General note for forum users

[dismal_denizen]

I don't wish to sound too strict, but I find it very hard to help people that believe each word should contain only 3 letters. Please try to refrain from using "MSN speak" (Ahhhhh, Miscrosoft!) on these forums. By this I mean no OMG, LOL, BRB, thx, coz, etc. Use the spell checker!

It is very hard to understand this kind of talk, it hurts the eyes and makes me go all sweaty (just kidding). It also makes the thread harder for others to read. Please stop doing it. It's great that you're asking questions (and answering them), just do it in a way that the majority of people can understand.

[natehatewindows]

???????????????????im sorry, i understand what you mean but i dont think anyone is going to listen.....i think 99.9% of the people here understand these as well if not better tha the actuall words....

[Rowdy73]

I don't wish to sound too strict, but I find it very hard to help people that believe each word should contain only 3 letters. Please try to refrain from using "MSN speak" (Ahhhhh, Miscrosoft!) on these forums. By this I mean no OMG, LOL, BRB, thx, coz, etc. Use the spell checker!

It is very hard to understand this kind of talk, it hurts the eyes and makes me go all sweaty (just kidding). It also makes the thread harder for others to read. Please stop doing it. It's great that you're asking questions (and answering them), just do it in a way that the majority of people can understand.

Absolutely, for the win!
Proper grammar should be used here, in my opinion.

[oldb0y]

I agree, to mix spoken and written language only cause misunderstanding and frustration.

[TWO]

:mad::confused:I'm pretty certain that you have been using the internet for long enough to be fully capable of understanding what those abbreviations mean. I also believe that it is beyond your remit to be suggesting how the thousands of users of these forums should write.

I find this thread rather unnecessary and if you are incapable of seeing past the presented language to perform the simple function of helping somebody, then maybe you shouldn't be offering to help people, regardless of your level of expertise.

This forum is neither a grammar nor spelling class.

So long as people are speaking to each other with respect, and so long as the community spirit is maintained and open source OSes- sorry, "Operating System", if you can't comprehend the aforesaid abbreviation- like this continue to progress by means of community interaction, then who really cares about how people write??

These deviations of spelling aren't going to be carried over into the Operating System proper or into the programming behind it so I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice. :mad::confused:

[hyper_ch]

:mad::confused:I'm pretty certain that you have been using the internet for long enough to be fully capable of understanding what those abbreviations mean. I also believe that it is beyond your remit to be suggesting how the thousands of users of these forums should write.

I find this thread rather unnecessary and if you are incapable of seeing past the presented language to perform the simple function of helping somebody, then maybe you shouldn't be offering to help people, regardless of your level of expertise.

This forum is neither a grammar nor spelling class.

So long as people are speaking to each other with respect, and so long as the community spirit is maintained and open source OSes- sorry, "Operating System", if you can't comprehend the aforesaid abbreviation- like this continue to progress by means of community interaction, then who really cares about how people write??

These deviations of spelling aren't going to be carried over into the Operating System proper or into the programming behind it so I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice. :mad::confused:


+1

[TWO]

I don't wish to sound too strict, but I find it very hard to help people that believe each word should contain only 3 letters. Please try to refrain from using "MSN speak" (Ahhhhh, Miscrosoft!) on these forums. .

Further to my point, I notice that you have misspelled "Microsoft." I find it pretty rich that somebody complaining about abbreviations that are used so commonly on the internet is incapable of correctly spelling the name of the biggest PC software company in the world.

(Now do you see how petty and unnecessary nit-picking is?)

:mad:

[ericartman]

Quote:
Originally Posted by TWO View Post
I'm pretty certain that you have been using the internet for long enough to be fully capable of understanding what those abbreviations mean. I also believe that it is beyond your remit to be suggesting how the thousands of users of these forums should write.

I find this thread rather unnecessary and if you are incapable of seeing past the presented language to perform the simple function of helping somebody, then maybe you shouldn't be offering to help people, regardless of your level of expertise.

This forum is neither a grammar nor spelling class.

So long as people are speaking to each other with respect, and so long as the community spirit is maintained and open source OSes- sorry, "Operating System", if you can't comprehend the aforesaid abbreviation- like this continue to progress by means of community interaction, then who really cares about how people write??

These deviations of spelling aren't going to be carried over into the Operating System proper or into the programming behind it so I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice.

Agreed definitely, I have been following rules all my life, and like my sig says I'm retired

Cart

[jordanmthomas]

Quote:
I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice.


I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but if I read a question that is written incoherently (a few lols here and there are cool) I'll often ignore it even if I know the answer. I've found it's generally not worth your time trying to decipher what they're asking exactly because these are the people who often "just don't understand anything".

When I see a post like this, I think to myself about how much time will be wasted trying to get a decent question out of them, only to have them not understand how to open a text editor or something. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with not knowing, but it's how you ask that makes it annoying.

Anyway, sorry for rambling a bit. What I wanted to say (bluntly) is this: why spend my time helping someone who doesn't even take the time to ask it in a way that won't require a conversation to figure out what's going on?

Basically, reading something like this (http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) document should be a prerequesite to posting on the forums.

[xpod]

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

Oh Dear.

Lets direct all newcomers there first and assure them if they cant ask questions "the smart way" then their not smart enough for Ubuntuforums.org:(

Sorry,that might have been relevant for the guru`s and their mailing lists some time ago but surely not now.Surely not here?
Some people seem to get so wrapped up in the exuberance of their own verbosity that they easily forget not everyone is as smart as them.

[TWO]

Basically, reading something like this (http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html) document should be a prerequesite to posting on the forums.

Unfortunately, I have too much time on my hands and managed to skim through the link you gave in your thread. I appreciate its suggestions of courtesy and writing questions in a logical order but I think you and the creator of this thread are approaching people with a closed mind.

Bare in mind that many people are not as technically able as others and so therefore cannot describe their problems with all the jargon associated with Linux. Even if they are, it doesn't make their problems any less valid because of the words they use.

This isn't an exclusive club you know. It's the most liberal medium ever conceived and doesn't need people to be nit-picking at spelling.

How dare you try to suggest that these people aren't as worthy just because of their spelling. How dare you try to adapt some form of elitist stance.

It doesn't matter anyway. The rest of the more rational members will use the intelligence that they have to take the message and to respond accordingly. They're not writing in indecipherable languages you know. There's no need for you to be so obstinate.

You seem like educated people. Maybe you should use that intelligence for common sense.

\\:D/

[PmDematagoda]

:mad::confused:I'm pretty certain that you have been using the internet for long enough to be fully capable of understanding what those abbreviations mean. I also believe that it is beyond your remit to be suggesting how the thousands of users of these forums should write.

I find this thread rather unnecessary and if you are incapable of seeing past the presented language to perform the simple function of helping somebody, then maybe you shouldn't be offering to help people, regardless of your level of expertise.

This forum is neither a grammar nor spelling class.

So long as people are speaking to each other with respect, and so long as the community spirit is maintained and open source OSes- sorry, "Operating System", if you can't comprehend the aforesaid abbreviation- like this continue to progress by means of community interaction, then who really cares about how people write??

These deviations of spelling aren't going to be carried over into the Operating System proper or into the programming behind it so I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice. :mad::confused:

+1

[PmDematagoda]

Unfortunately, I have too much time on my hands and managed to skim through the link you gave in your thread. I appreciate its suggestions of courtesy and writing questions in a logical order but I think you and the creator of this thread are approaching people with a closed mind.

Bare in mind that many people are not as technically able as others and so therefore cannot describe their problems with all the jargon associated with Linux. Even if they are, it doesn't make their problems any less valid because of the words they use.

This isn't an exclusive club you know. It's the most liberal medium ever conceived and doesn't need people to be nit-picking at spelling.

How dare you try to suggest that these people aren't as worthy just because of their spelling. How dare you try to adapt some form of elitist stance.

It doesn't matter anyway. The rest of the more rational members will use the intelligence that they have to take the message and to respond accordingly. They're not writing in indecipherable languages you know. There's no need for you to be so obstinate.

You seem like educated people. Maybe you should use that intelligence for common sense.

\\:D/

Hear Hear.

[Partyboi2]

I thought ubuntu forums were for questions related to ubuntu and technical assistance. Helping each other out etc.
Not for grammer correction.
Not unless ubuntu is moving away from computers and going towards grammer classes. :lolflag:

[Circus-Killer]

:mad::confused:I'm pretty certain that you have been using the internet for long enough to be fully capable of understanding what those abbreviations mean. I also believe that it is beyond your remit to be suggesting how the thousands of users of these forums should write.

I find this thread rather unnecessary and if you are incapable of seeing past the presented language to perform the simple function of helping somebody, then maybe you shouldn't be offering to help people, regardless of your level of expertise.

This forum is neither a grammar nor spelling class.

So long as people are speaking to each other with respect, and so long as the community spirit is maintained and open source OSes- sorry, "Operating System", if you can't comprehend the aforesaid abbreviation- like this continue to progress by means of community interaction, then who really cares about how people write??

These deviations of spelling aren't going to be carried over into the Operating System proper or into the programming behind it so I suggest you stop concerning yourself about how people write, and continue helping others without prejudice. :mad::confused:

couldn't......sorry.....COULD NOT of said it better myself

[kylekeeton]

Unfortunately, I have too much time on my hands and managed to skim through the link you gave in your thread. I appreciate its suggestions of courtesy and writing questions in a logical order but I think you and the creator of this thread are approaching people with a closed mind.

Bare in mind that many people are not as technically able as others and so therefore cannot describe their problems with all the jargon associated with Linux. Even if they are, it doesn't make their problems any less valid because of the words they use.

This isn't an exclusive club you know. It's the most liberal medium ever conceived and doesn't need people to be nit-picking at spelling.

How dare you try to suggest that these people aren't as worthy just because of their spelling. How dare you try to adapt some form of elitist stance.

It doesn't matter anyway. The rest of the more rational members will use the intelligence that they have to take the message and to respond accordingly. They're not writing in indecipherable languages you know. There's no need for you to be so obstinate.

You seem like educated people. Maybe you should use that intelligence for common sense.

\\:D/

couldn't......sorry.....COULD NOT of said it better myself

:lolflag:

This has been a fun post to read! Glad I have been reading the forum for a long time, (just not signed up). I would think that you all fight all the time, after reading this post.

TWO said it the best!!

Kyle

[mdsmedia]

couldn't......sorry.....COULD NOT of said it better myselfPlease..Could not HAVE said it better myself.

While I agree that this isn't a grammar test, the language described is mean't for things like cell-phone texting, where the keypad is limited, and the language is therefore justified.

I have to say that I agree that I get annoyed by the "abbreviated" language that's seaped into internet forums (forae?) of all kinds.

I'm not the grammar police, or I would nit-pick 90% of messages posted in thes forums. I'm also not perfect. I don't mind typos, but please make an effort to type the full word. Most "abbreviations" are unneccessary anyway.

[natehatewindows]

Please..Could not HAVE said it better myself.

While I agree that this isn't a grammar test, the language described is mean't for things like cell-phone texting, where the keypad is limited, and the language is therefore justified.



i dont know about you guys but i was using all these WAY before sms was even invented....i remember maybe 14 years ago on AOL learning the cool LOL, BRB and stuff... :)

TWO!!!

Great writing....you should be a writer!! i think most of us agree you passed this "Gerneral note for forum users Language Class" with the best of marks! :)

[natehatewindows]

oh and i think that when talking about computers there are already so many abbriviations that a few more wont hurt...how many times do you see someone write "hard disk" instead of HD or wait....ACPI....what does that stand for?

oh and we need to make this say Laughing out loud>>>>:lolflag:

;)

sorry this post is fun....and very funny!

[frodon]

I will just quote the ubuntuforums code od conduct, it says it quite well :
# Please strive to communicate with other users as effectively as possible:

* Please try to write your posts in English unless you are participating in a Loco Forum, where you are permitted to use another language if it is in common use in that Loco Forum and understood by the Loco Forum staff. We have many users from many different countries that visit here and English is the common language of these forums.
* When writing a post, please space paragraphs with a blank line in between them for better readability.
* Please do not write posts in all uppercase letters, as it looks as if you are screaming at the people reading your post.
* Please refrain from using "leet" speak or slang.
* Please do not shorten your words to acronyms or abbreviations. It is very difficult to read and understand.
* Please use color and font properties for highlighting portions of your text, and not for all of the text in your post.
* Typos and other errors can cause miscommunication between users on the forums, please preview your text before posting.

[bapoumba]

Moved to " Forum Feedback & Help".

The use of some abbreviations, such as LOL, or even smilies, give clues to emotions in absence of body language and eye contact. To many of them kills the message, I agree, but I do appreciate the moderate use of them.

English is not the first language of many users around here.
We (I am not a native English speaker) will make grammar and spelling errors. Browser-based spell checks are a blessing, but of limited help when it comes to grammar ;)
The use of obscure abbreviations can also prevent understanding a post.

Searches engines will not find a thread full of misspelled words, whether intentionally or not, and make it quite useless on a help forum.

All in all, making a point clear, an explanation helpful, is not only a matter of proper spelling or not using smilies, imho, hum.., in my humble opinion.

[hyper_ch]

English is not the first language of many users around here. We (I am not a native English speaker) will make grammar and spelling errors.
Spelling and grammar errors are also common among native english speakers ;)

And regarding the plural of "forum". In latin would be "fora" and not "forae".

[23meg]

This isn't about spelling and grammar errors, or to which extent we should care about them. It's about deliberately using three-letter abbreviations and the like to the point of making posts hard or impossible to read and understand.

[dismal_denizen]

This isn't about spelling and grammar errors, or to which extent we should care about them. It's about deliberately using three-letter abbreviations and the like to the point of making posts hard or impossible to read and understand.

Exactly. I understand that spelling and grammar mistakes occur. I'm not trying to put down people who can't write perfectly (I fall in that category too). I am just trying to say that the forums would be more helpful to more people if they were written in plain English.

[Paul820]

I do not see the problem with it, it is not hard at all to read a few abbreviations that some users write. If you can't read the post, do not reply to it, let someone else reply. Every post on these forums eventually gets answered by someone whether there is bad spelling or not. It is just nit-picking. It is more annoying reading a reply by someone complaining about something so petty, than the original poster with a problem who is using a few abbreviated words.

[23meg]

As has been said, a few abbreviated words is OK. But a whole post littered with smilies, obscure abbreviated words and not divided into paragraphs, for example, makes things difficult.

[Paul820]

As has been said, a few abbreviated words is OK. But a whole post littered with smilies, obscure abbreviated words and not divided into paragraphs, for example, makes things difficult.

But the thing the OP was complaining about was abbreviated words, particularly 3 letters. He never mentioned smilies or paragraphs.

[23meg]

But the thing the OP was complaining about was abbreviated words, particularly 3 letters. He never mentioned smilies or paragraphs.

I'm making a slightly different point, and gave an example. I don't have to agree with the OP 100% to support their overall sentiment.

dismal_denizen, would you agree with me and others that a few abbreviated words per post that don't totally ruin it and don't make understanding things too difficult should be acceptable?

[p_quarles]

But the thing the OP was complaining about was abbreviated words, particularly 3 letters. He never mentioned smilies or paragraphs.
IIRC, SMS-type abrevs r discouraged by the CoC. FWIW, I +1 on that policy, cuz it can confuse people, esp if their native lang isn't English.

Sorry. :D

Honestly, I do think these things should be avoided. When you're asking for or offering technical support, it's important to be as clear as you possibly can be. While I know what all of the common abbreviations mean, I find that their use seems to go hand in hand with a . . . we'll call it "less verbose" approach to asking and answering support questions. /2cents

[LaRoza]

Honestly, I do think these things should be avoided. When you're asking for or offering technical support, it's important to be as clear as you possibly can be. While I know what all of the common abbreviations mean, I find that their use seems to go hand in hand with a . . . we'll call it "less verbose" approach to asking and answering support questions. /2cents

In responding to technical issues, I always try to be as clear as possible. I use standard english words, and keep non technical abbreviations out of the post.

I once saw the statement "UAC is a PITA". A poster said he didn't understand the two technical acronyms, and thought something important was there.

In the Cafe, or when having a conversation with someone you know can understand, adapt the language to suit your audience.

Some abbreviations, the ones that show emotion, are usually understood. One essential abbreviation is OP.

[gwi]

IIRC, SMS-type abrevs r discouraged by the CoC. FWIW, I +1 on that policy, cuz it can confuse people, esp if their native lang isn't English.

Sorry. :D

Honestly, I do think these things should be avoided. When you're asking for or offering technical support, it's important to be as clear as you possibly can be. While I know what all of the common abbreviations mean, I find that their use seems to go hand in hand with a . . . we'll call it "less verbose" approach to asking and answering support questions. /2cents

I agree. I hate to have to search for the meaning of an abbreviation, just to be able to read a posting. Sometimes just to find that a word (like cuz) is not in the dictionary. An abbreviation or deliberate misspelling that might make sense to native English speakers, might confuse others. They might just have been the one person to know the answer to your question ... if they could have understood your posting.

Maybe composing a message of abbreviations is normal when composing an SMS with a ten key phone keyboard, but most users of the forums will have a normal PC keyboard.

[dismal_denizen]

I agree that occasional smilies and lols are OK, but some of the posts I have read are absolutely ridiculous! Excessive use of capitals and exclamation marks make the text shout at you, and I would really hate to see this forum going down that particular path.

[TWO]

I agree that occasional smilies and lols are OK, but some of the posts I have read are absolutely ridiculous! Excessive use of capitals and exclamation marks make the text shout at you, and I would really hate to see this forum going down that particular path.

If you can't understand someone's post, just leave it rather than complain about it. You can't govern what people do. Either someone else will answer it or that person doesn't get an answer due to lack of clarity.

At the end of the day, that doesn't effect you though does it?

Yes, there are rules that state how it should be done, but like with every entity, there are people that don't follow the rules but here, it's hardly life or death is it(?)

I doubt you need to worry about the state of the forum as the vast majority of people write in a concise way anyway...

:neutral: