I think you guys are overreacting a little. Not everyone has the same background as you, and not everyone talks or writes in the same way. If some people's writing is so weird that no one can understand it, that is their problem, not yours. You might want to ask them to rephrase the question, but there is no reason to get angry. And face it, some of the people here ARE immature--that's why they need info and advice!

Thanks for the continuing feedback on this subject.

On reflection, we (the moderators) think that the main emphasis needs to be on the post being logical and legible. It IS important for us all to make our posts as easy to read as possible, but typos, grammar and spelling are a lesser issue (unless they make the post hard to read). With that in mind, we have amended the Posting Guidelines accordingly.

As always, tolerance of others should be key. We don't want to impose a bunch of "rules" here (one of the reasons we call them "Guidelines"). Also, don't let yourself get mad, you can always ignore a Member's posts if their style really bothers you.

Any further feedback is welcome!

Unfortunately, there is not currently a spell-check available for this Board. It's a shame, because this is otherwise very good software.

We will inquire again as to whether the supplier intends to add one to the next software release; if they do, we will get it. In the meantime we will have to make do ...

Thanks for your suggestion - it is appreciated.

Well, as someone who was marginally involved in this, I think the Mod has really tried to take an impartial line and (on reflection) I agree with his/her stance. I think he/she is just trying to keep it all on an even keel. Fine by me.  

?wiseman?, I have three kids who are now mostly grown up (gosh - feeling old now! ). Anyway, I wish there had been a site like this around for them at any age. Uninformed people make poor decisions, whether they are at the "correct age" or not. That is why I think this site is a god-send for people of ANY age! And that's why I come here - to share, both ways.

That doesn't mean that I would have wanted my kids to come here INSTEAD of to me, but AS WELL AS. Kids need a forum where they can interact with their peers with similar concerns, as well as another place where they can (anonymously) get adult straight answers and help.

Just the ramblings of an old(er) guy!  

Thank you, thank you. The baby talk makes me feel like I am with pre-schoolers.

I agree with girlygirl, it seems that most of the people here on the board are young teens who are just looking for a good advice and they are not going to stay long if we start imposing a lot of "rules" and "etiquette" and "the proper way to do things". I know some basic rules are good so we all can get along, but i think cheking for grammer/spelling is just too much. Like the moderator said not every one is from an English speaking country (i'm not), and even when i try my best i would like to think that i do it because i want to, not because i have to.
If some one do not like the way something is written, just don't read it, i'd think it is ok, as long no one was offended or something like that.

Thank you for your feedback re this issue.

Members, please take heed. You are much more likely to get good, helpful feedback if you take the time to re-read your post, to make sure it reads logically and legibly. However, we also appreciate that everyone has different capabilities in this regard and that we have Board members from "non-English" speaking countries who are doing their best - so we are NOT looking for perfection.

We (moderators) do clean up a lot of the topic titles that are posted, because it is very important that the area under discussion is clear to all. We also would appreciate some help from Members to make this as unnecessary as possible.

With regard to specific posts, we do SOME clean up to the ocassional post, but only if the grammar is so poor as to make it difficult to read, or for crudity, etc. However, we try not to re-interpret the basic post; the post belongs to the Member!

xx22xx and Brandye, we will incorporate your thoughts (and any other constructive input from other Members/Guests) into the Posting Guidleines.

Thank you for taking the time to provide us feedback!
the moderator

For those who are concerned with writing legibly, would it be possible to add a spellcheck to the board?

As I was one of the more critical ones, I should apologize.

I'm new here and one of the reasons I came to this board is because I'm the father of a 12 year old girl who's going to be faced with many of the issues/choices/concerns/worries expressed on this board in the course of the next few years. I probably had a paternal breakdown when viewing several posts that I believed to be immature to the point of wondering how someone who appeared to be so young should even be on this board.

That's not an indictment of this board or the members by any means. I hope to continue to have the kind of relationship with my daughter that she will feel comfortable coming to me with some of the questions on this board.

So, you now know where a part of me is coming from and, as I told the Mod, I'll do my best to behave from now on.

'nuff said by me.

My P.O.V. on this is that even though it may not be in the english language, as long as you know what they are trying to say there really shouldn't be a problem. If they deside to write/ type like they do let them. If you would seriously like to help them out but do not understand what is being said just kindly ask them or someone else who understands it to rephrase it for you. maturity is a very important thing in life.

come on people, im not a huge fan of the whole short-hand thing either but its the 21st century. it is the internet age and as there are quite a few younger people on this site the language which is commonly accepted in this day and age is bound to be used. when typing i generally dont use apostrophes or anthing of the sort yet people seem to understand me. we are not writing english papers here, its a forum where people are meant to be helping each other so why not concentrate on that part. i dont like the wif s and da s either but i dont think they are going anywhere, so i think we better get used to them.

I understand the need for proper grammer and such.
Althought I myself shorten words sometimes (such as THO) lol.
However I agree logical and ledgible are sensible. But what about the complete absurdity of some of the content.
I will try to not be lazy.
THOUGH

j’ai une petite connaissance du langue Français, avec temps tu apprendras anglais

Je me suis déplacé juste ici si je ne peux pas parler ou peux écrire l'anglais très bien.

Use a translator if you really want to know what I wrote please because this is really all I can write.

[QUOTE=Quote (HerPleasure06 @ Aug. 19 2005,11:58)]Its not that we have a problem with a few abbreviations. Everyone on the board understands lol, btw and using w/bob for with bob….but the problem is created when people start using newer web slang or try to type ghetto, for example we had some one use “4t” for thought…no one could understand it, or the rest of his post for that matter. The point is if you come here asking for advice, epically from people older than you they might not under stand if you type like you do to your 15 year old friends on AIM. And yes everyone is capable of typing normal because I know every teen on this board has to type for English class.

One last thing, someone was talking about spell check…if you want spell check just type it in MS Word and paste it.[/QUOTE]
>_<...*cowers and hides in the corner*

Its not that we have a problem with a few abbreviations. Everyone on the board understands lol, btw and using w/bob for with bob….but the problem is created when people start using newer web slang or try to type ghetto, for example we had some one use “4t” for thought…no one could understand it, or the rest of his post for that matter. The point is if you come here asking for advice, epically from people older than you they might not under stand if you type like you do to your 15 year old friends on AIM. And yes everyone is capable of typing normal because I know every teen on this board has to type for English class.

One last thing, someone was talking about spell check…if you want spell check just type it in MS Word and paste it.

[QUOTE=Quote (xx22xx @ Jan. 19 2003,12:49)]I just wanted to say that in some of the posts that I have read, it's kind of annoying that people come here to get help, and write really immaturely.  

For example, I think someone was trying to say 'with' and instead they typed 'wid' or 'wif' or something along those lines.  

I think it would just be nice if everyone used something in the way of 'proper' english.  I'm not saying my posts are perfect, but I usually do spell things write and use correct english...I mean there is a spell check for when you go to post...it would be appreciated by me and I'm sure by others if more people would write more maturely.

I'm really not trying to 'pick a bone' with anyone here, because probably came off as a brat...but if you're looking for help, the fastest way to get it is by acting maturely.  

Thank you![/QUOTE]
This is my opinion.. It could quite possibly be a fact, but until proven it's my opinion.. Forums,Message Boards,..etc. are just like a chat room, except much less chaotic, and more to the point, but at the same time, it is still an online community. Look at the age group that the errors in posts come from. It is generally targeted to the early teens, to mid teenage years. They are just talking/writing/typing (whatever the heck you want to say) how they would talk to a friend or family member that they trust. Someone from their environment, therefore, "Slang" is normal, and cutting some of the words short, or misspelling them, but making them sound relatively the same with both spellings, should be acceptable. I'm only 17, and I have probably made a mistake already. I don't care if I have or not. It's how I type. I'm not perfect..... No one is... That is why they invented erasers...(and in this case backspace/delete)lol = Laugh Out Loud!   There, I said it. Fact or Opinion, It sounds DAMN good to me!

you do realise the spell check would not pick up write dont you, its not a wrong spelling.
just thought you should know lol.
also i think there are some people from none english language origins so i thik with people who are in that situation should be given alot of slack unless they have an english exam lol.
and wid or wif or wiv its not bad spelling, its just laziness. which as i recall was the point of the original post lol.
so anyways
(listening to richard marx, right here waiting, wonderful lol, getting ready to watch phantom of the opera and that absolutely breathtaking male voice that could move mountaints, and also make my knees all weak lol)

I could'nt agree more on the use of proper English,but you did spell right"Wrong"..Naughty,naughty...Remember the spell check!...Write is something you do in a letter,but im sure you knew that?...Feel free to email [email="me@..Securedlesb22">me@..Securedlesb22[/email]@aol.com

Dear Securediesb,

To which Spellcheck do you refer? There is none here.

I really don't care about peoples spellings.

I want to hear what they have to say. I am not so clever that i can offord not to listen and learn. If i don't agree with the sentiment then so be it. But i won't have a go just because of the spelling. I have to admit i like a few paragraohs to make things easier to read, but it isn't the end of the world if someone doesn't manage it.

[QUOTE=Quote (lilly2279 @ June 10 2005,21:21)]he he - still giggling to myself. He corrected someone for the same stupid thing he did. lol. Okay. I'll stop giggling now. promise.[/QUOTE]
lol.

If something is a long paragraph with no breaks, odds are I'm gonna be skipping it anyways, regardless of how many mistakes there could be.

he he. He did make an error. That's kinda funny.

Sorry. I'm not trying to start anything either. I just thought that was hilarious that he made a grammatical error. I tend to overlook silly things like misspelled words and grammatical errors on these things unless it's just crazy with no paragraphs, too wordy, etc. Then I just stop reading so as to not get crazy about it.

he he - still giggling to myself. He corrected someone for the same stupid thing he did. lol. Okay. I'll stop giggling now. promise.

Most dyslexic people can read over something a billion times and still have it look right and make perfect sense to them. That is what makes them dyslexic and sets them apart from everyone else.

The point to my reply was not to start something.
The point was the fact that a new member came in here with his very first post to get on his high horse and say something which was wrong.
Right and Write are not spelling errors. It would've been one thing if the girl had said rite instead of saying right. But she did not. She spelled write correctly. She just used the wrong form of it.

I could also easily point out that he used the wrong form of a word.

[QUOTE=Quote ]But if your preaching about it[/QUOTE]
The CORRECT form would be you are or you're.
So again, I do believe someone needs to get off their high horse if they're gonna complain about someone and do the same thing just for a different word.
You won't last long on this forum if all you're going to do is complain about other people.

I don't claim to be perfect when spelling or typing. I probably made some posting this post, but whatever.
It just bothers me when people come in here to complain just to make the same mistake the person they're complaining about did.

And just for the record, online dictionaries will not help anyone who can't spell the word to begin with.

Write and Right are confused often. So are to and too and and there and they're and their and lots of other things. What she did was not a spelling error. It's a form of dyslexia. I am dyslexic. A lot of people suffer from forms of dyslexia. There is a huge difference between having a form of that and just being plum ass lazy and immature with your writing and saying things with wif instead of with and my ever so new favorite, noe and noes instead of know and knows.
How in the world am I supposed to take anything you say seriously if all you can do is type like that?

So, if you're going to get on people about simple errors that are usually beyong someone's control, perhaps you need to get off your high horse and grow up.

This is my first post, so If I come off as an asshole so be it, but the post I just read as a "New" member made me laugh.

xx2xx you wrote
"I think it would just be nice if everyone used something in the way of 'proper' english. I'm not saying my posts are perfect, but I usually do spell things write and use correct english...I mean there is a spell check for when you go to post...it would be appreciated by me and I'm sure by others if more people would write more maturely."

I mean...?Are you an idiot? Your comment"I usually do spell things write" Do you believe that was written correctly? The word is right...not write. Yes, it would be "nice" if everyone wrote, and spelled correctly. But if your preaching about it ,and then can't even follow through with your own wishes, you need to get off your high horse and grow up. People are supposed to come to this site to interact with one another about something that should be enjoyable. If you are an example of what I'll see here, then I won't be here long.

Thanks

See Finewine write.
She likes this message board.
She thinks the people here are wonderful people.
She writes to make people smile.
She writes to make people think.

She is dyslexic so sometimes she writes xes, or esx or palssals or s;d[s;d, or she writes to make people smile and thing,because her fingers get tongue-tied in the wrong positoin on the boardkey, her thoughts are os fast that she cna't writ efast enough or see the words in her brain fast enough, gets the thoughts all jumbled up because they come at her all at once beginning to end, and types to ofast and spac ebar is to oslow forgetting commas and periods when she is comfortable with people she feels are friends and just wants to share the fun and thoughts of the moment as they occur.....

Please, just always ask if you don't understand and point out amusing phrasing so I can enter it in Reader's Digest or send it to Jay Leno and make a few bucks... I'm out of a job right now. LOL!!!
Questions are good things.
No question is a dumb question.

HUGS AND KISSES to everyone!

Well said.

Yeah I agree with the run on sentences being very hard to understand. This board has such small print and my old eyes don't like to read one long post.

Paragraphs are a wonderful thing.

well we know very well that young people are sexually active. I personally would not want my child (if I had one) engaging in sexual play so young. But, I guess it happens, so we may as well deal with it and treat them like adults.

And yes, Wally is right. We definitely have teens on here that are a lot more respectful in their posts and more mature than some of us adults!

From spending 10 years as an executive assistant, sometimes the slang and truncated words can be a bit bizarre to me. But I'm getting more used to it and am probably getting a bit more relaxed in my typing, as well. That's fine for me since I'm not an exec asst anymore.

The only thing that gets me is the runon sentences where you become totally lost and wonder what the heck was just said??? he he. But it's all good. I like the diversity.

i am kinda one of those people i guess. i am not going to right any different bcuz i do consider my writing legible i hav never gotten any complaints from people saying "i cant read ur writing!!"

but please tell me if u do have a complaint!

-mariah

Lol not ever saying they should teach how to give a blow job in school…but I think there would be a lot less teens in here if sex ed was actually sex ed…not lets scare them into keeping it in their pants class

HAHA good post herpleasure.

xo-mariah

eww.. never considered that....

U can't? LOL

Somewhere in the archives - or maybe earlier on this thread - I have a post about the question of age... there are some radicals out there who would have a field day with a conversation of a sexual nature between an adult and a "child" on the internet. That's one reason I'm pretty selective about what posts (and who) I reply to.

If a female adult asks how to give a BJ well, that's one thing. If a 12 year old asks...

That said, I'd add that there have been some young teens on the board that show a lot more respect and courtesy than some "adults." Even if they use language that's hard to understand.

I too see the immature writing as having to deal with a child.. but then again, maybe thats who someone should be more eager to help. However, I cant hardly understand the slang! LOL!

[QUOTE=Quote (Jaybee @ Mar. 27 2005,14:16)]Let us judge every case on its own merits.

Jaybee.[/QUOTE]
Jaybee I think that is the shortest post you ever wrote.

Sorry couldn't resist!

Let us judge every case on its own merits.

Jaybee.

I couldn't help but smile when in a topic opening urging people to spell correctly, or "right", it was instead spelled "write".lol

Hey, no one is perfect. At least, I know I'm not.

As long as I can understand the intention, and the person is not being intentionally rude I'm willing to ask about something I don't understand.

I think this is a great site, and I don't think a little fuzzy language will ruin it.

Well......Hello to everyone.  I'm a brand 'newbie' here and enjoyed reading the message board.  I'm feeling my way around in here....getting my bearings, so to speak. I just kind of stumbled across this site and I'm glad I did.  I'm a "grandma" and I STILL have questions on occasion about sexuality.  This looks like a nice 'safe and sane' site....to ask and share.  Glad I found all of you!!  

Have a GREAT day..."Just"

As a "newbie" I'll just add that the major turnoff I've experienced on other forums is hostility and intolerance. (The one thing I can't tolerate is intolerance. LOL)

But I'll also note that if a post sounds like it was written by a kid, I tend to treat it as such. That may mean run, that may mean be "fatherly."

My bottom line is that we don't have the right to expect others to conform to our standards, at least in open forums such as this. I do not, however, think it's wrong to expect a little patience and courtesy.

Just the way I see it.

Wally

I most deffantly agree. It may slip sometimes for me.. but mainly I try and use proper grammer and spelling! Even though I am still 15.. It's always good to sound professional.

[QUOTE=xx22xx]
"I'm not saying my posts are perfect, but I usually do spell things write and use correct english...
Thank you![/QUOTE]

i'm gonna have to agrre to disagree...
i agree with what you're saying, but you should use the spell check yourself with the: "spell things write", i think you meant right...

[QUOTE=MasterBater101]Je me suis déplacé juste ici si je ne peux pas parler ou peux écrire l'anglais très bien.

Use a translator if you really want to know what I wrote please because this is really all I can write.[/QUOTE]

Excuse me but I think you should be the one using the translator for convenience. I would never move to Russia expecting everyone I run into to learn English for ME.

Therefore it is unacceptable for you to expect the same.

Other than that, welcome! I hope your move was pleasant. :)

And don't forget that not everyone on this board lives in America. Some of the expressions and spellings that many people use are typically American. (That's not a criticism, just an observation.)

I live in Australia, and we have our own vernacular, much of which is apparently incomprehensible to many non-Australians (much to our delight).

For example, an ass in Australia is either a donkey, or a foolish person, as in 'you silly ass'. The word we use for posterior is arse. To my mind 'arse' has far more impact than 'ass'. eg: If you tell someone to 'Shove it up your arse', there is no mistaking the meaning, but if you tell them to 'Shove it up your ass', they might think that you are talking about a form of animal cruelty.

Strewth, maybe I should stalk strine. Oh, and by the way, Paul Hogan got it wrong when he said he'd 'throw a shrimp on the barbie'. In Australia, we call them prawns, so 'chuck a prawn on the barbie' would have been more appropriate.

Oh well, see youse later. No wucking furries about that.

I agree with the differences in vernacular, and I realize type "o"s, and some grammatical errors happen to everyone. However, generally the intention of the writer can still be understood.

What is becoming very frustrating is; the consistent "slang" apparent in some postings and this is redundant in the same writers. The lack of an insightful, semi-articulate post; moreover, responses which are immature in nature is becoming aggravating.

To exemplify; posting multiple comments with no more depth then "that sounds like fun”, or "I wish I could do that “especially when you have listed over 50+ postings in down right annoying. Please add your ideas, opinions, and comments with a bit of insight designed to assist others, your point will then be conveyed for all to understand.

All of us are guilty of errors in posting or not fully explaining what we are trying to say, I am not trying to bash anyone here; however, many lack any maturity and I am not referring to age...I mean in the ability to articulate and convey your honest thoughts. I do understand due to various ages & educational differences postings will be very different, this I can understand. It's difficult to accept the one's mentioned above and the ones with three lines which are spaced over 12 lines.

If you practice good writing techniques here, it will only develop your writing skills for the future, and how is a good time to start if you wish to be taken seriously. I apologize if I have insulted anyone but I really needed to vent on the subject.

Go under CP...top left of your screen and go under "edit picture profile" then upload from a site or from your computer....

Maybe some of this is a carry over from tex messageing? I will abbreviate when TEXing my GF cause it's sort of a pain typeing on a cell phone. I really don't know how to type correctly (hunt&peck) but if I have a real keyboard I try to use all the letters and spell the best I can. Probably got into the habit from when I wrote articles for the car club newsletter when I was prez. Whoops...I abreviated!LOL

I hate reading messages that people have typed in TEX speak. I find the abbreviated , unpunctuated language they use quite incomprehensible. I don't use it myself, as I think it is just a pain in the arse. Its too slow and clumsy. Honestly, if I'm going to go to the trouble of sending someone a text message, I'd rather just ring them up and talk to them.

Greetings Muzzi. :D

I say that people should write correctly without any shortings, only those necessary to avoid harsh language / harsh situations / harsh complications, such as BJ, WMW, MWM, FMF, MFM, etc...