Kristen wrote:Finally, and this is unrelated to the topic at hand, I want to mention that some of the above posts are utterly incoherent. I don't understand why it is necessary to totally abandon proper grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc. I know it's the Internet, and I don't expect everything to be perfect (after all, this post undoubtedly has an error or two in it) but I couldn't even decipher some of these replies. My younger brothers type this way sometimes too. Maybe it's a generational thing... although I'm not even 22 yet, so it's not like I'm that far removed from teenage culture. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that typing in such a manner makes the message of the post ineffective, and more than anything I wanted to vent my frustration at the way butchering the English language has become the hip thing to do.
I realize that I'm replying to an old message (and further, that I'm replying to a digression from the intended topic of this thread), but since this thread did come back to the top of the page today, I thought I'd comment on what Kristen wrote; as so many of the messages strewn about these forums now are just as incoherent as they were when she brought up the issue back in July of last year.
I've only been reading these forums for a couple of weeks now, and while I find many of the subjects interesting enough to want to read, it can be discouraging to see this trend towards near illiteracy; even if it is just a fashion of sorts. I do appreciate what the Internet and cell phones have done for our instant communications, but I do still appreciate relatively coherent prose as well. When I see entire messages written like this: "wot r u Cing?", or syntax that looks like it was tossed in a food processor for our reading pleasure, "cute" or "clever" are not the first thoughts that pop into my head. Instead, I'm thinking "lazy" and "illiterate".
In an attempt to bring this little rant back into the context of these forums, where attractiveness to others is often discussed, I must say that I don't find displays of literary laziness and/or true illiteracy itself to be very attractive. Perhaps I'm just too picky (I am a Virgo, after all), but I do consider an agile, coherent mind an essential aspect of attraction. A well toned body, an inviting smile, and attractive clothing are all nice "ice breakers", but a lazy mind--or even the purposeful appearance of same--is an instant turn-off for me. We are, after all, something more than just our bodies, clothes, makeup, and accessories; or at least we have the potential to be more than just these superficial concerns. I suppose some might say that my concern for the English language (or any language, for that matter) is superficial in its own right (after all, it's about the message, not how it's presented), but I'm just as--or more--concerned with how we present our minds as I am with how we present the rest of ourselves.
I know this is the "Fashion" forum, but I've been reading quite a bit in the "Relationships" forum as well, and I sometimes feel the urge to recommend a remedial course in literacy rather than just a shorter skirt or different hairstyle if one is trying to attract the attention of someone they're interested in.
Anyway, I apologize if my little rant is out of place, or unappreciated, but I do feel that it's something worth considering. On the other hand, perhaps I don't need to apologize, as it was, after all, entirely
your choice to read my bit of drivel here!
