On the off chance that you’re not just dumb (or trolling), I will point out that, yes, different places and different situations have different expectations regarding spelling, grammar, and typographic correctness. Business letters have a certain expectation, and school papers have a certain expectation.
But “the fucking internet” is not a single homogenous location or situation. There are technical articles. There are wikis. And there are indeed message boards where the level of discussion hovers at around two brain cells and the expectation is that everyone will type like a moron or a l33t-fr34k.
Now, this is the important part - the Straight Dope Message Board is not one of those moronophilic message boards. This is a different place, and thus, has different expectations. Specifically, if you type like a moron, you are scorned. Just like you would be if you noobified your job application. It’s exactly the same thing. And you’ll be reacted to in quite a similar manner.
If you thought that all the entire internet is a correct-english-free zone…well, now you know better. There indeed are plenty of the places on the internet where you can write any damn way you like and nobody will mind. And if you feel you must write that way and still be respected…maybe those other places are more your speed than this particular message board.
really? your name is begbert and you want me to take you seriously? how can i on the straight dope message board, the place that is so sacred, where you will be scorned if you communicate differently?
this board gets as loose as anyplace on the web.
but i see your point, so mods i am requsting that smilies be banned here. they are silly and don’t fit the SDMB’s stature on this here intraweb.
ps I actually love this place, I have been reading here for years with an occassional post. but you morons who complain about the grammar and lack of capitalization have your heads up your asses.
You keep claiming that this board is full of tight-assed pseudo intellectuals because they use the English language correctly and expect others here to do the same.
If everyone on this board annoys you so much, why do you bother posting here? Why don’t you just take your self-righteous ass to someplace where you can type like an idiot and not have people point at you and laugh?
I can suggest a few bridges if you can’t find any.
You know, someday, when I’m feeling down on myself, and need an ego boost, I’m going to think of this thread, and reflect on the fact that, no matter how pathetic I feel at the moment, at least I’m not the sort of guy who nurses a five year grudge because someone once corrected their grammar on the interent. I expect that the cannot fail to cheer me up, no matter how dismal my circumstances at the time. The only flaw in my plan is that, for it to work, it would require that I remember who the fuck djf750 is for longer than it takes to read a thread he’s posted in.
But, if all else fails, I’ll still have my gang to cheer me up. Yo, Marin County Pedants, represent!
Nobody here minds discapitalization or lack of spaces in login names, just like we don’t mind it when company names or people’s real names have odd spellings or strange capitalization. Because it’s never incorrect to type a name correctly. You know this, of course, but you’re just pretending not to to be a dipshit. Just like you know that smilies are not grammatically incorrect (especially image-smilies), and are pretending not to know that in order to be a dipshit. I’m on to you, though.
We treat you like a moron if you type like a moron. Simple as that. The fact that you think you’re some kind of super-special candy-ass who thinks that we should not react to the manner you present yourself doesn’t change fact that moron typing is moron typing and if you don’t want people to think you’re a moron when you type, don’t type like a moron.
There’s a difference between the occasional typo and copy/paste error, and a complete, constant, and deliberate attempt to EPIC FAIL the grammar, capitalization, and/or punctuation of every damn thing you type. The difference is, one is normal, and only rarely commented on, and one is something only a stupid fucking flaccid tool with a chip on his shoulder larger than his fucking brain does when they know it’s not the expected standard.
There is a chance that you are indeed too fucking stupid to know the difference between typos and deliberately being an asshole. In case you are that stupid, I will inform you now: criticizing other people’s minor errors while deliberately eschewing your own capitalization and punctuation is indeed shooting fish in a barrel --but you’re the fish.
