# Proposed rule: No textspeak; capitals are mandatory **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293 "2012-03-30T16:03:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/21 "2012-03-30T17:35:02Z")
Hopefully the subject poster will succumb to peer pressure. It has been a long journey, but my spelling has improved markedly in an effort to raise myself to the general standard found on the dope. That and better spell checkers. That said, text speak is an abomination. It needs to die. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/22 "2012-03-30T17:37:22Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > H8ters You mean [this guy](http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/alicepic/disney-movie/mad-hatter-1.jpg)? I also agree with the OP, though I’m also a huge non-proponent of new rules. If it’s not implemented I won’t lose any sleep - but my ignore list will continue to increase. Note to the Shift Key deficient crowd: your “style” is stupid. Your “voice” does not make you unique - it just makes you annoying. I’m sure you have wonderful things to say and contribute - but I’m just not up to the task of allowing myself to become all Mr. Crankypants just to read the three sentences you wrote. It may be my loss for allowing your infinite wisdom into my life - but I’m fully prepared to live with that. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/23 "2012-03-30T17:55:13Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I appreciate textspeak; it helps me to quickly identify idiots and 16-year olds so I can disregard their posts accordingly. The problem is that nobody else does. The threads in question are fairly popular and attract a great deal of traffic. So whatever he’s doing, it seems 2 b working. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/24 "2012-03-30T17:58:17Z")
omg wut lol ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/25 "2012-03-30T18:24:41Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > omg wut > lol +1 ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/26 "2012-03-30T18:27:02Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I appreciate textspeak; it helps me to quickly identify idiots and 16-year olds so I can disregard their posts accordingly. This is exactly how I feel about the whole thing… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/27 "2012-03-30T19:34:54Z")
Look, generally a “rule” does not = “banning”. I have no problems with a generally worded rule that would allow Mods to warn abusers of textspeak. But I think that we should only enforce it in case of extreme abusers. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/28 "2012-03-30T19:49:23Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > omg wut > lol > [@Tom\_Scud](#): > > +1 Th1s. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/29 "2012-03-30T20:10:07Z")
I have many issues with how the TelevisionWithoutPity (TWoP) forums are moderated and run, but one thing I do appreciate is their rule against using textspeak or e.e. cummings emulation. Their ‘Do/Don’t’ section regarding posting includes: > [@TWoP Forum Guidelines](#): > > DON’T post “Me Too!” messages; add something of substance to the conversation > > DON’T sign your posts > > DO use proper spelling, capitalization, punctuation, et cetera > > DON’T pimp your site or product, et cetera > > DON’T post copyrighted articles; link to them > > DON’T post the same thing in multiple areas; pick a spot and go with it Concise and pretty clear. I’m not saying their forums are a bastion of intelligence and clarity, but they are pretty free of messages that look as if they were texted by a 12-year-old. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/30 "2012-03-30T20:21:04Z")
I want to dispel a Urban Legend here. E. E. Cummings only used “e.e. cummings” as part of his poetry. On a regular day to day basis, he usually used E. E. Cummings. But I’d say “\*We expect a attempt _to use proper spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc”. (I also want to say that on a scale of 1-10_in ”moderation”, the SDMB is about a 8, that place is about a 3. ) \*Where 10= good. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/31 "2012-03-30T20:27:25Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Seems to me like we’ve been pretty good at enforcing standard spelling/grammar via peer pressure, ridicule, and shunning. Hear, hear! That’s the spirit that made this Board the institution it is today! ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/32 "2012-03-30T20:46:53Z")
I think we should ban peer pressure, ridicule, and shunning as well. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/33 "2012-03-30T21:02:56Z")
> [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > The problem is that nobody else does. The threads in question are fairly popular and attract a great deal of traffic. So whatever he’s doing, it seems 2 b working. Which leads one to wonder, if the argument against textspeak is based on the concept of clarity and discussion, but the poster du jour who uses it the most has very active threads with posts that are plainly understood by the majority of the board’s population, what exactly is the problem? Let those who don’t mind alternative forms of writing have their fun and those who feel the vapors coming on can retire to another, more erudite discussion until they’ve recovered. And I hate TWOP because they have one thread for every show and fuck that noise, I don’t want to hunt through 200 pages to find the 20 posts about the episode I just watched. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/34 "2012-03-30T21:16:46Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Which leads one to wonder, if the argument against textspeak is based on the concept of clarity and discussion, but the poster du jour who uses it the most has very active threads with posts that are plainly understood by the majority of the board’s population, what exactly is the problem? Let those who don’t mind alternative forms of writing have their fun and those who feel the vapors coming on can retire to another, more erudite discussion until they’ve recovered. Yes, you’re right. In fact, let’s have animated smilies (no, wait, animated _avatars_), increased use of colours in posts (Grapist be damned), and much more Comic Sans. Yes, I said it. Comic Fucking Sans. I like Dr. Deth’s take. Not a rule of insta-warn, but the mods should clamp down on new posters who aren’t reacting to the intense “shunning” they get. If they’re sock/trolling, they’re not going to react to mod instructions. If they’re used to Yahoo than a mod note helps them join the community. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/35 "2012-03-30T21:22:27Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Yes, you’re right. In fact, let’s have animated smilies Ok. > [@](#): > > (no, wait, animated _avatars_) Sure. > [@](#): > > , increased use of colours in posts (Grapist be damned), Fine by me. > [@](#): > > and much more Comic Sans. > > Yes, I said it. Comic Fucking Sans. Neato. That’s all stuff that I can control on my end. If I don’t want to see smiles, avatars, unusual colors or fonts, I can modify the board or my browser to display things the way I like. It’s not my fault your idea is bad. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/36 "2012-03-30T21:29:00Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Yes, you’re right. In fact, let’s have animated smilies (no, wait, animated _avatars_), increased use of colours in posts (Grapist be damned), and much more Comic Sans. > > Yes, I said it. Comic Fucking Sans. > I like Dr. Deth’s take. Not a rule of insta-warn, but the mods should clamp down on new posters who aren’t reacting to the intense “shunning” they get. If they’re sock/trolling, they’re not going to react to mod instructions. If they’re used to Yahoo than a mod note helps them join the community. Thanks. Hey, I have read a bunch of hate about Comic Sans. Hardly my favorite. But I can’t see the hate.😕 Explain the joke to me, willya? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/37 "2012-03-30T21:56:02Z")
Here’s a relevant thread: [Why does everyone hate comic sans?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=514713). Some choice rationales in there. Search “intitle:comic sans site:straightdope.com” and you’ll see a few more. Aside from the more technical perspective, there’s this choice quote from \*\*pulykamell: \*\* > [@](#): > > Comic Sans is the font equivalent of dotting your i’s with open circles or, even worse, little hearts. I don’t hate it, per se, but I would never use it, just like I would never dot my i’s with circles. It’s not reflective of my personality. It’s also annoying as hell to read paragraphs written in Comic Sans, as the jiggly nature of the font slows down my reading and gets tiring after awhile. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/38 "2012-03-30T21:59:33Z")
> [@choie](#): > > I have many issues with how the TelevisionWithoutPity (TWoP) forums are moderated and run, but one thing I do appreciate is their rule against using textspeak or e.e. cummings emulation. Agreed. I came in here to mention TWoP’s rule. It’s just so satisfying to see the banhammer get dropped on some dumbass who posts in all-lowercase because he thinks The Man can’t tell him how to punctuate, or whatever. Anyway, I fully support a rule against posting without punctuation or capitalization. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/39 "2012-03-30T22:08:27Z")
In all fairness, text speak is a silly thing to get upset about. It’s far too easy to avoid reading it. We don’t need more rules. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293/40 "2012-03-30T22:44:37Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I agree that things like textspeak and no caps (or all caps) make me all crankypants, but do we really need an official rule? Seems to me like we’ve been pretty good at enforcing standard spelling/grammar via peer pressure, ridicule, and shunning. Anyone who’s going to stick around and fit in is going to be good about responding to a gentle, or not-so-gentle, “that’s not the way we do things around here” nudge. I love a good shunning. Very effective. It seems to me that very few people come here and communicate in poor English _on purpose_. When one comes along, he’s asked to knock it off, and the folks who are worth keeping are usually happy to comply. Those who don’t want to change their posting style tend to be those who will ignore other board rules, written or unwritten, and usually find the door hitting them on the way out. There’s no need to make “proper language” an official rule. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proposed-rule-no-textspeak-capitals-are-mandatory/617293.md?page=3)