Productive Discussions on the Internet

[Tait]

This is a response/opinion to the numerous posts in the "nurses vs doctors" thread pertaining to "spelling and grammar".

Does it matter?

From my personal standpoint I DO believe that spelling and grammar are important when posting.

When we argue/discuss/lecture etc in normal day to day life we have a luxury, the luxury of the non-verbal. You can sense emotion, poise, commitment and strength (or all the opposites) from a person when they are sitting right beside you. When you read an article that you find convincing or moving you often base it on how well it is written and how supported its arguments are.

When it comes to online forums/discussions I believe there is only one thing we have to confirm or deny our commitment, emotions, poise and strength over a non-verbal medium. That is our writing.

When people come to the forums with posts that are full of misspells/slangs/wall o' text and numerous grammatical errors, personally I will say I have a harder time taking anything they say seriously. That is just me.

I peruse several forum sites from nursing to video gaming, and across them all the rules are the same. Those who are eloquent are generally more responded to and respected. Even down to the 15 year olds playing World of Warcraft. Look back at the posters here and you will see many who take a few extra moments for paragraphs, spell checks and some of those who even document sources for their information and you will see they get a lot of positive feedback, even when their ideas go against the popular consensus.

Now is it fair to openly bash someone's ideas because they are poorly written? Not necessarily, but it is fair to assume (especially here where there are many,many well educated professionals) they are trolls, with no particular intent than to stir up drama.

There is also an exception for posters who do not have English as a primary language, and for that we can afford some leniency.

Just some thoughts from the Taitter mind this sunny Saturday afternoon.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

In my humble opinion, "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone"!!!!!

Well played, old chap!

[leslie :-D]

In my humble opinion, "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone"!!!!!

oy.

that's Jewish, for "oy".:chuckle

leslie

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

In my humble opinion, "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone"!!!!!

Proverbs 1:30-32

30 They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge:

31 "Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.

32 For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.

[LydiaNN]

Never. Mind.

And yes, I realize that neither never or mind are sentences in and of themselves.

[leslie :-D]

Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye may not be judged"!!!!!!!!!!!

In my ever so humble opinion, that particular Bible verse is overused in order to make people feel guilty for having an opinion.

In my humble opinion, "he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone"!!!!!

Proverbs 1:30-32

30 They ignored my counsel, they spurned all my reproof; And in their arrogance they preferred arrogance, and like fools they hated knowledge:

31 "Now they must eat the fruit of their own way, and with their own devices be glutted.

32 For the self-will of the simple kills them, the smugness of fools destroys them.

now, now you two...:chuckle

time to restrategize.

Be patient and you will finally win, for a soft tongue can break hard bones.

Proverbs 28:13

leslie:D

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Please stop with the Bible quotes. This is a nursing board, not church. I'm sure I could come up with a quote to justify my position in this matter. But the quote in my sig line is enough. :)

Thanks.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

now, now you two...:chuckle

time to restrategize.

be patient and you will finally win, for a soft tongue can break hard bones.

proverbs 28:13

leslie:d

proverbs 15:2

the tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

Please stop with the Bible quotes. This is a nursing board, not church.

Thanks.

OK, will do...:heartbeat

[leslie :-D]

just having a little fun, tweety.

well, i was anyway.

it's amazing what one can learn...

now that was productive, albeit off topic.

look it this way:

it certainly kept the posts civil.:)

leslie

[Jules A, MSN]

Please stop with the Bible quotes. This is a nursing board, not church. I'm sure I could come up with a quote to justify my position in this matter. But the quote in my sig line is enough. :)

Thanks.

Lol, yeah your sig line is a good motto for me also.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

No problem Leslie, but you and I both know how these "civil" religious talks can turn. LOL

[FireStarterRN, BSN, RN]

just having a little fun, tweety.

well, i was anyway.

it's amazing what one can learn...

now that was productive, albeit off topic.

look it this way:

it certainly kept the posts civil.:)

leslie

I thought it was fun. The Bible is a big enough place to prove ANY point