Please Avoid Using TXT Shorthand On ATS (UPDATED)

Superb!

It's time to target posters who willfully refuse to contribute. I have seen too many posts of refutation lacking points and sources, they are simply attitude-filled diatribes, usually using this txt shorthand. Useless, wasted posts. Time to clean up!

I think this should become T&C. Express yourself credibly and with civility!

Good, I don't have time to stare at posts for 10 minutes each to figure out what the hell the person is trying to say.

Originally posted by d1k
but most of the core information and posts ATS gets are just rehashed topics posted first on other, just as popular (albeit not as good looking) boards.

Allegations like that will not stand unless you are prepared to back it up without any substance. Grant it there are some "out there" threads, ATS houses the best discussion on alternative subjects, anywhere on the web.

ATS is more than "regurgitation".

Originally posted by d1k
This is an Internet message board, this is not a Harvard classroom.

I mean no offense, but maybe your expectations of Above Top Secret are slightly beneath some of our other members. While I don't feel I am in a Harvard classroom, I do feel like I am a part of the best internet message board anywhere. The thought of our board being represented with these "TXT Shorthanded Posts", well that would be doing ourselves a great disservice.

We've had almost 2,000 members sign up in the last week. These two thousand members signed up with the highest of expectations, and this latest move has done nothing but reinforce those.

Originally posted by chissler
Allegations like that will not stand unless you are prepared to back it up without any substance.

Do your homework yourself. It's been like this for a couple years now.

Mind you I didn't say all, I said most.

I knew this would upset some people but if you read my post carefuly my point was people are going to take advantage of it and it might in fact push people away.

As far as how many people signed up last week and how many members ATS have, those are moot points.

[edit on 30-4-2007 by d1k]

Originally posted by FredT
As far as habbit breaking would you apply for a job or submit a resume that was mostly IM shorthand (At least if it was not with a company making cellphones or something

). Even peopel that text alot, do not spend thier non text time writting and speaking that way do they?

no offence dont bring in job applications and so forth into this
applying for a job and talking on a forum and chatting on msn is diffrent things (not trying ro say ATS is meaningless)

and yes i would use short hand in my CV (that parts sarcastic) even so i cant use short text

on second thoughts might aswell post this

chissler i agree with your reply

...I really do understand the rationale behind such an etiquette
request... And I have recently been guilty of such an offence...
But, it's somewhat ironic that I became aware of it by a u2u

[edit on 30-4-2007 by cosmokatt7]

Originally posted by bodrul
no offence dont bring in job applications and so forth into this
applying for a job and talking on a forum and chatting on msn is diffrent things (not trying ro say ATS is meaningless)

Well dude, you're going to university to get a job in aerospace? It's not going to look good, is it?

Originally posted by SteveR

Originally posted by bodrul
no offence dont bring in job applications and so forth into this
applying for a job and talking on a forum and chatting on msn is diffrent things (not trying ro say ATS is meaningless)

Well dude, you're going to university to get a job in aerospace? It's not going to look good, is it?

what did i just say i cant do text typing
i do it the long way (this is the third time i have had to repeat my self)

i am talking about others

that have this habit
and people generaly do things diffrent on their applications and other documents then they would do on a online comunity and msn
so the comparisent is not correct or accurate.

jeez




[edit on 30-4-2007 by bodrul]

Originally posted by d1k


This is an Internet message board, this is not a Harvard classroom. I think this can lead to things getting a bit to anal.

My 2 cents.

[edit on 30-4-2007 by d1k]

[edit on 30-4-2007 by d1k]

Your 2 cents and I'll raise you a quarter.

When I first came to ATS I was basically new to computers. I don't know how many posts I didn't understand because of this type of posting. If you want to get your point across to evereyone, which is the purpose of an "Internet message board" text speak is not the way to go. Some just don't understand it.

Wha..wha.what!!!

After I spent all weekend learning to type with my thumbs!!

Actually, I don't text, never will so I don't even know how to read that language.

I agree we should use properly written words, not everyone is in the "blackberry" age.

Is there going to be a list of no-no examples?

Sometimes I use FYI in thread titles or introducing news items, is this now considered a "hand-slapping" offense, just want to make sure I don't rattle anyone's cage.

WTF?
ROFLMAO!
RU4Real?
BRB...............
TTFN!

OK, kiddies, all kidding aside, this is great! I like to think that the majority of ATS'ers are quite intelligent - (well maybe not me) - and I think that the WHOLE written word is not just respect for others who may not be in the know for TXT shorthand, but also a sign of intelligent communication. I admit that TXT is cool, timesaving, and carving edge modern but save it for text messaging, not here on this magnificent forum where we all reside.

Just my two cents.

Originally posted by bodrul
you cant really expect everyone to all the sudden change a habit

i dont see how it effects the credibility of the auther on how they type

yeh i fink da same as u bruv. like wots da point in typin proply wen u can just type ow u wnt. like dis, if u cant read dis den wot r u evn doin er ya no?

I would absolutely hate to read a post like that. I couldn't even imagine reading a post that was 500+ words with shorthand text writing. It shows lack of respect to fellow ATS users. The reason being that the person hasn't even taken the time to use proper grammer, spelling etc. It's pure laziness to type like that. It's barely readable. Fair doos, I use shorthand when texting because it's a little quicker, but when I'm on here, or when at school doing an essay, I didn't carry on using shorthand by missing out every single vowel. You would get a straight F, unless of course the actual topic of the essay was something to do with 'the modern shorthand phenomenon'. So if you would get a straight F using that sort of grammer in a school essay, then why should you get away with using the same grammer on ATS?

I think this is a great idea, to cut this shorthand out. However, as for it being a 'request' rather than a rule, I think it will eventually need to be a rule. If people followed requests on here then there would be no need for the 'big quote/one liner' rules.

Originally posted by cosmokatt7
...I really do understand the rationale behind such an etiquette
request... And I have recently been guilty of such an offence...
But, it's somewhat ironic that I became aware of it by a u2u

[edit on 30-4-2007 by cosmokatt7]

I'm surprised no one picked up on this post. I thought it was hilarious. Being told to not use shorthand in a u2u.. hmmm.. maybe we need to change the u2u to something else?

Then again I use the acronym 'atm' quite a lot. Which is 'at the moment'. I'm not sure if I've used it in any posts, I probably have but not realised. Will this shorthand cut out using things like acronyms like atm? Would that therefore include something like 'etc' would we have to start using 'et cetera'?



[edit on 30-4-2007 by shaunybaby]

Hmm....

I don't think there is enough room on the button to put "Message from one person to another"

I think it's more towards the replacing "you" with "u" and things like that.

I guess u2u is a sort of acronym. The same as we would use 'ATS' instead of saying Above Top Secret. There are some more widely used acronyms, such as FYI, 'for your information', I use that when talking in person.

However, in person I don't use things like 'LOL' or 'LMAO'. Have you ever heard someone say to you in person 'ROFLMAO'. I doubt it. I think the aim is probably to cut out shorthand that's used in IM and text messages.

ATS isn't MSN. Maybe that should be the pun for the anti-instant-messaging-shorthand campaign?

doesn't shouldn't ther're these are shortcuts too! I think that some shortcuts are acceptable, for instance: gov't...Who likes to write that out 5 times in a post?

Or acronyms...Aren't these shortcuts as well? Like WTC, NWO, USA

I agree that some hardcore texting is bad like: u....r...b4....y....2 go...etc...
but that some shortcuts are acceptable and useful in fact.

It's simple to me. Whatever I put out here, I do in the spirit of asking others to read it and give me feedback on it. I want it to be readily understandable to the widest group I can reach. Why,even if I could, would I want to be read only by other 'cool' people.

At the rate that I see this becoming ever more prevalent on the web in general, the more I am reminded of the process whereby groups form to the exclusion of others. Do you want this forum to be divided into threads that are older and younger, or Republican and Democrat, or whatever else? It seemed when I first came here not that long ago, that this was a place to have fair and equal debates and the exchange of ideas. If some try to hijack it by using a set of "insider" shortcuts, they are not acting in that spirit.

Maybe I should do a thread, "America, Too Lazy and Elitist To Compete In a Modern World".

Originally posted by bodrul

Originally posted by SteveR
Well dude, you're going to university to get a job in aerospace? It's not going to look good, is it?

what did i just say i cant do text typing
i do it the long way (this is the third time i have had to repeat my self)

If you can do it, why not show us the respect that we show you. It's pretty simple. Are we not worth your effort?

Edit: I have just been informed that english is bodrul's second language. Nevermind, apologies.

[edit on 30/4/07 by SteveR]

Originally posted by shaunybaby
yeh i fink da same as u bruv. like wots da point in typin proply wen u can just type ow u wnt. like dis, if u cant read dis den wot r u evn doin er ya no?

I would absolutely hate to read a post like that.

I would hate to read a post like that, too. In fact, I wouldn't and I don't. I skipped over your first paragraph because it's in a different language. I think the language of this board is English and I think it's entirely reasonable to request that we all use English. Not some bastardized version of texting, not pig Latin or Ebonics or Cajun dialects. Sure, we could probably wade through a post in one of these dialects, but most wouldn't bother.

Thanks for bringing this up. I appreciate it.

I don't think the Administration is going overboard.

For example, if someone were to say:

"FYI, Above Top Secret is a discussion board that covers alternative topics."

I don't think that is a problem, nor most acronyms for that matter. I noticed NWO was mentioned, and certainly that does not apply to the "TXT Shorthand" that is being referred to.

There is a big difference in "TXT Shorthand" and Acronyms.