A Plea, From One [Archive]

Gadget470

08-02-2004, 21:10

Andy Baker did some justice with this post (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23801) but I feel a little more needs to be added.

We, the reader of the ChiefDelphi board, are all intelligent people. However, the English language is quite tricky, and it is to be expected that some words are spelled wrong, in the wrong order, or do not make sense when used together.

According to WordOrgins.com (http://www.wordorigins.org/number.htm), we, as educated people, have a vocabulary of roughly 20,000 words. Words which we know, understand, and are accepted by lexicographers.

Some people in society choose to add words to society's vocabulary, most which do not make sense to the lay man who is not in the same culture as the spawners of the new words. While FIRST has a very broad spectrum of members, from those happy with a bicycle to those whom demand a Mercedes, it is an organization based largely on intellect.

My plea, please refrain from using inside jokes and slang which are not appropriate for discussions. Woodie always says to act "as if your grandmother was watching".. but, I say.. write "as if your grandmother is reading." Most grandmothers I know don't know what "Straight G-Code" or "bling" means, nor do they care to learn.

My personal feeling is that the Chief Delphi Boards are not a place for slang words. I have made rather snide remarks at a few posts where such phrases were used, and I do not repent my actions. A few people have given me praise for my remarks, therefore, others have the same viewpoint as I.

So again, please, use the English Language that we all understand. Unsure? about your word? www.dictionary.com

D.J. Fluck

09-02-2004, 00:28

I totally agree with you, it gets really anoying sometimes trying to translate some of this slang to english (if possible)

good call there, gadget.

Aignam

09-02-2004, 00:41

The English Oxford Dictionary, amongst the most respected reference publications, lists the following:
ain't, Bling Bling, gangstas, jiggy, dope, phat, and a plethora of other words associated with 'mainstream pop-culture'.
What exactly do you consider civilized? Quoting the dictionary? Writing like Shakespeare?

Now, I happen to wholeheartedly agree that some of the language on this board is ridiculous and should be disallowed. But I also think that incorrect spelling and grammar usage are an even bigger disservice to these forii.

Define exactly what you think is 'proper English'. You're going to run into someone whose dictionary has words like jiggy and gangsta. And I think that's pretty dope. ;)

Matt Adams

09-02-2004, 00:44

Well, not to start a fight... but I'm going to simply say that I think that we can lighten up a bit. Slang is part of our society!

You don't measure how cool a robot is with a thermometer...
A robot that rocks don't play in a band...
A really sweet looking arm isn't covered in sugar...

If you've got a sweet bling-bling robot with a rockin' arm and really cool idea for a goal grabber that you CNC'd with straight G-code... good for you!

I'm not going to be the grammar police... Maybe we should try to expand our cultural awareness instead of trying to hinder the non-offensive language of others?

Bling: In reference to money, metals, or overall net worth.

i.e A bling-blinged sprocket would be one that could have a cool CNC pattern cut into it.

Straight G-Code: G-code that is written by hand, without the use of CAD-CAM software

However, let's be clear:
Slang that is offensive is NOT appropriate
Reread for grammer and spel check
Make intelligent posts

Otherwise, have fun and post on...

My two cents,

Matt

Brandon Martus

09-02-2004, 00:48

as a side note .. i did try to install a spell checker.

vb3 is nuts though. it wasn't a quick job, and i didn't have much time to do it.

Aignam

09-02-2004, 00:50

as a side note .. i did try to install a spell checker.

vb3 is nuts though. it wasn't a quick job, and i didn't have much time to do it.
::shrugs:: It isn't a terrible inconvenience to read through your post twice. In fact, I think it's a rather large benefit. It gives people a chance to think through what they're saying.

Kevin A

09-02-2004, 01:06

Lord Nerdlinger

09-02-2004, 05:38

Or you could just try to experience society and become aquainted with modern vocabulary...

"Language" is simply what people use to convey thoughts and ideas, and it is constantly changing. As people and society evolve so does language, you need to deal with it.

Why should everyone else write as you do simply becuase you choose to hide away from the rest of the world?

so in summary:

don't hate the playa, watch out fo the bling bling, and keep it real dawg, and just build a robot... fo shizzle

Aignam

09-02-2004, 06:30

Gadget470

10-02-2004, 23:10

Im sorry for saying "bling bling" http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24440

I put that thread in the rumor mill and didnt mean to insult anyone. I figure with threads in the rumor mill, if the title doesn't interest you then you wont look, so if my title didnt intrigue you, then sorry.

Once again, sorry,
KEvin

That was in chit-chat... which is, in my opinion, the appropriate venue for that type of language, if any.

As for Aignam's reply's.. I entrust myself to www.Dictionary.com for my word choice. Because a word has a definition, does not make it appropriate for use in discussion. Words that are fully accepted by all cultures which are represented on these boards (such as "cool", "sweet" and "rocks") are read in such a fashion that they do not break up the sentance. For example "A really cool device"... no, the device isn't cold, it is neat, interesting, blah blah blah... but it is understood by all whom read it what is meant. This board was the first time I have ever heard or read the term "straight g-code", and had no clue what it meant, thus I had to read a few times and guess. Wasting my time and thought over an easily replacable word.

Elgin Clock

10-02-2004, 23:17

While we're on this subject, can someone please give me the "slang" definition of the word "owned"?

Gadget470

10-02-2004, 23:19

KenWittlief

10-02-2004, 23:21

Im sorry, I dont understand the complaint at all?!

you read something on CD that you didnt understand, and you had to stop and think about it, or ask someone what it meant

you mean you were in danger of learning something new? and thats bad why?!

FIRST has a language of its own - who else would know the alphabet soup here to know what CD KOP RC OI....stand for

and if someone is not interested in the stuff we are talking about, why are they reading this forum?

on a public forum there is a line we walk between talking like we are carrying on a informal conversation in public, and writing a formal document worthy of becoming an IEEE white paper - most people keep it in between.

Gadget470

10-02-2004, 23:25

There is a difference between a useful word, phrase, acronym, etc. and nonsensical subculture slang.

If you went to some other board about puppies and said:

Yeah, we got our FIRST KOP and there is a new OI for our RC bot. I'm gonna post on CD about it!

They would probably delete the post.

It's not appropriate for the forum. I have nothing against learning something that I can use productively.

That is all.

Tytus Gerrish

10-02-2004, 23:29

as a side note .. i did try to install a spell checker.

vb3 is nuts though. it wasn't a quick job, and i didn't have much time to do it.
PLease!!! im Suffering Brandon I need it So badely Im Even Getting Bad reps For it. DID you see how i spelled skrimmages? I realy do try

As for bling... to me it sounds like the sound a cartoon or sitcom makes when sombody's teeth or jewlery or eyes make that bright sparkle as far as why a reflecton would make a sound I have No Idea. Ive used it a few times and its kinda pointless because it Physcally Makes no sense

ya Who needs Slang? use it in reality not in forums that are archived and then you look back on it years later and then your like: "WOWH! was i a dumb kid back then or what?"

KenWittlief

10-02-2004, 23:38

nonsensical subculture slang?!

you mean its ok for students to learn about our subculture, science and engineering

but we should not be forced to learn about theirs?

one of the greatest achievements of FIRST is that its a common bond between people from many different places and subcultures - I deeply feel it would be a mistake to scorn someone for sharing their manner of speaking, their sense of humor, or their pecular way of expressing themselves, only because you dont (yet) understand it.

I agree it can be frustrating - The company I use to work with was entrenched with a alphabet soup of acronyms - you could not talk to anyone, or read any documents without missing at least some of what was going on because every phrase or name that had more that 3 sylables was replaced with an acronym - it drove me crazy (and Im still crazy to this very day)

but here, Im not here to drive on a one way street - I think I learn more from the students I work with than they learn from me - cause they got me outnumbered by at least 10 to 1 :c)

Tytus Gerrish

10-02-2004, 23:45

im reeminded of all the names for the CIM motor

chippowA!
Che-a-Fu-A
chip
Sims
Chims
chips
chalupa
chupagapa
Cim
Chiapowa
And Prety much anything else you can think of we all know it means the same thing (The Big black one)

Mike Schroeder

11-02-2004, 00:03

As for Aignam's reply's.. I entrust myself to www.Dictionary.com (http://www.Dictionary.com) for my word choice. Because a word has a definition, does not make it appropriate for use in discussion. Words that are fully accepted by all cultures which are represented on these boards (such as "cool", "sweet" and "rocks") are read in such a fashion that they do not break up the sentance. okay i am confused by a few things myself, first off, my english teachers always told me never to rely on a webpage, so i am gonna have to agree to Aignam, second, i believe that FIRST is a bunch of unique people, and what one person finds normal is weird to others. so "Bling bling" and the such are coinsidered normal to some and not to others

and while we are on the subject of being all prim and proper, then i would like to say that everyone using the word first to refer to the program can all be confusing.

first: (taken from dictionary.com) first (fûrst)
n.The ordinal number matching the number one in a series.

There are more definitions to the word here: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=first

no where on the page does it say that first is a robotics program started by Dean Kamen in New Hampshire

so people should Call F.I.R.S.T. just that F.I.R.S.T. or call it For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology because we wouldnt want anyone to get confused this just makes things more prim and proper

by the way (because using the term BTW would not be prim and proper) I cannot spell. I have the written ability of a snail ( that is if a snail could write i have never seen any snails on the New York Times Best Sellers List) if anyone has a problem with that i would prefer if they contacted me in private instead of continuing a discussion that has already be discussed on these boards to death

Katie Reynolds

11-02-2004, 00:10

Ok ...

So if someone is posting...

"idk whut u r talking about. whut do u thnk i shuld do? y dont u answer me?????? ima total h4x0r!!!!!!"

... all the time, I can see why one would be upset over the spelling/grammer/word usage on these forii. True, some people write "u" instead of "you", occasionally you'll see "idk" instead of "I don't know", but generally any words or acronyms used here are pretty general things that most internet users know. As far as TTS (er ... totally terrible spellers) there aren't too many here. I'm sure if you have a problem with what they are posting, they will be more than happy to have you edit their posts for them.

On second thought, why is this even being discussed - especially now?? Don't you all have robots to build or something? :rolleyes:

Aignam

11-02-2004, 06:36

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=owned&f=1

Note, the above website may contain material in which parental discrection may be advised. As most sites for the people, of the people, by the people are.
What happened to precious dictionary.com? Why not the English Oxford Dictionary? Why not urbandictionary.com? If a word is accepted enough by a certain group or culture to be in a dictionary, it is more than likely to your benefit to understand its meaning. Consider surfing these boards and experiencing a multitude of cultures and backgrounds to your intellectual benefit.

Josh Fritsch

11-02-2004, 22:21

all im gunna (gunna=going to) say is wow. Gadget, I really dont understand the continuing debate over this. If you think that posting this thread will stop anyone from changing the way they speak or write, im just going to tell you right now, it wont happen. Everyone has their own style, its what makes people unique. If everyone talked the same and was "proper" (in your eyes) all the time, how boring would this world be? Anyway, I dont see the big problem of using slang, im mean seriously, it bothered you that much to actually post a thread on how to talk? rofl (roll on floor laughing) seems like a person of your intelect would find better things to do with his time, especially on a subject you could not hope to change. Well im going to build my robot now, if u all decide to continue this frivolous <~~(proper word, meaning Inappropriately silly: a frivolous purchase. (from dictionary.com))

P.S. These are my opinions, if anyone has a prob. then pm me, cause this is ridiculous.

Aignam

11-02-2004, 22:46

Close this thread, someone?

Rickertsen2

11-02-2004, 22:52

IMHO I should not have to become an unanimated dolt and leave my personality behind jsut to post here.

Josh Fritsch

11-02-2004, 22:54

I agree with aignam, this thread really should close.