Please, please, I beg of you, do not flame me! The recent spurt of extremely unprofessional posts is beginning to annoy me.
We ask to be treated like 'professionals', but some of us seem to communicate in a text-messaging style, or simply without regard to our audience. I don't expect perfection, but something better than 2nd grade level would be appreciated.
If you are unsure about spelling, at least be consistent. If you spell 'diarrhea' 3 different ways in one post I will wonder if you are even a health professional.
If you don't know how and when to use an apostrophe, find a basic punctuation guide, or google the info you need. In general, plural words DO NOT have an apostrophe. I never see anyone use an apostrophe with the word dogs, why do I see it with doctor's as in multiple doctors, or other simple words?
I know that sometimes we post after a long shift, or while in an acute emotional state, and certainly we can all understand some errors made in haste, but that is not what I am referring to.
Many of us remember when computers took up entire rooms, and seemed so futuristic; and no one had even heard of cell phones! Only the most elite had pagers years ago - we actually had to page on the overhead P.A. system! And paper charting was the norm!
Please have pity on those of us for whom texting is still a foreign language!
Thank you all for letting me vent about this! Best wishes for everyone during the spring holidays!
i think i'm probably one of the "old timers" on this board, and i'm quite conversant with computers, thank you. but this thread isn't about us "old timers" being afraid to use the computer and shunting our work off on others. or whether or not that actually happens. it's about respecting our fellow professionals enough to spell out words . . . .
ditto -- i'm as technologically capable as anyone (i've been using computers longer than a lot of the people i work with have been alive ), and, to me, the "textspeak" issue has nothing to do with that.
i think i'm probably one of the "old timers" on this board, and i'm quite conversant with computers, thank you. but this thread isn't about us "old timers" being afraid to use the computer and shunting our work off on others. or whether or not that actually happens. it's about respecting our fellow professionals enough to spell out words . . . .
no, i didn't mean that you were an "old timer" ruby. but, often, i've found that the fear of technology and the disdain for text speak goes hand in hand. probably not all the time, but enough.
and the shunting off of work on others due to computer fear does happen..one of the "old timers" was working with me one night on call..i was scrubbed and she circulated. after the case was done, i had to hang around for an hour afterward and finish her charting, because she had none of the stuff in..this is unacceptable. not saying she has to be a computer whiz, but she should at least know how to do the basics. either that, or please retire.
to me, text speak and other shortcuts on here aren't something to get upset over-text speak on the job, in charting and such, is wrong.
Thanks for all the support! I was actually one of the few students who took a computer math class back in 1968-69, and my first job out of high school was in a computer time-sharing firm.
I have helped many a nurse, and some docs, learn computer systems. Three years ago I assisted when the home health firm I worked with went online. I am not a computer whiz by any means, but I am literate.
So it's not a case concerning fear or laziness, I just want to read somewhat professional postings.
As I stated in the beginning, anyone can have a typo, or a misspelling now and then. And I recognize that some posters are not native English speakers. But I am referring to those who should simply have better habits. Informal does not mean lazy, it means not like something in a research paper or thesis.
And I do text to my sons and certain friends, but I would almost always like to TALK to them, instead!
mm, count me among the grammar-grumpy & oldish, too!
i think use of textspeak in formal & professional communication is inappropriate, and i hope we don't trend in the direction of it someday becoming acceptable! i hate overuse of textspeak (texttype?) in e-mails. it hurts my brain & i think it makes the author seem a little dim. i don't think text language really has a place in verbal communication (like someone saying, "ell oh ell")...but am wondering if it will one day become the norm.
that being said, i do sprinkle a little textspeak throughout my personal text and e-mail conversations, though! it's fun in a limited amount.
(also, i am guilty of not using capitals & of loving the ampersand, even when it's not used properly.)
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=~Mi Vida Loca~;4203079]I thought I typed, "just let me know" but it somehow said "just let kelly know" My teacher replied, OK, who's kelly? I was so embarrassed!
!!! You should have said, "haven't I introduced you to Kelly? She was helping me make a bed just the other day!"
Or maybe you still have your imaginary friend? Reminds me of a great old movie called "Harvey" The giant rabbit only Jimmy Stewart could see. He always had to stop and get Harvey's advice before he made any decisions, left space for him to sit, etc.
!!! You should have said, "haven't I introduced you to Kelly? She was helping me make a bed just the other day!" Or maybe you still have your imaginary friend? Reminds me of a great old movie called "Harvey" The giant rabbit only Jimmy Stewart could see. He always had to stop and get Harvey's advice before he made any decisions, left space for him to sit, etc.
"Harvey" has a giant rabbit? I haven't seen it, I've always thought it was about a guy who can change into his dog because he was under a curse? Just shows what I don't know about the classics!
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
"Harvey" has a giant rabbit? I haven't seen it, I've always thought it was about a guy who can change into his dog because he was under a curse? Just shows what I don't know about the classics!
Yep, "Harvey" (1950) Jimmy Stewart plays adorably wacky guy named Ellwood, you never actually see Harvey the rabbit, but he is there. :)
!!! You should have said, "haven't I introduced you to Kelly? She was helping me make a bed just the other day!"
elkpark
14,633 Posts
ditto -- i'm as technologically capable as anyone (i've been using computers longer than a lot of the people i work with have been alive
), and, to me, the "textspeak" issue has nothing to do with that.