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Thread ID: 72399	2006-09-11 13:06:00	QOL - Quality Of Language	Erayd (23)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
484005	2006-09-11 13:06:00	Well, I hope it's just me being my usual nitpicking self, but I suspect a wider issue - the general linguistic quality of posts on this forum seems to have sharply degraded in recent times. I could have sworn there used to be a clause in the forum rules (pressf1.co.nz) about it, but it seems to have been abolished (or possibly my memory is faulty - I haven't checked those rules since the move to vBulletin a few years back). Txt-speak has become abundant, even among some of those who have been here for many years, and used to appreciate good English. Grammatical errors are rife, especially among new users. I can see this forum slowly heading in the direction of so many others, where a typical post might resemble the following (although I'm probably being a little harsh): hi plz hlp my comp died I need sum1 help me fix New users then pick up on the sloppiness, and add their own. Has anyone else noticed the linguistic creep? Are we all to assume that because languages are flexible concepts, such changes are inevitable? Would a plea for the return to our formerly excellent grammatical habits be too much to ask?	Erayd (23)
484006	2006-09-11 14:33:00	<3 Bletch I hear ya. May as well use this thread to say it.... An apostrophe is not used before every single 's'!!! Also, it's = it is. Their = possesive There = place They're = they are They're parking their car over there. You're = you are	roddy_boy (4115)
484007	2006-09-11 19:45:00	Man, you are about to start a flame war. I can hear people girding their loins and sharpening their battle axes in preparation for dealing to anyone who would dare to suggest that english should be used in this forum. "Run for the hills the barbarians awake".:eek:	theother1 (3573)
484008	2006-09-11 20:40:00	linguistic creep Says it all really :)	Shortcircuit (1666)
484009	2006-09-11 23:20:00	Possibly as a reflection of our present educational policy where nobody is allowed to fail (even if they don't succeed) it is apparently not acceptable on this forum for a poster to comment on such abuse of the english language when trying to help. Personally I just do not reply to such posts, as if the poster has to use text language to communicate what is likely a complex problem here then I would have little confidence that they would be able correctly apply a registry fix or other such fix to their PC, as computers require 100% correct spelling and syntax for any repair commands to work. If they are capable of applying the correct spelling and syntax commands to their computer, then it's perhaps disrespectful of them not to treat people they want help from better than their computer? Not talking of actual spelling mistakes here, as they are common and occur in all walks of life, with all of us, and always will.	godfather (25)
484010	2006-09-12 02:28:00	Not talking of actual spelling mistakes here, as they are common and occur in all walks of life, with all of us, and always will. In the paper today was an article comparing NZ with Aussie etc and out ability to spell. While UK, Aussie etc came out in the 80% range of people abale to spell, NZ had a pathetic 50% pass rate.	pctek (84)
484011	2006-09-12 02:42:00	What bothers me (a bit) is that many of the misspelt words I see are presumably attempts at a phonetic representation of the way the writer speaks the word. I don't think I would understand these people if I heard them talking. :( Others are obviously phonetic: e.g. "... must of ..." for "... must have ...", which finishes up as the wrong word, correctly spelt.	Graham L (2)
484012	2006-09-12 03:17:00	Yes to add to Graham's point, what pisses me off is the use of 'then' in place of 'than' eg, "I am so much betterer at grammar then you."	roddy_boy (4115)
484013	2006-09-12 03:28:00	Frankly, there is a reason for accurate grammar and it has nothing to do with being pedantic - it's the basis for people to communicate with clarity. Within the computer and the IT industry where technological complexity requires clarity it amazes me that the concept of accurate grammar and spelling is somehow an outdated notion and not worth bothering with. If, say, a computer technician will not put his/her ideas in a simple and clear manner then why should I have confidence that any work carried out will be accurate and correct?	dvm (6543)
484014	2006-09-12 04:19:00	I'm not too concerned about grammar mistakes etc, but txt speaking does annoy me. I mean... on a pc we have the keyboard. Not some silly little phone keypad, where it makes perfect sense to use as little letters and whatnot as possible. But when we have a proper keyboard, why not type things out in full? It makes it a lot easier to read.	mejobloggs (264)
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