Bad images we create

[NGIB]

Lately I've been seeing a lot of threads that contain no punctuation, every other word misspelled, and generally written very poorly. I recently asked one poster if he was even old enough to own a pistol as my kids wrote better when they were in grade school.

While this may not bother some folks, I can't help but think this goes a long way to convince the anti's that we're all a bunch of gun toting functional illiterates. Lord knows my command of the English language is far from perfect; however, I think it's very important that we display ourselves as literate, intelligent, responsible firearms owners.

At any given time there are probably a goodly number of anti's cruising this and other forums looking for ammo to use against us and I'd prefer we not give them any...

 

[Packman]

I agree. Sentence structure is a vital skill. Paragraphs are paramount.

Many boards did I roam, getting aggravated over generally ignorant posters, before I stumbled onto this one. One of the primary responsibilities I apply to myself is to continually represent the "gun culture" in a positive, safe light. I educate anyone who'll listen, and take anyone shooting that will agree to go, usually on my dime.

We need to represent ourselves as educated, intelligent, level-headed people, so as to avoid alienating people. Fence-sitters vote, and you want them to think well of us.

 

[JerryM]

I suspect that this will cause some ire, but what you say has a lot of merit.
I am wondering if the computers, and text messaging are causing even college graduates to forget how to spell, punctuate, use correct grammar, and capitalize their writings.
I am retired, but if I were in the work force today, and received applications that were written as you have mentioned they would go into the waste basket.

We are not attempting to make English majors here, but too many ignore or are ignorant of proper ways and tools to write adequately.

Best,
Jerry

 

[GRB]

I recently asked one poster if he was even old enough to own a pistol as my kids wrote better when they were in grade school.

While this may not bother some folks, I can't help but think this goes a long way to convince the anti's that we're all a bunch of gun toting functional illiterates

I think that is unfair to some who post here and who do not have good grammatical skills, and maybe it is even very insulting. I say this because it seems what you are saying is that someone who is not quite as much a literary master as were your grade school aged children should not post in these forums because it possibly could portray a bad image of the rest of us. To me that sounds as bad as, or worse than, some of the things the antis say about us.

Don't get me wrong, I like to be able to read posts that people leave here in the forums, and like to be able to do so easily. The thing is, not everyone is as literate as you expect or want them to be. So what? I still accept them into the fold. Heck, I make more than enough mistakes myself - some that are not correctable by me as in the post of mine shown as a sticky on this site. My mistakes in that one embarrass me a bit, but at least the content of my post does not embarrass me. So long as folks say decent things here, I can accept their grammatical style or lack of it. Of course, I think everyone should strive to write so that others can make heads or tails of it, but for some that is not easy at all, and may be near to impossible based upon their education and or abilities. yet that same person who lacks grammatical skill may be a wizard at handling a rifle, smithing a pistol, teaching children how to shoot, and so forth.

All the best,
Glenn B

 

[Packman]

Considering that most computers running current versions of web browsers automatically run spell-check, I'm even less tolerant of spelling errors. That's not to say I'm perfect, spell-check doesn't know every word, and sometimes I rush.

Oftentimes, it's not just what you say, it's how you say it. That said, I see your point, Glenn.

 

[ColinthePilot]

THANK YOU!!!! I've been wanting to post this for MONTHS but I couldn't figure out how to do it with the mods policing non-gun content so strictly.

I don't expect everyone to use perfect grade-school grammar, but use a period here and there. Is that so hard? I understand that not everyone here has the same education level, the same grammatical skills, etc. But my browser has a spell check, and if you've been through high school (most of us have) you really should know the basics of periods, commas, and avoidance of run on sentences. These things definitely contribute getting everyone's otherwise intelligent thoughts on guns onto the boards legibly.

In before the lock.

 

[NGIB]

see i was thinking about getting a revolver for my first gun ever but then i thought it would be better off the get a pistol because of the capacity of ammo it holds but like the Raging Bull from Taurus looks BADASS!!!

This is an actual recent post from another forum. This OP also asked in another post if killing someone is OK if "they trys to take my car".

My point is that we firearms owners and enthusiasts must take the high road in our discussions and try to end the stigma that we're not responsible members of society and normal folks...

 

[ASM826]

None of the gun banners care if you speak well, have a career, go to church, have a completely clean background. The very fact that you own, use, or carry a gun puts you outside their idea of civilized society. They cannot be reasoned with, and they will continue to press.

We should be articulate, thoughtful, and level-headed. We should continue to do all the good things we do, it is what honorable people do. We should not expect it to make any difference to those who would disarm us.That's why this is "The High Road."

Because it will make no difference to the gun banners. They want them all. 50 cal is too big, .32 is too small, shotguns are too powerful, magazine fed are too easy to load, single shot rifles are too accurate, AR-15's look too military, and so on.

We will be carved up, divided, and pushed out. We will be misrepresented as violent. We will be told that the time of the gun is past. Finally, all of them will be licensed, the ammo will be microstamped, and when they are ready, we will be disarmed. It will happen with a whimper.

 

[Sunray]

Agreed. It irks me too. However, Spell Checkers don't highlight words that are spelt correctly, but used incorrectly. To, too and two or there, their and they're, for example.
"...the basics of periods..." And the spaces that come after them when writing the Queen's English.

 

[moewadle]

I generally agree

about wanting to see somewhat decent grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. Whether or not it affects the anti-gun people I am a person who cannot help placing feeling a person has a little more credibility if they take time to edit their writing and clean up spelling and grammar somewhat.

 

[marksman13]

Thank goodness I am not the only one. I don't consider myself a grammar cop, but there have been some rediculous posts recently. What is so hard about capitalizing a letter and putting a period at the end of a sentence? I don't care if you can't spell, but I think it is just plain lazy not to add punctuation. Does anybody teach english any more?

 

[gggman]

This thread will likely be locked, but I agree whole heartedly. Some of the posts I've read, I was unable to decypher just what the poster was trying to say.

 

[W.E.G.]

Its ll a function of d teknoloG. B4 I cUd typ I cUd spk. I lrnD h2 typ, +I didn't wn2 spk NEmor. thN I had2 lern h2 txt UzN * keys. 1s I lrnD h2 abbrevi8 comN wrds UzN * keys, I didn't wn2 typ d crrct wrds NEmor. There's Ø we cn do bout it. We're n 2 deep.

 

[Warren]

I can read my way past spelling errors, off-beat capitalizations, poor grammar and punctuation if the person is cogently making a point.

What I cannot stand is the huge block-of-text with no breaks and bad punctuation that cannot get across even a basic point.

 

[tbtrout]

I think you will find that a lot of people agree with you. While I am not out to be a Grammar Nazi, and make my share of mistakes, it does appear some threads are typed without any attempt at trying to be literate.Which in turn, makes all of us seem like a goup of illiterate yokols. If I understand the meaning for your post.

 

[VPLthrneck]

Although the anti's realistically care less about how we write, speak, or present ourselves, they will use it to their advantage to present gun-owners as "illiterate hillbillies." So using basic principles of punctuation, et al. is important to at least take away one piece of their arsenal.

Being in the Navy so many of our dealings with others are through e-mail or written reports. Just using the basics starts a person off on creating the image that you know what you're talking about. When you do have a face-to-face with whoever reads the reports, you're given the benefit of doubt if you use the wrong terminology since your reports make sense.

Also, I have found that by writing correctly helps me speak correctly. So with that said, using proper grammer in writing will help be more persuasive during those discussions with co-workers or relatives who are on the fence about gun-rights and our rights in general.

 

[Harvster]

Although it can leave you with a negative impression of the poster, I think grammar and spelling errors on an internet forum are acceptable. It doesn't get much more casual than people writing things at 3:00 AM while sitting around in their jammies. If you can understand the general point of the post then it has served its purpose. I think the most bothersome aspect is when people resort to saying things such as "well at least I know how to use 'too' properly"...blah....blah...blah. I have a father-in-law that was an English major in college and is constantly correcting those around him. But, get an email from him and you'll see shorthand things (thnx) as well as spelling and punctuation errors. He knows the correct way, but because of the medium, doesn't care.

 

[RiflemanTripleEight]

I agree that we should use proper English. I can't stand reading posts such as: hey u guyz c this gr8te thred i made?

Have some self respect.

 

[RNB65]

I make it a point to never respond to threads in which the OP looks like it was written by a 7 year old. If someone can't be bothered to write a reasonably well worded message, then I can't be bothered to write a response.

My pet peeve is the single paragraph that fills the entire screen. On and on and on it goes. Jeez, hit the enter key occasionally. Paragraph breaks are your friend.
-

 

[Flyerman]

i wholeheartedly agree, but i would be careful as to whom you correct. i recently replied in a thread on another well-know gun site, one dealing with women and guns i replied as politely and breifly as i could, just a sentence or 2 of constructive criticism. all i got back was insulting replies sayng how i shouldn't let such trivial things bother me, how i missed the point, how only a man would 'get off' by correcting a woman. blah blah blah. the worst part of this is, the original poster of the thread said that she is a teacher. unbelievable how a teacher could make so many obvious spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, over and over. sorry for ranting, but this threat brought back such a memory


by the way, since we're on the subject. the phrase is SHOULD HAVE, or WOULD HAVE, not SHOULD OF or WOULD OF. as in 'i probably should have kept my rant off.'


that mistake always gets me boiling

 

[ralphie98]

I know what you guys are trying to get at, but what are we really saying here? That the educated class of people are the only ones allowed to participate on this website? I know you aren't trying to say that our RKBA hinges on our ability to spell, but it may come across that way to a newbie. We need to welcome all people to the discussions, regardless of their ability to use a spell check. What about the people who are too computer illiterate to even handle spell check?

As others have said, the antis don't care what we say on here. We could all be perfect angels on here and still get the bad reputation attached to us. The best thing we can do is set a good example for others with our own posts.

 

[NGIB]

It seems that most folks focused on spelling errors and that was not the point I was making at all. I have words that give me fits as well but I also try to use capitalization and punctuation as best I can.

Owning and shooting firearms is an adult endeavor and I was just trying to say we should try to communicate as such...

 

[rickomatic]

Owning and shooting firearms is an adult endeavor and I was just trying to say we should try to communicate as such...

Like this?



"Can I get me a huntin license?"

 

[.cheese.]

I two feel that this be a purtinunt ishoe.

j/k. The OP is correct. While it may not ultimately matter to the "antis" how well we can write, it is worth at least trying to write well for the sake of our group's reputation.

 

[Tom Servo]

Bear in mind, not everyone here grew up speaking English.

That said, I tend to proofread everything I write before posting, but I've been known to outrun the spell-check. I type fast.

The "leetspeak" and text-messaging stuff gets annoying, but I'll point out that I see far less of it here than on any other forum, gun-related or not.