# You are not freaking E.E. Cummings. English usage exists for a REASON, damn it! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899 "2008-09-16T21:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/161 "2008-09-21T19:24:30Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > YET IN HIS STRANGE LITTLE WORLD, IT WAS JUST “HELPFUL ADVICE” ON HOW TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED It is, with emphasis on the last word there if you want to be taken seriously around here. One of the great things about this board is that the culture promotes the use of proper English skills. There’s the occasional typo and such, but overall it’s a much nicer atmosphere because chat- and leet-speak are discouraged. A lot of posters feel the same way I do on this matter. Ultimately, its your decision and I don’t give a crap what you do. I’m just genuinely confused on why you’re so gung-ho on not using capital letters. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/162 "2008-09-21T19:34:50Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > oky ill get banned responding to your stupid post, ASSHOLE This from a pseudo intellectual who doesn’t know the difference between I’ll and ill? The first is a contraction of two(heh) separate words, the second is a different word altogether. Or that okay has an ‘a’ in it? Stupid flows through you like water does down the Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/163 "2008-09-21T19:55:48Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > It is, with emphasis on the last word there if you want to be taken seriously around here. One of the great things about this board is that the culture promotes the use of proper English skills. There’s the occasional typo and such, but overall it’s a much nicer atmosphere because chat- and leet-speak are discouraged. A lot of posters feel the same way I do on this matter. > > Ultimately, its your decision and I don’t give a crap what you do. I’m just genuinely confused on why you’re so gung-ho on not using capital letters. cue the whistle THEME FROM THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW CUT TO: MAYBERRY, USA SHERIFF’S OFFICE ``` BARNEYFIFE-MILLER ANJ! ANJ! ANJ! WHERE ARE YOU, ANJ? ``` MODERATOR ANDY TAYLOR WALKS IN FROM BACK ROOM ``` ANDY ``` BARNEY! WHATS ALL THE RUCKUS? ANJ! THERE YOU ARE! ANJ! THEY ARE DOING IT AGAIN! BARN, SIMMER DOWN. WHO IS DOING WHAT? ANJ! THEY ARE TYPING AGAIN WITHOUT CAPITALS IN THE PIT! OH BARN, HAVEN’T WE BEEN OVER ALL THIS BEFORE? YOU CAN’T TELL PEOPLE HOW TO TYPE ON A MESSAGE BOARD ON THE INTRAWEBS…WHY… ANJ! I KNOW WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE, WE NEED TO NIP IT! NIP IT IN THE BUD! OH BARN, THERE ARE NO RULES ABOUT CAPITALIZATION ON THE SDMB. WHY CAN’T YOU JUST LET PEOPLE BE AND READ WHAT THEY WRITE, THE WAY THEY WRITE, AND TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING FROM THEM? LEARN SOMETHING FROM THEM? WHY ANJ, PEOPLE WHO DON’T CAPITALIZE LOOK FOOLISH AND NOTHING THEY COULD WRITE COULD HAVE ANY TRUTH IN IT. BARN, THAT IS JUST NOT… ANJ, IF WE LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THIS, THE NEXT THING WE KNOW THEY COULD BE TYPING EBONICS OR SAYING YA’ALL OR TYPING FRENCH WORDS OR… BARN, THERE REALLY IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. THATS WHERE YOUR WRONG, ANJ BARN , ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOU TYPED YOUR INSTEAD OF YOU’RE IN THAT LAST SENTENCE? THERE YOU GO, ANJ! THAT’S THE POINT, AT LEAST I TRIED. THOSE DIRTY FILTHY LITTLE NON CAPITALIZERS DONT EVEN TRY, ANJ. THEY DONT EVEN TRY. OK BARN, I SEE THAT I CAN’T TALK YOU OUT OF IT. GO AHEAD AND TAKE GOMER-SKALD AND GOOBER-QED AND MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE OTIS-JAYN AND TALK TO THESE MONSTERS. AND TAKE A DICTIONARY WITH YOU, THIS TIME. THE LAST TIME YOU GOT YOUR ASSES HANDED TO YOU BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TO, TOO AND TWO. THANKS ANJ! THIS TIME WE WON’T REST UNTIL THESE MONSTERS ARE BANNED! BANNED FOR LIFE ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/164 "2008-09-21T19:57:05Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > oky ill get banned responding to your stupid post, ASSHOLE > > OK FOLKS , HERE IS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN > [how would you punish them? - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=82275) > > here is where barneyfife-miller originally reared it’s ugly head to help me look intelligent and to be taken seriously > > YET IN HIS STRANGE LITTLE WORLD, IT WAS JUST “HELPFUL ADVICE” ON HOW TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED > > this from a pseudo intellectual who doesnt know the difference between to, too, and two > > MILLER, THERE ARE SOME VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE POSTING HERE > > you are not one of them (to, too, two) > > GoOd ByE cRuEl wOrLd Once again confirming what an asshole you are. How many people (myself included) have tried to make you understand that despite what you may have seen elsewhere on the internet, or in the recesses of your mind, at the SDMB we expect people to follow the basic rules of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation if they expect to be taken seriously. It has also been made clear that we acknowledge the possibility of typos like to instead of too and vice-versa, and usually let them slide unless they affect the meaning of what is posted (although occasionally we make jokes about them). Yet you persist in not only continuing to claim that our customs are wrong and that we are intellectual snobs for following them, but you pull this martyr act about how **Miller** is persecuting you and you alone (in case you haven’t noticed, you aren’t the only person who has been advised on how people are expected to post here) and take great glee in pointing out minor errors in other people’s posts as if the fact that they made a mistake somehow makes them unfit to dare to criticize anyone else. I took the trouble to review a bit of your past posting history and noted that you have in the past used capitalization and followed English rules just like the rest of us. Which only confirms the opinion of myself and others that you are just acting like an ass now to get a rise out of people. That being said, I am through playing your game. Go back to the bridge you crawled out from under and let the grownups alone. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/165 "2008-09-21T20:03:58Z")
> [@Jayn\_Newell](#): > > It is, with emphasis on the last word there if you want to be taken seriously around here. One of the great things about this board is that the culture promotes the use of proper English skills. There’s the occasional typo and such, but overall it’s a much nicer atmosphere because chat- and leet-speak are discouraged. A lot of posters feel the same way I do on this matter. > > Ultimately, its your decision and I don’t give a crap what you do. I’m just genuinely confused on why you’re so gung-ho on not using capital letters. crap 9 dictionary results for: CRAP [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This crap1 /kræp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krap] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, crapped, crap·ping. –noun 1. Vulgar. a. excrement. b. an act of defecation. very classy, very cultured and you better look up its and it’s or better yet, ms culture, proper english skills, type it first in word, the copy it and paste it so you dont make any more stupid errors while you are lecturing me on proper english you should hook up with miller ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/166 "2008-09-21T20:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > crap > 9 dictionary results for: CRAP > [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com) Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This > crap1 /kræp/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[krap] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, crapped, crap·ping. > –noun 1. A post by **djf750**. Fixed that for you. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/167 "2008-09-21T20:08:24Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > Once again confirming what an asshole you are. How many people (myself included) have tried to make you understand that despite what you may have seen elsewhere on the internet, or in the recesses of your mind, at the SDMB we expect people to follow the basic rules of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation if they expect to be taken seriously. It has also been made clear that we acknowledge the possibility of typos like to instead of too and vice-versa, and usually let them slide unless they affect the meaning of what is posted (although occasionally we make jokes about them). > > Yet you persist in not only continuing to claim that our customs are wrong and that we are intellectual snobs for following them, but you pull this martyr act about how **Miller** is persecuting you and you alone (in case you haven’t noticed, you aren’t the only person who has been advised on how people are expected to post here) and take great glee in pointing out minor errors in other people’s posts as if the fact that they made a mistake somehow makes them unfit to dare to criticize anyone else. > > I took the trouble to review a bit of your past posting history and noted that you have in the past used capitalization and followed English rules just like the rest of us. Which only confirms the opinion of myself and others that you are just acting like an ass now to get a rise out of people. > > That being said, I am through playing your game. Go back to the bridge you crawled out from under and let the grownups alone. hey smug asshole, i get pissed when people criticize other’s writing styles. it is nothing more than censorship censorship bad, ideas, however expressed, good ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/168 "2008-09-21T20:09:26Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Fixed that for you. i am LOL’ing very good QED ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/169 "2008-09-21T20:13:29Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > it is nothing more than censorship Since you like dictionaries so much, allow me to educate you: [ > [@](#): > > Main Entry: > 2censor > Function: > transitive verb > Inflected Form(s): > cen·sored; cen·sor·ing Listen to the pronunciation of censoring \ˈsen(t)-sə-riŋ, ˈsen(t)s-riŋ\ > Date: > 1882 > > : to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable \ ; also : to suppress or delete as objectionable \]([CENSORING Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censoring)) So, no, that isn’t censorship of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/170 "2008-09-21T20:14:40Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > i am LOL’ing very good QED Yes!! I made him use caps! All you other bitches can suck it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/171 "2008-09-21T20:25:17Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > Since you like dictionaries so much, allow me to educate you: > > [url=[CENSORING Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censoring)] > > So, no, that isn’t censorship of any kind. supress something objectionable is exactly what you nazis are doing cmon, lighten up everyone, the world is falling apart before our very eyeballs and you still insist that i capitalize finE i’lL capitalizE thE lasT letteR iN eacH worD sO yoU knoW wherE onE worD endS anD a (uh-oh, do i capitalize “a”?? shit!) neW worD beginS deaL ?? ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/172 "2008-09-21T20:31:33Z")
[http://www.theybannedme.com](http://www.theybannedme.com) hey, i just registered here, just in case ---
**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:** [September 21, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/173 "2008-09-21T20:42:38Z")
Locked while **djf750’s** posting privileges are under discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899/174 "2008-09-21T22:16:34Z")
> [@djf750](#): > > yes or no? > i must capitalize to post here? my posts aren’t clear enough if i don’t capitalize? You didn’t even read what I said, did you? I did _not_ say that you can’t write in all lowercase. What I said was that you can’t write in all caps just to piss people off, and then act like a jerk when you succeed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-not-freaking-e-e-cummings-english-usage-exists-for-a-reason-damn-it/463899.md?page=8)