21:17:55Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > i realize that little nemo …thanks for your suggestion… Ellipses, no ellipses, no problem. Capitalization, no caps, no problem. BUT, part of the board culture is that we show respect to other posters, and make it easier to note a user, by **bolding** their user names. Just a hint to help you fit in. 🙂 That said, I’m sure **little nemo** wasn’t offended. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/96 "2011-10-17T21:55:45Z")
If you want to be really typographically anal, the ellipsis character is this: … (option-; on the Mac, Alt+0133 on Windows) and not three periods in a row. (… vs …). And sentence-ending ellipses should really be an ellipsis character followed by a period. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/97 "2011-10-17T22:07:08Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > it all started about 12 years ago when i got a virus that messed with my brain …i had a hard time typing out thoughts …typing this way was very helpful to me and it has become habit … What happens if, instead of typing in three periods, you type in three periods followed by two backspace keys? Does that impair your thought process? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/98 "2011-10-17T22:18:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > If you want to be really typographically anal, the ellipsis character is this: … (option-; on the Mac, Alt+0133 on Windows) and not three periods in a row. (… vs …). And sentence-ending ellipses should really be an ellipsis character followed by a period. I can already see \*\*Olive \*\*sitting down and learning how to work this new symbol into her repertoire of punctuation marks. I’m sure she’s working on it right now. I can hardly wait for her next post! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/99 "2011-10-17T22:44:15Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I can already see \*\*Olive \*\*sitting down and learning how to work this new symbol into her repertoire of punctuation marks. I’m sure she’s working on it right now. I can hardly wait for her next post! And don’t make me whip out a post explaining the difference between (and keyboard shortcuts for) a hyphen, an en-dash, and an em-dash! ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870/100 "2011-10-17T22:45:23Z")
> [@\_Olive](#): > > it all started about 12 years ago when i got a virus that messed with my brain …i had a hard time typing out thoughts …typing this way was very helpful to me and it has become habit … Uh-huh. Try harder next time, kid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-a-lazy-typer/599870.md?page=6)