Posting advice: "I can't do this, ...I don't understand you"

[cmonkey]

I saw a post asking why no one responded to the OP's other posts and it got me thinking. I should point out that this has NOTHING to do with her(?) posts other than it started the gears turning, but when I see a post written in txt, I shut it down and move on. If I see a post with a paragraph-and-a-half and no punctuation in it, I move on. If English is your second language, of course people will make allowances. But if you were raised with it, I make none.

I know it's expedient to use shortcuts. I know we're used to it because of the texting we do. That does not make it okay here. I got wall post on Facebook from an old boyfriend and I couldn't even read it because he refuses to spell things correctly. (Really, that's the only reason. )

If you want help, if you want to be taken seriously, IF YOU WANT GOOD GRADES, start using standard English. Please. Use proper grammar. Use punctuation, even if you're not sure if you're using the right ones. TRY. You can txt all you want in your off-time, but here, and at school or work, you need to communicate in a way that other people understand without having to translate. You will have to write papers in class. You will do a LOT of writing. If it's unintelligible, your grade will reflect that. It's in your own best interest, honestly.

Best of luck to you all. I hope you get accepted and shine in your programs,

cmonkey

[CrazierThanYou]

Ok, what is "BB". If you want to get technical, then why are YOU using shortcuts? I seriously do NOT know what 'bb" is....

yes I said "ya know", geez. If Im gonna get slammed for every little typo or shortcut on here, then I will just not come on here anymore. This is rediculous. "ya know" is simple to understand, not too hard. I spend all day making sure I write/type everything correctly, but on here I thought I could be myself. I used to LOVE this site, but lately its becoming childish. If you dont like shortcuts, then dont use them yourself.

Not to mentioned the utterly hateful comments left by some members.

[CuriousMe]

Not to mentioned the utterly hateful comments left by some members.

Hateful? That's a strong word. If you feel someone has violated TOS, than by all means report the post.

Generalized accusations of being hateful, just seems a way to stir the pot.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Everyone has their own opinions/views on this topic and it is just fine; however, as nurses or aspiring nurses it should be very basic effort and sense that you should communicate with other colleagues as proper as possible. No one is perfect or will be.

If you want to be respected as a professional then type and speak like one. Start practicing if you never learned it in school. Do not complain that at work your coworkers are "against you" or "being picky". Chances are that you are a poor communicator at work as well and you cannot change the fact that to very many individual out there (especially management) you come across as the less colorful crayon in the box.

Communication (whether written or stated) is crucial in our profession. If you are seriously looking to vent on a thread and possibly seek some advice, do NOT make it nearly impossible for the reader to understand, if all you do is text. You simply cut down the chances of people wanting to decipher your gibberish and post.

At the very least, use spell check. Take the time to go back and fix the words with the squiggly red line beneath it and learn to spell for the next time.

People from different countries are the exception. For the most part members here can be/are very tolerant and lax. Of course, if you are going to sit and ask why you got no replies then be prepared not to get mad when people point out their real reason why.

I think that it is safe to assume that misspelling and minor grammatical errors are not bothersome or can be overlooked, but those that grossly write like they are teenagers texting................are very hard to take seriously.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Not to mentioned the utterly hateful comments left by some members.

In the same token, the overly sensitive members that cannot take constructive criticism well.

[reganette]

Just my

I can point out at least one error in almost every post on this thread, and I bet you can find one (or more on mine). Who cares? It's readable, which is key. Plus, people, you criticize and then you leave "................" everywhere, or put punctuation outside quotation marks, use the wrong "there," et cetera. I'm all for some "..." but lets not be the pot calling the kettle black.

Write to the best of your ability. I think it's most important that you try!

[TDCHIM]

I'm in agreement with the OP on this issue. I text like crazy, probably 75-100 times per day and I use text language when I do so, because it's faster and the people I text understand my shorthand. However, I don't use text speak or typing in postings to this board. As some previous posters have noted, the language and writing style used in an online post is usually more relaxed than that used when writing something at work. However, once you develop bad or lazy writing habits, it's very tough to limit their effects.

Moreover, this is a board used by professionals and those interested in becoming professionals in order to discuss issues related to that profession. An occasional grammar mistake or typo is one thing, but in my opinion, messages that make frequent use of text language ("4" instead of "for," "Y" instead of "why," etc.) are inappropriate here. It's not an age issue or a matter of usage/familiarity with texting and text language - it's just a matter of respect for the time of other professionals. There's a big difference between posting a question on allnurses.com and, say, making a comment about the Venture Brothers or Aqua Teen Hunger Force on the Adult Swim message boards!

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Just my

I can point out at least one error in almost every post on this thread, and I bet you can find one (or more on mine). Who cares? It's readable, which is key. Plus, people, you criticize and then you leave "................" everywhere, or put punctuation outside quotation marks, use the wrong "there," et cetera. I'm all for some "..." but lets not be the pot calling the kettle black.

Write to the best of your ability. I think it's most important that you try!

Re-read what the 'point' of the OP and other supporters is. It is NOT about writing in absolute perfection (we already agreed that NO ONE is perfect). When you come across a post/thread that looks like a prescription most physicians write, then THAT'S a little too much to handle!

If they DO know who to write and spell correctly and are being just lazy, then that is a problem as well. You come across as sloppy and not serious.

Lastly, remember there are many members here that did not grow up with texting. They are much older and one cannot expect them to completely understand our gibberish. Not every member is in their twenties!

[reganette]

JessyRN, I don't think you understand what I'm saying. I agree with the OP! It's ok that people make small mistakes as long as they try their best. And so many people are nitpicking when they have errors themselves.

Sorry if it was unclear.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

A message board isn't a message board without a grammar thread every six months or so! Gotta love 'em!

[kids]

...when I see a post written in txt, I shut it down and move on. If I see a post with a paragraph-and-a-half and no punctuation in it, I move on...

I agree completely.

I 'get' that most posters come here to unwind but come on.

You're saving at best a couple of key strokes when you use text speak. I don't even care so much about punctuation, but please, hit enter a couple of times before starting your next thought.

If you insist on posting a wall of text or in text-speak then you're accepting that you likely won't get many replies.

If you won't take the time to think about what you want to say and present it in a way that is easily read by the majority, why do you expect anyone else to care to take the time to translate and read it?

Why is the poster's time and effort more valuable than the reader?

Seriously, nurses are a pretty 'brainy' bunch and writing like that just makes a person look lazy and unaware. As someone else said, write to your audience.

I won't make the argument for using a spell check even though this, and many other message boards provide a direct link to download ieSpell (it's safe, compact and I've been using it for years). Firefox has a spell check extension.

I use it because I care and know my spelling is atrocious, using it adds 10 seconds to the time it takes to post a message.

I am another who texts 100 or so times a day.

Every text I send is composed with complete sentences including capitalization and punctuation. Can I read and communicate in text-speak? Yes, I can, I choose not to because it looks ignorant.

Why should I care about what someone has to say when they don't care enough about the topic to present it clearly?

Something a friend uses as his signature on the internet that I love:

Your: possessive pronoun.

You're: contraction of "you are"

ur: you are 8 years old. Get off my internet.

[elkpark]

I just assume that anyone posting in "text speak" or "wall-of-text" has nothing to say that would interest me, ignore the posts, and move on ... The rest of us come here to relax and unwind, too, not to spend 20 minutes struggling to decipher someone else's gibberish.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

Check your grammar before you slam on others for using PROPER english. There are a ton of errors in your statement.... However, I understand your point and agree with it. Make sure and note that there are quite a few foreign nurses that post on here from other countries and most likely are doing there best to translate, if not using a computer translation program.... I dont really care or typically comment on bad grammar though....

She's not referring to grammar. She simply wants it presented in a readable format. First language or not, it's not too much to ask.