Use Of Punctuation In A Post And What Is Annoying or Confusing

[DonRotolo]

I don't know, I really like to use, these,
comma, things and avoid any other
punctuation or any other sort of
paragraphing or white space and any
other kind of well established constructs
to help improve the readability of large
blocks of text or to maybe separate the
logical thoughts into a sequence or
something I mean whats the fun if you
can read something easily and under
stand it without having to think bcz
kids 2day hav it 2 ez & they nevr hav 2
think of stuff and stuff.

Jane, can you re-post yours on January 10 please?

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

Jane, can you re-post yours on January 10 please?

I will second Don's request. Jane, please renew this topic after kickoff.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

[NickE]

Sorry if this is somewhat unrelated, but this is also an annoyance to me:

Often, I see posts referring to specific people on teams who are probably not know to most people. This is confusing. Please specify who you are referring to in a method that is clear to all. For example, instead of saying: "John Smith suggested that we lighten the part," instead say: "Our Mentor, John Smith, suggested that we lighten the part."

Also, please take inner-team communication elsewhere (Private Messages, Team Forum, Instant Messaging, Email, etc.). This is a public forum, after all.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Richard

I will second Don's request. Jane, please renew this topic after kickoff.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

I don't know if that would be considered a bump. I don't have the whole bump thing figured out. Also, I'd have to get around the whole I-started-this-thread-so-you-need-to-read-it thing but I'll think about it. Probably the first 'HELP!!!!!!' thread will push me out of the discomfort zone.

Thank you for making the suggestion, Don and Richard.
Jane

[GaryVoshol]

I can use a semicolon; with a little practice anyone can do it.

Using paragraphs also makes posts much easier to read.

[Ryan Simpson]

Originally Posted by Rick TYler

Extra credit will go to anyone who correctly uses a semi-colon in a post.

Grammar and spelling are important; they should not be overlooked.

(Do I get extra credit? )

Everything that was said here is true. When you use bad grammar, you look like you are uneducated and unintelligent. That should be enough motivation to double-check what you are typing before you actually post it.

Another thing that's really obnoxious is the overuse of the caps lock button. Simply stating an opinion is more than enough to get the point across. I have found that the more you talk, the less likely it is that people will listen to you.

[Karibou]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

I don't know, I really like to use, these,
comma, things and avoid any other
punctuation or any other sort of
paragraphing or white space and any
other kind of well established constructs
to help improve the readability of large
blocks of text or to maybe separate the
logical thoughts into a sequence or
something I mean whats the fun if you
can read something easily and under
stand it without having to think bcz
kids 2day hav it 2 ez & they nevr hav 2
think of stuff and stuff.

Jane, can you re-post yours on January 10 please?

I actually had to skip over this entire post. I just couldn't read it (my inner editor began flailing and twitching as soon as they realized that that entire thing was one sentence). Seeing things like this makes me wonder if the poster cares about their reputation at all - constantly doing something like that really makes you seem like an immature, irresponsible person.

Hmm...I was going to rant about how little people care about their appearance/reputation these days, and how little common sense is used, but I'll save that for another time, or another forum.

(and I'd like my extra credit too...I did this one without even realizing it. Semi-colons are my BFFs)

[Rick TYler]

Originally Posted by Karibou

my inner editor began flailing and twitching as soon as they realized that that entire thing was one sentence

Emphasis added. The Earth must be irony all the way to the core.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Karibou

my inner editor began flailing and twitching as soon as they realized that that entire thing was one sentence

You mean like:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Out of curiosity, do they still do sentence diagramming in schools?

[NickE]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Out of curiosity, do they still do sentence diagramming in schools?

I've never had it taught to me.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Out of curiosity, do they still do sentence diagramming in schools?

Ouch. I had that several times a year pretty much from grade school to senior year of high school. If anybody wants to learn, PM me.

Jane, if you're uncomfortable bumping the thread around early January, I might remember to do it. I was also considering publishing the contents of a document I've titled "The Seven Deadly Sins of Chief Delphi", which is on the topic of common flame-war starters and the avoidance thereof, before too terribly long.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Out of curiosity, do they still do sentence diagramming in schools?

I learned it in middle school. It's annoying and useless if you have a basic understanding of how a sentence is written. Which you have to in order to use them.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Out of curiosity, do they still do sentence diagramming in schools?

I used to like sentence diagramming.

You know, now someone could come up with an interdisciplinary exercise. Teach your computer to diagram sentences. Use a limited vocabulary, something closer to Green Eggs and Ham than Shakespeare. Word recognition, graphics and grammar all at the same time. Wouldn't that be fun?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

To add to Jane and Andy posts above. Please remember that the only communication you have with all of the members here is through your writing. Those who read what you post may not meet you face to face, this year or next. Make a good impression by reading your post before submitting. If you are posting in a volatile thread, take some time to think out your response. I sometimes take a few hours or even a day so that I can simmer down on an emotional issue before I post.

A personal request for me is to complete your online profile. In that way, I will know your name when responding. I still find it hard to begin a post with "Dear Robogeekfromsomewherebeyondthegalaxy". Dear Jason or Amanda is so much nicer. On engineering replies, it is helpful for mentors to know that they are composing a response for a student, an alumni or a mentor.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by EricH

Jane, if you're uncomfortable bumping the thread around early January, I might remember to do it. I was also considering publishing the contents of a document I've titled "The Seven Deadly Sins of Chief Delphi", which is on the topic of common flame-war starters and the avoidance thereof, before too terribly long.

Thank you, Eric.

"The Seven Deadly Sins of Chief Delphi" sounds like it would be an interesting read.

Kara, if you want to add your thoughts about appearance and reputation - add them. Something to keep in mind is that the membership in ChiefDelphi is comprised of all ages. When we occasionally read threads about the frustrations regarding the immature and uncaring attitudes and behaviors of team members - we can think of that on a larger scale and apply it to ChiefDelphi. When members first join, it may be a whole new world to them. They bring their experiences with them and apply those experiences to their posts here. The people who don't care about how they communicate, type, or conduct themselves, usually don't stick around. The people who begin to care or learn to care, usually improve over time. That's pretty cool.

It wasn't too long ago that I was thinking, "hm, what does this button do?" and pressed a smiley or a quote button or a submit button too soon. I was a whole lot like WALL•E and managed to create a mess a few times. It was then that I learned how generous and helpful everyone was. I would send a pm to them to ask for help and they would tell me what to do. It's an amazing feeling to have so much help readily available in such a friendly way. I still ask for help and folks still help me. The difference is that now many of them have become my friends and that's pretty cool.

Edit: Al, I was typing while you posted. It can be awkward not to know a person's first name but you always seem to handle that with ease and grace. I often think of you as a guide when responding to a no-name poster. I think, 'What would Al say?', and then I'm good to go.