Something smells bad on these forums

[BrendanS]

Re: Written Word

I think you're right, without the nuances, the written version can look quite stark. I've frequently been suprised at how people can take offence at what was a fairly simple statement. I think Snowleopard became a victim of this, as he appeared to see racist statements in all sorts of posts that he gathered together in one large list of quotes - I simply couldn't see how he could think the bulk of them were racist, but he felt strongly enough to leave - two completely different interpretations of the same posts

 

[Joe_Cole]

Re: Written Word

You are not being too charitable....but it can be very difficult at times!

While we are on the subject I hate "teenage speak" on the forum ("well good", "minging" etc etc). I also dislike text messaging. I don't like tattoos and I don't like body piercing. I don't like drunks vomiting on the pavement nor do I like it when people spit chewing gum onto the pavement.

There, that's got that off my chest. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Written Word

I think the majority of people who arrive on here, complain and then stomp off are control freaks who feel powerless because of their lack of control over others who post here. If you like it stay and discuss, argue or whatever. If you don't like it, go and find something else and just accept that at the end of the day nobody will miss you.

I don't like bad spelling, but I can't do anything about it (in others), just like chavs, politicians, self opinionated b'stards and a multitude of other things, but I have learnt (am learning) to live with them.

There are people on here that I engage with, there are people I don't engage with. It's a big world and if you don't like the smell move up wind. Recently though, the biggest moaners, and those that seem to be most intent on upsetting other people, seem to be the new arrivals and they don't like it when they get a bit of flak back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[T_S]

Re: Written Word

For wonse I hav to aggree with yuo Mark lyke yuo I hayt bad speling two!

 

[bigmart]

Hi Nial

The only reason that you didn't hear me leave must have been because you were deep in alcohol induced Slumber.

I released all the lines, pushed the boat off & accelerated out into the river, only to find my Boarding Ladder had tangled with the lines. I shot back towards the pontoon at a most unbecoming speed. I got out in the end though.

An excellent weekend I thought.

You notice that Brendan didn't turn up to throw a blue rinse upon things. He knows its not Blubber its Relaxed Muscle & its not a Bald Head its a Solar Panel for a Sex Machine.

Any money that I gave him was because he had Maxed Out his SAGA Card & I felt sorry for him.

Martin /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[milltech]

Re: Phew, I didn\'t contribute to that one anyway!

[ QUOTE ]
Language is however a constantly evolving thing, and so common usage becomes correct usage over a period of time.

Even if you were to go back to the 1920's you'd find huge differences in English to now.

[/ QUOTE ]

Undoubtedly true Brendan, and I like new words most of the time if they are inventive and useful, this doesn't apply to "Boater" or "Pushpit" by the way, but at no time would casual ignorance have been regarded a progress. A new word here, or a changed usage over time, does not remove the need for language to be understood, understanding involves following the rules, and getting them wrong doesn't make ignorance the new knowledge.

Not long ago I was reading a book published perhaps in the 1920's or 30's in which "show" was spelled "shew" all the way through. Clearly an older use though I didn't know it had been like that. When I thought about it afterwards it made some sense in that it might have explained why we call Shrewsbury "Shrosebury".

 

[milltech]

Re: Written Word

[ QUOTE ]
I think the majority of people who arrive on here, complain and then stomp off are control freaks who feel powerless because of their lack of control over others who post here. If you like it stay and discuss, argue or whatever. If you don't like it, go and find something else and just accept that at the end of the day nobody will miss you.

I don't like bad spelling, but I can't do anything about it (in others), just like chavs, politicians, self opinionated b'stards and a multitude of other things, but I have learnt (am learning) to live with them.

There are people on here that I engage with, there are people I don't engage with. It's a big world and if you don't like the smell move up wind. Recently though, the biggest moaners, and those that seem to be most intent on upsetting other people, seem to be the new arrivals and they don't like it when they get a bit of flak back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I sometimes feel like that, climb up into my little castle and pull up the drawbridge, but really if you don't like intolerance, poor spelling, chavs, self opinionated bustards, politicians etc. then really we all ought to stand up and say so, not move upwind and pretend they don't affect us.

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Written Word

[ QUOTE ]
I sometimes feel like that, climb up into my little castle and pull up the drawbridge, but really if you don't like intolerance, poor spelling, chavs, self opinionated bustards, politicians etc. then really we all ought to stand up and say so, not move upwind and pretend they don't affect us.

[/ QUOTE ]

I will still fight the "important" battles, but I think I have reached the stage that I will no longer fight the battles that I won't win - they take their toll with little return. As long as the chavs etc. stay outside of my moat, I will leave them alone; but try to swim across........ And if I want to stroll across my drawbridge into their world, then I have to put up with it.

I have played the "us" game and ended up as the "him" or "that one" once too many times /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[T_S]

Re: Written Word

[ QUOTE ]
I have played the "us" game and ended up as the "him" or "that one" once too many times

[/ QUOTE ]

Would that be similar as playing the "happy" game and ending up 'gay'? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[l'escargot]

Re: Written Word

Give me a kiss and I'll tell you /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[daveyjones]

What I like about these fora is that you can be getting very heated with someone in the Lounge, then next evening be having a useful and civilised exchange of info in the PBO forum. I suppose in real life I am an argumentative, excitable sort, but I don't bear grudges, not even for a minute, so these fora suit me. Perhaps some people find the heat a bit too intense in one way or another, but there is a saying to the effect that "you add as much to the suffering in the world when you take offense, as when you give offense. Those who are gratuitously offensive spin enough rope to hang themselves in public, as it is clear to anyone reading these people how silly they sound. (I would make an exception for comments of a racist or intolerant nature, since I think any contributions like that invite a robust reply .) They usually don't have anything to contribute in the way of useful info either, as in the example shown. By the way, if you think that's bad try asking for advice on ferro, or if you really want to go to another planet, ferro-sheathing. That'll really bring them out of the woodwork!
I'm shocked to read that some people have received death threats - they may not be serious but how would you know? I hope they were reported to the police as well as the forum controllers.

 

[daveyjones]

Re: Written Word

The problem with that is, that when you ask for clarification you are often accused of harassment or at least badgering the person, and it's hard to know when to back off without appearing to be rude or going into a sulk!

 

[T_S]

Re: Written Word

[ QUOTE ]
Give me a kiss and I'll tell you /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Stoppit your making me go all shy! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Sybarite]

Re: Phew, I didn\'t contribute to that one anyway!

Personally I like the English language (despite being Irish...! ) and I despair of the view that, if enough people make a mistake, it becomes acceptable. Off the cuff, certain examples that come to mind are:-
- the almost universal use of "media" in both the singular and plural.
- the adoption of Americanisms : "to leverage" when they mean "to lever" . "To loan" when we say "to lend". "To schedulize" = "to plan". "Custom built" when it's just the opposite.
- the lack of appreciation of the importance of punctuation.

Nowadays strong emotions are described with expletives; in the past the use of the language was very much more developed and subtle. Of course they did not have televisions to assist in the dumbing down process but they constantly practised their language through written correspondance. No telephones then.

The human race is making constant progress except, IMHO, in the use of language.

When I worked for a large accounting firm, you know, P ersonal W ater C raft, some idiot of a senior partner decided that he wanted all reports world wide to use American terms and spellings so that reports everywhere would read the same. (He also decided incidentally that only nationals would be promoted in their own countries. That was when I left, along with many others.)

John

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Phew, I didn\'t contribute to that one anyway!

[ QUOTE ]
I despair of the view that, if enough people make a mistake, it becomes acceptable

[/ QUOTE ]

Canute comes to mind. You cannot stem the tide of change, no matter how much you dislike it.

People today have much more access to global sayings and ways of doing things. Many kids have phones and use text and email continually, and use abbreviations.

I noticed when doing the forecasting for the tcm trip, mainly via txt, that both he and I, while no longer in our youth, used a lot of txt spk, prbly bcose we are in IT and immersed in this stuff daily, and it's also a lot quicker to type text messages that way

 

[chippie]

Re: Written Word

Milltech, loose instead of lose, I have just come from an Amerikan forum where I wondered the same thing.

 

[BrendanS]

[ QUOTE ]
I suppose in real life I am an argumentative, excitable sort, but I don't bear grudges, not even for a minute

[/ QUOTE ]

That's one of the things I've found most difficult to deal with on any forums, never mind these ones. I don't bear a grudge 30 seconds after a good slanging match. Many others do though, and it prejudices their involvement with you from there on in.

Part of the learning curve on forums is to work out who you have possibly offended in the past, and moderate your postings in threads in which you are jointly involved, so you post an opinion to someone other than that person in that thread so avoiding direct confrontation. Works sometimes

You can of course be completely thick skinned and just not care, but you are going to make enemies if you post at all frequently on any of the more controversial topics - it's just part of life's rich tapestries as the saying goes

 

[Peppermint]

Re: My sense of smell isn\'t great.

but I can smell an old chesnut here.

In any cross section of humanity you get your erudite, your leaders, the questioners and the followers and a bunch of nitwits.

The fact that the traits change from subject to subject is quite normal if a little confusing. The only real constant in general debate seems to be the inconsistancy.

It's a common human trait to "test" newcomers into a community. If you've been an apprentice or joined a club you'll have experienced this.

This is a mainly male forum, there's the odd dog or cat and a couple or three lady regulars, and taking the p*ss and talking boll*x is what blokes do. What they also do is ralley around when needed. There's many more "letters of thanks for the info" posted on these pages than gripes.

I too don't bear grudges. I wouldn't say anything on here that I wouldn't tell you to your face. Of course, knowing I'm always right helps.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Phew, I didn\'t contribute to that one anyway!

[ QUOTE ]
I despair of the view that, if enough people make a mistake, it becomes acceptable. Off the cuff, certain examples that come to mind are:-


[/ QUOTE ]
And what about 'Logistics' when they mean delivery

 

[Nickel]

Re: Phew, I didn\'t contribute to that one anyway!

And less when they mean fewer.