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Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« on: November 07, 2003, 01:22:07 AM »
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I've seen the same logic applied to a KKK rally.

I think people here need to think how to phrase their comments.  Likening most people to anything like the KKK is only going to really annoy them.

You may be trying to get a point across, and you may think that achieves maximum effect, but your point is lost completely when it is easily taken as offensive/insulting.

We all go over the top at one time or another in arguments, but try to think along these lines as much as possible.
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2003, 01:41:41 PM »
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Color, Theater, Meter, Fiber, Center are not misspelings of those words. That's how they are spelled in a languauge that has different rules than yours.

You spelt "language" wrong :-D

If I ever write an autobiography*, there'll be a section about language.  Under "pointless language variations because one nation 'wanted to be different' from one of its ancestors"...

* - but then my autobiography might be a bit unsual with a "technical reference" :-)

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To gripe about spelling is ignorant, 'cos its common knowledge that english is a language created from butchered words from other languages already spoken. German and latin seem to come to mind.

Any sensible language nicks words from others.  Otherwise you end up with this stupid business that the French.gov are up to of "trying to preserve their language" and insisting that people/media use their stupid french variations of words that have become standard the world over.  We say restaurant, even with the French pronunciation.  We have done for a long time.  Nobody moans about it.  Get over it.
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2003, 03:44:30 PM »
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My point is that this all comes down to communication, and someone said it already... The point is to be understood.

To a certain extent I disagree, but here's an example of how I disagree.

Someone makes a remark intended to be funny over a text-based medium.  If they misspell something, most of the humour is lost in it, because people need to first think about what they meant to say, then add it all up together in their brain, and then "oh".  Not funny.

Misppelling leads to an impression of lack of education, or someone being thick (because, much of the time it is!  think about the most brainless/immature arguments you've heard, one of the factors you remember is very likely to be poor spelling, and/or use of caps/swearwords etc).  Their argument, even if it is an extremely well-communicated (otherwise) argument, and a good/valid one, is likely to be treated differently, because over the Internet there is little to go on to gauge the person's intellect.  That can lead to the response being worded differently, possibly condescending, etc.

And if you say "well, it shouldn't lead to that, that's the other person's fault", it's the original poster's fault in the first place for not bothering to spell correctly.  We're talking most people here, not people who have real difficulties such as genuine dyslexia.

I think I can get the spelling and grammar correctly, but what I used to do is use a word processor to just check a single word quickly, start it up, type word in, hit spell check.  Recently I bought a piece of dictionary software to help me more.  Spelling, grammar and punctuation makes a huge difference in an educated/technical discussion.
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2003, 04:55:42 PM »
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I agree with what you say about impressions mikeymike, but only to a certain extent, when typing something into a forum, I write without too much regard to spelling and grammar except where my point needs to be carefully expressed because I don't want to be missunderstood.

I just find it easier to apply a reasonably high level of concentration most of the time, then when it really matters, pay even more attention to it.
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one of my points is; "what is correct?" British english has it's methods and a style of it's own, so does American and so does Australian etc etc etc, so who say's what's right? the person writing the words makes that descision, if it's sloppy, then that's just what it is, again, the person who is reading it will decide how they react to that sloppiness...or humor, or whatever...

Americanisms annoy me, I'll admit that outright.  By "Americanisms" I mean words that have been turned into American spelling for no apparent reason than to flip the bird at the British.  Otherwise, I think that if you're British, you should use British English, and if you're American, American English.  I don't let my annoyance for Americanisms lead me to the point of correcting Americans on the use of American English :-)
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The point of all communication is to understand each other, it exists in between all of us.

I think that is a very complex and subtle subject, as I think most people who are experienced in communicating with people they don't know over the Internet will agree.

- edit - my wording can be poor sometimes, just look at that last sentence :-) -
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2003, 05:14:57 PM »
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Annoying is bad, and mainly bad for yourself. So don't bother and respect the Americans and their language.

If I didn't respect that choice, I would be openly correcting people on American English use in forums :-)

 - edit - having said that, the quirks of the English language as to, for example, when 'ize' instead of 'ise' should be used, it's very weird, and differs between dictionaries.  Typically American English uses 'ize', and British 'ise', but it swaps around seemingly at random.  I've never worked out a solid rule of thumb of knowing which to use.

- edit 2 - the only time I've ever corrected spelling/punctuation/grammar on amiga.org is in this thread, IIRC (and pretty sure).

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When an Irishman or Scot speaks everyone think its all too authentic but it is the same case as the American's

I'm not sure what you mean.  You're saying that some people think that Irish/Scottish people "put on" their quirks to the language for the sake of it?
 

Offline mikeymike

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Re: behaviour (bad)
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2003, 05:53:25 PM »
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We all understand beer don't we?

The wonder of the not-so-modern age.  :-)