OK, ellis, take a peek into the Bible and see if you can figure out whether it is a name or a job title. Here are a few clues to keep in mind: “Yahweh,” “Jehovah,” “Adonai,” “I am the LORD your God.” Anyway, that part of this discussion is inconsequential; suffice to say that within the constraints of the Judeo-Christian religion, his name is not “God.”
In any case, to start with, “caps” may be an abbreviation, but it is perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written communication, particularly in the media/broadcasting/publishing worlds. Simply avoiding capitalizing any words, especially at the beginnings of sentences, is rarely considered a good communication skill anywhere. It’s simply lazy. I can’t imagine that it takes any serious effort or expenditure or energy to hit the “Shift” key. And, in fact, I nearly always skip posts by posters who don’t use it.
well, pldennison, i still fail to see why not pressing the “shift” key is any lazier than not taking the time to type out “two.”
Now, if you’d simply taken the same tack as Frankd6, and answered my question civily, I might have taken the (admittedly minor) time to use capital letters in addressing your points. Instead, you were an asshole and tried to show off your “superior” intellect. I asked a simple question. I realize that this is the Pit, but it didn’t seem to be a very flame-filled thread. Therefore, I don’t think it was too far-fetched for me to expect a civil reply. Instead, you responded with a flame, and a poorly thought-out one at that. Next time, proof-read before you post if you’re trying to look smarter than another member of the Teeming Millions.
Because “two” and “2” are visually equal,
while the absence of a capital letter at
the beginning of a sentence forces the
reader to do a double-take if they missed
the period in between. You are therefore
being lazy in that you are forcing your
reader to work harder at understanding you
than you worked in the first place.
(trembling with anticipation)
Byz, hope you don’t mind that i don’t always
use caps. i hear it’s not the size of the “I”
that matters, anyway.
(he gasps eagerly)
well, pldennison, it looks like GOD doesn’t particularly care what s/he is called, now does it? and, in any case, if you’d look a little more closely, you’d notice an “and such” in my first post, which would cover nicely your complaint that God is not a proper name.
while you’re pondering this (“Why yes, ellis, I did make a mistake”), you might get around to answering a few of the points i raised about your post.
and, finally, if that wasn’t a flame, does that mean that you’re just a confrontational asshole naturally? or were you just trying to work off a little anger after the sheep turned down your advances?
Whatever, ellis. I’m still curious as to exactly how much time and energy is supposedly expended hitting “Shift.” The only conclusion I can draw from your dodge is that you are one lazy motherfucker.
Byzantine whispered to TennHippie:
I’ve heard the expression “Eyes as big as dinner plates”
and I’ve heard “An eye for an I”
So if you combine the two
“I as big as dinner plates”
It makes for an interesting statement about your “I”
There once was a writer named Byz
Who at flirting was quite a whiz.
Not sure of her bent,
Or which way she went,
I said “If you want, please call me Liz.”
there once was a siren with green eyes
who chastised me 'bout big and little i’s
she’d said she’d bend over
in a field of irish clover
if only i’d capitalize
You’re worried about the time/energy to use the shift key? Hey, how about the time needed to use vowels? nd gnrlly u cn ndrstnd xctly wht I’m typng w/out mst f thm.
It’s not just ability to understand, it’s ability to EASILY understand. I rarely correct grammar on these Boards, but I am sympathetic to the argument that one should try to make one’s writings easily understood by others.
That’s especially true if we have posters here for whom English is a second language. It’s difficult enough for them, why make it harder by using poor grammar or by misspelling?
I’m an articulate feller,
But my girlfriend’s a terrible speller.
She “cybers” quite well,
Though her English is hell,
And I’m too distracted to tell’er.
dere wuz dis kid from brooklyn
whoze english wuz badder den it shudda been
he met byzantine
she put a Cap in his Knee
now he limps, but his english is improvin
Let me make my position quite clear
I hold all of you here very dear
your words and your thoughts
some pitiful, some snots
but your examples of grammar I fear
