if (text = FIRST) text = [I]FIRST[/I];

[BornaE]

I just did a quick search on FIRST and looks like lots of people forget to italicize FIRST
I was wondering if it would be good to automatically parse capitalized FIRST and change it to FIRST.

Just a "thought"!

[Michelle Celio]

I just did a quick search on FIRST and looks like lots of people forget to italicize FIRST
I was wondering if it would be good to automatically parse capitalized FIRST and change it to FIRST.

Just a taught!

I totally agree. I know Jessica Boucher posted something FIRST sent out and it was made a sticky but it seems that it's been over looked by most.

Thank you for putting this out in the open once more.

[Protronie]

ITS JUST A POST IN A FORUM
Isn't expressing your thoughts and ideas more important than rather or not the words in the proper format?

Thats my 2 cents on the matter...

[Michelle Celio]

ITS JUST A POST IN A FORUM
Isn't expressing your thoughts and ideas more important than rather or not the words in the proper format?

Thats my 2 cents on the matter...

To me its about having respect for the organization wishes.

The organization that if it had not been for it, we would not be posting on this forum.

[BornaE]

ITS JUST A POST IN A FORUM
Isn't expressing your thoughts and ideas more important than rather or not the words in the proper format?

Thats my 2 cents on the matter...

I Agree that "ITS JUST A POST IN A FORUM", and I am not saying that there the people who forgot to italicize did something wrong. In fact I probably did the same thing if I look at my posts
But if CD can implement this, why not do it so we are going by FIRST guidelines?!

[whytheheckme]

I Agree that "ITS JUST A POST IN A FORUM", and I am not saying that there the people who forgot to italicize did something wrong. In fact I probably did the same thing if I look at my posts
But if CD can implement this, why not do it so we are going by FIRST guidelines?!

Yeah it'd be a simple filter. Kinda like woot! turns BOC into whatever it feels like that day in its posts, such as Bandolier Of Carrots, Baiting Other Consumers, etc.

And why not? Seems legit.

Jacob

[BornaE]

Yeah it'd be a simple filter. Kinda like woot! turns BOC into whatever it feels like that day in its posts, such as Bandolier Of Carrots, Baiting Other Consumers, etc.

And why not? Seems legit.

Jacob

GREAT!

[Greg Marra]

To me its about having respect for the organization wishes.

The organization that if it had not been for it, we would not be posting on this forum.

If you automatically italicize it when people post it, it shows no respect, only that a filter changed my text for me.

[Michelle Celio]

If you automatically italicize it when people post it, it shows no respect, only that a filter changed my text for me.
The fact that Protronie suggested that we just ignore this is what I meant.

Having a filter will not change others use of it elsewhere but will provide a sense that someone does actually care about what FIRST wants for their image.

I'm sure if you requested "The Blue Alliance" to be used a certain way, you would want people to actually respect your decision and follow what you ask for.

----

Anyway, as for the implementation, if its a simple edit to the forums and wont affect the daily posting of the many users, I don't see why there should be any disagreement as to why it shouldn't be implemented.

If 0705920 was asking for "first" and "FIRST" to be changed to "FIRST" then I'd understand the concern becuase it would alter the context of some messages.

[Greg Marra]

If 0705920 was asking for "first" and "FIRST" to be changed to "FIRST" then I'd understand the concern becuase it would alter the context of some messages.

But this is the FIRST time anyone has asked for a filter like this!

But now I'm just playing Devil's Advocate.

[BornaE]

But this is the FIRST time anyone has asked for a filter like this!

But now I'm just playing Devil's Advocate.

:cool: In that case, there would be checkbox "Automatically parse/italicize FIRST in text";)

[SL8]

Interesting, definitely a good idea to look into.
I am :( guilty of not always italicizing FIRST .
But I try to not forget as much as possible.
The check box may be a good idea because it show some individual (and group) initiative.

[Tristan Lall]

In English, there's no linguistic distinction between a name or acronym being written in plain typeface versus italics—so in conventional usage, there's no standard meaning. (Contrast that with the use of italics to signify a book title, or for contextual emphasis.) So when you choose to italicize it, you'll confuse a subset of readers, who will wonder what the special significance of the name is. Is it colloquial usage? Is there something about the context that makes the name important?

So what's the point? It's pretty much like asking (very politely) that my name be written only with a drop shadow. In other words, it's a little absurd.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the intention was to distinguish the name and acronym "FIRSТ" from the word "first". It seems to me that the capitalization already accomplishes this sufficiently well.

But then again, if the filter is so desperately wanted, make sure it can be turned off and that it doesn't apply to past posts (e.g. it's applied at preview-time or submission-time, rather than at render-time).

[SL8]

In English, there's no linguistic distinction between a name or acronym being written in plain typeface versus italics—so in conventional usage, there's no standard meaning. (Contrast that with the use of italics to signify a book title, or for contextual emphasis.) So when you choose to italicize it, you'll confuse a subset of readers, who will wonder what the special significance of the name is. Is it colloquial usage? Is there something about the context that makes the name important?

So what's the point? It's pretty much like asking (very politely) that my name be written only with a drop shadow. In other words, it's a little absurd.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the intention was to distinguish the name and acronym "FIRSТ" from the word "first". It seems to me that the capitalization already accomplishes this sufficiently well.

But then again, if the filter is so desperately wanted, make sure it can be turned off and that it doesn't apply to past posts (e.g. it's applied at preview-time or submission-time, rather than at render-time).

Good point....

[artdutra04]

If I wrote FIRST on a essay for an English class, the professor would either assume I'm talking about a movie, a novel, or an ship, or would just mark it as a wrong use of italicization. However if I left it as FIRST, it would be pretty clear that it is a acronym, and through context, an organization.

I will follow FIRST's guidelines, as long as they conform with those of the English language.

[Taylor]

So what's the point? It's pretty much like asking (very politely) that my name be written only with a drop shadow. In other words, it's a little absurd.


The point is that FIRST asked us to do it, so I shall. It's not up to me to question their intentions.

If they requested drop shadow, I'd happily oblige. (as long as somebody showed me how to do it on here)

[BornaE]

Brandon,
Do you have any preferences on this matter?

[Dordai]

This is the first time that I have heard that FIRST wants us to italicize its name, and I do think it is a bit rediculious. Like other posters have said, italics already have a specific usage in the english language, and acronyms are not one of them. It would just confuse others without intement knowledge of FIRST who read this forum.
Also, on FIRST's homepage right now, I see FIRST italicised 3 times but it is not italicised 4 times. FIRST itself doesn't even seem too particular about this.

[Matt H.]

I'm am very much against any kind of automatic censorship--no matter how well thought out the censor is it will still make mistakes. Similarly as noted above FIRST has shown very little regard for this rule on their own website (see news front page) and hence I will continue to simply capitalize rather than italicize the acronym.
The standard which I apply to requests from large organizations is to compare it to a request made by an individual. For example if someone requested that I always print their name in wing dings font I would pay them no heed. Similarly as first has shown no valid reason for italicizing their name I see no need to do as such.

[Brandon Martus]

Brandon,
Do you have any preferences on this matter?
I'll leave it up to the author to follow the standards (has anybody found an official source showing that it is actually a standard?)

[Marc P.]

There's a sticky about this very topic in the general forum-

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52874

Greetings,
Response to the homework assignment has been phenomenal. In a very few instances, names of FIRST programs have not been used exactly as they are intended. Here are FIRST's preferred, recommended, and requested ways to refer to our programs:

The organization is FIRST, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, often referred to as FIRST, or FIRST (without italics). We try always to use italics. You are not "required" to do so.

[Joe Matt]

I'll leave it up to the author to follow the standards (has anybody found an official source showing that it is actually a standard?)

No, nowhere in the Logo & Standards information does it state this. I think the post referred to is more of a reference to the use of italics in terms of promotional material, instead of actual usage day to day.

This is just anal retentive and if we start forcing this on people, lets get away from the keyboards a bit and go out to a party or something.

[Brandon Martus]

There's a sticky about this very topic in the general forum-

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52874
We try always to use italics. You are not "required" to do so.


That sells me on not automatically doing it.
-Brandon

[GaryVoshol]

There's a sticky about this very topic in the general forum-

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52874

We try always to use italics. You are not "required" to do so.


That sells me on not automatically doing it.
-Brandon

And in the post noted, FIRST without italics was used 3 out of 12 times, not counting the example of not using italics.

Good decision, Brandon.

[iRock]

Its all about the perspective of the person typing it. If the person is like all hardcore passionate about FIRST then they can type it like that but if its just something fun and they just like participating in ir then they can just use FIRST. Personally i switch back and forth between the two so either way is chill...

[Nate Laverdure]

In traditional U.S. English, FIRST should be (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acronym#Punctuation) F.I.R.S.T. anyway. It is only recently that the full stops have gone out of style.

There's been a lot of hubbub about language on this site recently.

[Carlee10]

I think as long as you capitalize it, thats good enough. Although, most people type fats and make mistakes, and don't always remember to capitalize/italicize FIRST. It would sorta be like insulting people to say that they're incompetent to do it themselves.

[Molten]

There's been a lot of hubbub about language on this site recently.

I'm glad that someone other then me has noticed this. It is starting to annoy me. Please just let everyone speak as they wish and leave me alone.

On a different note: Italics annoy me. If I had to look at italics everytime someone said FIRST I would definitely come here less.

[Alivia]

Its all about the perspective of the person typing it. If the person is like all hardcore passionate about FIRST then they can type it like that but if its just something fun and they just like participating in ir then they can just use FIRST. Personally i switch back and forth between the two so either way is chill...

A person can write FIRST without italics and still be very passionate about the organization.


In my opinion, as long as FIRST is capitalized, it shouldn't matter which way it's written. Now, if FIRST specifically said "Hey, we want you to italicize our organization name every time you use it,' that'd be a different story. But, to my knowledge, that hasn't happened yet.

Personally, I tend to not italicize it, although I have in the past.