# The SDMB has ruined forums for me.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-has-ruined-forums-for-me/479575
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 2, 2009, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-has-ruined-forums-for-me/479575 "2009-01-02T08:45:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 6
### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-has-ruined-forums-for-me/479575/101 "2009-01-07T21:09:28Z")
> [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](#):
>
> If capitalization, spelling and grammar are not being followed in an adequate manner, communication will be muddied. If that poor writing so puts off some readers that they can’t or wont try to penetrate it, then the communication has failed. I don’t think that’s snobby or elitist, but rather a simple reality of dealing with sloppy or incompetent writing.
Thank you. I thought I had been clear, but guess not. When ALL the reader has to go by is the written word, miscommunications can and do occur often. It is NOT the reader’s problem as **Cisco** would have us believe. The burden of expression lies with that poster/writer. Clarity of communication as a goal is THE reason punctuation exists. It is not some esoteric elitist practice that only the most erudite can appreciate. Punctuation matters. Spelling matters. Word order and choice matter as well.
Most spoken statements would read as incredibly uninformed. We all stumble and say “you know” and “um” etc waaaaay too much. But Joe Mechanic isn’t given the luxury of gestures and tone and expression and all the other things that help us convey emotion and information. All we’ve got is his “words”. And if his best is “u so rong pwned u ha”, there isn’t much there, is there? Sure, he has made a point, but is it the one he really wanted to? Discriminating readers may never know. I contend that most won’t care. Maybe even Joe doesn’t care, until the issue is something that does matter. Then Joe has a problem.
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### Author:  [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sdmb-has-ruined-forums-for-me/479575/102 "2009-01-07T23:23:49Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#):
>
> It’s a little odd to boycott a company because their stylistic choices differ from yours but whatever.
I also will never buy a Mazda because of that fucking “Zoom Zoom” kid, but that’s just me. 😃
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