Flawed NEW MEMBER system.

Hi Larch,

My reply has nothing to do with the opinions that butcherman has raised nor does it have anything to do with disrespect, which a number of persons seem to think I have an issue with. As a matter of fact, I would be very happy if there was less amphasis about this, I do not have to be treated any differently to anyone else on the forum.

What I have commented about before is the SMS type of English that persons are using. If I am to be quite honest, it is difficult to comprehend what Butcherman is trying to say because of his spelling. It is this part which drives me to despair.

I have now explained to you what I am complaining about, I hope that you understand.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

I get the feeling that some people are ready for battle at the drop off a hat. Relax guys! Jeeze...if I wanted to fight, or see people fight, I'll rather stay away from the forum and spend the evening with my wife. Since this is the internet - submitting personal information will always be a personal choice.

I joined this forum to learn stuff and I dare say that since I joined I have been seeing more and more petty squabbles fueled by user comments. While I do agree with a lot of the comments, I feel that disagreements should not be voiced in an aggressive manner and definite care should be taken not to sound quarrelsome. After all - if everyone agreed all the time life would be awfully boring.

Furthermore, surely you can see that these kind of "petty squabbles" definitely does not inspire new people like myself to ask questions or post replies. If I upset anyone by my reply - I really don't care. I was under the impression that this forums' sole purpose was for members and visitors to learn and share experiences of this great hobby.

 

Thanks Dirk now I am also in the loop and now know why you are upset by the post he made, unfortunately I cant see in my opinion why there is any reason to get so upset, but different strokes for different folks I guess. After checking out in detail his replies I only found spelling mistakes, but it is far from being a deal breaker as you can still clearly make out what he is trying to say and does not make it un-readable or not understandable.

And I think we need to understand what sms speak really is and what it really looks like before we throw bad grammar and sentence structure into the so called "sms speak" category. Unfortunately not everyone is graced with a computer or internet browser with spell checkers, and I know how cumbersome it can get when trying to use say a cellphone.

Here is a good example of what sms speak would look like this:

More examples can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_language

Also one must not confuse sms speak with established internet lingo that has been in use even before the cellphone was invented, these are acceptable here is a nice article about it: LOL -- A Guide to Internet Lingo and Emoticons

And if you really have trouble understanding them you can always use the Internet Slang Dictionary & Translator. And if all else fails throw what has been posted into a spell checkers, but nothing I have read on this form since I have joined has been that bad, that I needed to resort to doing that.

I think we just need to accept that TASA has a wide and varied user base and we cant expect them all to keep to high levels of grammar and spelling due to various issues.

 

Hi Viskop,

I could not agree with you more. I thought that I was not being aggressive in my comments and then the next thing happens as we see. I have now reached the point where I get the feeling that the less I say the better, every time I say something someone takes it personally because of some or other misunderstanding because folks don't seem to understand what I am saying.

Hi Larch,

You are entitled to your opinion about SMS language and poor grammar, and I am entitled to disagree. I think that because of this is there is a lack of communication and this is causing the problems on this forum in the first place.

In conclusion, I get the feeling that my presence on this forum is causing more and more problems and I think the time has come for me to move on.

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Hi all readers. It is a pity that emotion can not be added to text. I have often seen how this becomes a problem as it is impossible to really know how a comment was meant to sound. Thats unfortunately part and parcel to this media. Prof Dirk, I am sorry to say this but in my opinion, though you wish for it, I can never treat you like just a 'member'. I have tried sending you a PM only to recieve a feedback that your box is full! In the conversations we have had it is evident that you have a very busy schedule, yet even when bombarded with pm's and 'Ask the Prof' post's you always find time to help. What irks me is the concept that most, if not all members on this forum sooner or later comes to you for help, expect to get it, yet wont take the time to make it a pleasant and painless process for you by writing and addressing issues properly. If I was you I'd just ignore those posts untill attitudes change. Again you dont, shows the better man. For those commenting that any 'info' is 'making a mountain of a mole hill' I say that it goes both ways. If 'anonimity' is not an issue, why are you defending it so feverishly? I'm Marco from Pretoria and good luck to anyone wanting to use that in ID theft. I agree this is a storm in a tea cup. There is too many storms here lately as it seems too many ego's are involved. For crying out loud, why is it so darn difficult to start a thread, ie- Members, can we all please agree to the following- a) no SMS language will be used on threads and PM's, b) Address the person in the thread to whom you are responding, c) Sign off on Threads and PM's with your first name to improve interactive exchanges, d) refrain from being disrespectfull to any and all members, e) please update your location and personal info. . .and then amazingly to read everyone's reply 'Yeh, sure' Then the forum has improved, and it has moved forward! Why is it SO difficult? That was my R5. . .

 

I must agree with Marco on this. I always thought I was being too formal for this TASA crowd when I signed off my posts.

Sms language is so hard to understand. And I'm a 19 year old!
Some of the earlier posts in the ' Ask the Professor -discus' threads where incredibly hard to negotiate because of grammar or the lack thereof. If only users could explain their requests clearly in simple words, that will suffice!

To add to what Marco has already said, when starting a new thread, please title the thread appropriately as not to give the reader any misconceptions on the topic being discussed. For example there is a current thread called 'Malawi-Vibrating'. One could only imagine what the Author means. Moderators should rename these threads with a proper title that indicates the topic of discussion clearly.

I may be new here but I have already picked up on these flaws. TASA has so much to offer yet there's so much of silent feuds between the lines.

I think the first 10 posts of each new member should be moderated and edited/Deleted where necessary. If nobody is willing to do the job then I volunteer.This should present a more welcoming forum where everyone gets along.

The Professor is a highly respectable person. Posts directed to him should be made so formally.

That's all for now

Kind Regards

TM

 

when good, useful, productive and informative threads like these go downhill it baffles me. Forehead slapping frustration. You read one thing, make an ASSUMPTION and go steamrolling forward. I think everyone should be confined to typing from a non predictive text phone like me. By the time you finish 1st sentence youve had time to process and find that warmongering takes too long to type out. Think before you ink. . .

Mods, its time for a cleanup on this thread, could you please take the good, constructive posts and make an informative thread from it and delete the arguementative posts? If necessary, cut and paste to a new thread?

 

Larch. Unfortunately I do not understand your reasoning and argument. I would love for you to explain to me how you can 'Picket' for bad grammar and language by use of the 'excuse' that not everyone is 'graced' with a browser or spelling checker, yet you post links to sites that offer dictionaries and explanation of sms/internet language. Would it not be easier and then more constructive to post a link to a plain english dictionary, or should all of us now go on a course to unravel crap writing and spelling? I use your argument- 'Just a thought, the English language was there long before computors and cellphones existed' . . . Sorry, moderate this/me, but your reasoning and arguments Larch, is really "ass about face" in a silly kind of way. Regards, Marco

 

Hi all

Here is the simple answer. Some people feel they are not bothered by the SMS style of writing, poor grammar, poor spelling, etc., while others are clearly irritated. Knowing this, you can safely assume that those irritated by what you write will not respond, even though you may expect a response. In short, the best thing to do is to respect the wishes of the people you expect to respond.

Prof Bellstedt clearly stated he does not appreciate SMS style, poor spelling and poor grammar. Why is there even an argument? If you expect him to respond, then post your comments/questions with those guidelines in mind.

I have been an infrequent poster of late, due to the lack of stimulating content and an abundance of meaningless ramble. Do you all really want to drive away the best intellectual capital on this forum? For goodness sake, just respect the fact that the Prof expects decent English when you expect him to respond.

Now I'm going to open a can of worms. Mods - I do understand we have international members, and I admit I have not read the rules in a while, but are we permitted to post in for example Afrikaans? Because some people find it so much easier to express themselves in their home language, and I would be more than willing to do translations to English when requested. Just a thought...

And can we get back to the fun of fish keeping? Somebody please start a new thread with something interesting...algae, dissease, anything...please!

Regards
Lauré

 

Hi guys! Sorry for just popping into a thread like this unannounced, I am usually the “guest†that browses the forum on a very regular basis but never bothered to register. So since I am new here, my name is Stephan Prinsloo and I am from Rustenburg and I currently have several community tanks that I have been maintaining for many years.

Now before we start let me state for the record that I am a big grammar Nazi or so my wife tells me, meaning I will nitpick on every little thing and correct people when they write or talk. Much to their annoyance of then of course, I have also seen some terrible terrible spelling and grammar that made my skin crawl.

And I can safely say this forum already has a high standard when it comes to the user content and posting and that people should not worry about a couple of miss spelled words. My kids regularly use abbreviations for everything leaving me scratching my head as to what they are saying.

And I think it has become a kind of generation gap, now that is no excuse for terrible spelling and grammar but like my wife says sometimes you just have to give it a rest.

And Marco I think what larch was trying to explain in his own way was the fact that when you get so many people coming together that there is bound to be different styles of communicating. And the links that he posted was for the esteemed professors when does not understand the into lingo being used, no shame in that! When my kids SMS me I always have a little printed sheet with the abbreviations on them.

I would also like to point out that it is English and not english and that it is computers and not computors, also you need to punctuate the end of your sentences and structure them with proper words instead of using / or – as a substitute.

Sorry I just had to.

Regards, Stephan Prinsloo

 

Hi Stephan and welcome to the forum

I am sorry I do not understand this sentence, it almost makes my skin crawl. :bigsmile:

Hope you enjoy the forum!

Regards
Lauré

 

@Butcherman, I understand English has changed. I dont understand why we are having this discussion though. . . All that was said was in light of suggestions for a "Standard" to which members comply when posting. Why is this such an issue? You use examples of Shakespearian language being out of date. . .I'll turn it around on you- Where you work do Memo's and Newsletters get typed in SMS language or proper language? Imagine buying a newspaper in which all articles are written SMS style? Magazines! The next publication of your favourite Author's Novel is printed in SMS style? Is that done? NO! What about moving with times "Sunday times", "Car Magazine", your boss's typist and 'Wilbur Smith'. Sorry, Its just a rudicolous argument. Regards, Marco

 

Thanks for the warm welcome Laure and well done for catching that one, and yes you got me there but I will blame my Blackberry for that one

Regards, Stephan Prinsloo

 

Marco, abreviations makes everything so much easier and faster once you know them like HOB and UGF, nobody knew what that ment when they first joined a forum but you learn quickly.

 

Acronyms and SMS style are two different things. Acronyms and well known abreviations are totally acceptable in forums, memo's and magazines.

Acronyms & SMS styl R 2 diff thngs acrs & well knwn abr R totaly acc in forums memos & magz

 

Singularity and others. There is a difference between abbreviations and sms style writing is there not. I reread the thread and found no reference to abbreviations? 'UGF, CFL, HOB' is different to "hi im gr8 tx pls can we bri9 tis topic to a cls as it is det 2 all read & nt go9 4ward . . ? That is the problem. . .

 

:idea: