Netspeak and ATS

I am noticing a huge increase in the use of net slang like "teh" instead of "the" on ATS.

Now while I know that slang like LOL is acceptable, I am at a loss to explain why seemingly intelligent posters constantly use "teh"

It's irritating, it detracts from a thread and it is ill considered.

In fact it detracts from a thread to the extent that I no longer post if an OP contains "teh"

I might be being uber picky here, but doesn't anyone else find this intensely annoying?

Come on - 'teh' is simply a typo.

It's hardly 'netspeak' in the same way as LOL or smileys are. I do it myself all the time, even when writing up documents in work.

I think that you're perhaps taking things a l'il far.

Peace,

MGGG

Yea I agree, “teh” is just from typing too fast. It happens all the time with people.

I can't stand other net speak though, When people really short things down or one that I seen today someone wrote “tuf” instead of “tough”

Mikey

You're right Mikey84.

I fear that if allowed this may simply digress into another ATS 'spelling thread' filled with pedants.

I mean that with no offence to the OP - whose work and threads I respect.

I just fear people jumping on the old bandwagon...

typos: the result of a fast paced life and mind.
irregular spelling: it happens.
pedants: often poorly educated and insecure themselves.


Only one word to say, I think...


Meh.

Peace,

MGGG

Yes -and- no.

In the etymology of "netspeak" (not sms shorthand) many typos have become the "stylish" de-facto replacements for the actual correct spelling...
teh = the
pron = porn
pwn = own
haz = has
...etc...

And yes, in a full-text discussion environment such as ATS, where your words and syntax are your only means by which to establish intellectual credibility, repeated netspeak can be a frustrating encounter that impairs readability of posts.

reply to post by budski

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budski I agree with you.

I have noticed that when a member uses teh they also usually use other shortened words also. They are consistent in all their posts.

It is not my intention to have all posters conform to a higher standard if they don't also have that desire.

I will say that I loose a bit of respect for the poster and many times don't trust what he says.

If one of my employees was using slang in correspondence from my company I would not let it continue as it is not acceptable to me and other professionals.

Teh is not cute. It is a juvenile way of writing.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord

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I was beginning to wonder that for a long time, it seems 'teh' has been appearing much more than a chance tpyo would allow.
I've been asking the question for awhile, is that meant to be 'teh' if so WHY (as I drop to my knees with arms in air looking up; WHY!). Every other post I see 'teh'

Yeah, it's annoying when people try to be cute, or trendy.

I myself at one time used to use 'u' for 'you' thankfully I stopped that.

Unfortunately I don't see text or netspeak going away, just getting worse, it may even change the spelling of many words in time, to be as short as is readable.



[size=-1]PS, 'typo' just testing alertness.[/size]




[edit on 14-1-2009 by Toadmund]

I have to agree, not sure I would lose trust but in serious threads it would certainly make me think they are less intellegent than they may be. It only takes a few seconds to reread a post before hitting the button.

Maybe because I hate cell phones and don't "text" but I can't stand the short forms. And I won't read a post that is filled with them. I can overlook mistakes and spelling errors but if I see "h8ter" I go nuts. And isn't it harder to type that way then just type properly?

As do I.

It is one of the many things that are guaranteed to LOSE my attention immediately.

It makes you want to set the lions LOOSE on them.


( I'm just winding you up DD!. )

Net speak does not bother me so long as the meaning of the shortened word is adequately clear -- sometimes it is not and I have no idea what someone is trying to say. Although I graduated university with an A+ average I was never one to want to put on airs and now that I can, I much prefer to write the way I speak - eg. "cuz" instead of because. The meaning is perfectly clear, and it feels more honest to who I am than the formal language.
Now typos are another matter. Your software points out a typo and there is little excuse for letting one go without fixing it. What I usually do is open up a new tab and start to type the word in a google search box. As you type the software suggest possible search terms and usually the right spelling is there. Then I just copy and paste it into this box.
Sometimes tho your software still tells me its spelled wrong, but I go with it anyway if others say its right.

Snap..that is exactly what I do. In fact the google tab is open as we speak. Not for this post but others.

What is the saying, "great minds think alike."

I think most people can understand net speak...and since language was created to get a view or point etc etc across...i think it fulfills its role quite fine.Nothing wrong with it since it is staying true to what language is about.

Hey, count me in!
I do that too!

Although I am generally a very good speller, certain words stump me like 'concieince' um 'conscience'
Hmmm, second attempt nailed it, google has no problem with it!
con + science; got it!

reply to post by machinegun_go_go

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I'm as guilty of making typo's as anyone - but as SO has very kindly pointed out, these are not simple mistakes.

In fact, it takes a conscious effort from me to type any of the examples SO mentioned.

It may be trendy, but it is also annoying.

I simply don't think it has a place in a serious discussion - it's distracting and because of that can take away from a point a poster is trying to make.

On BTS, perhaps it's fair enough, but imagine if you will a long, involved thread where concentration is important - if it keeps breaking my concentration or interferes with the flow of a good post, it negates the object of the exercise somewhat.

Not to mention that when someone, especially when they put it in the title of a post, or anywhere in the post body, the 'word' teh instantly in my mind puts that person at the maturity level of about 11-13 years old, lives solely on froot loops, and wants to think they are 'teh bomb'.

Besides, phonetically it sounds like 'tea'

Stop tea nonsense folks!

IMO/IRL/AFAIK/LOL = I can deal with.

Teh/Pron/Pwnage/ZOMG = The most annoying thing since Peter Andre's "Mysterious Girl"

Well, I hate 'LOL'. I know it's popular, but not with me. But then, Railway Station has been hijacked from the English language by 'Train Station', and Twice by 'Two Times', Post Mortem by 'Autopsy' and Mortuary by 'Morgue'.

GRRR

I have more problems with the recent trend of using "then" and "of" instead of "than" and "have".

e.g
"he had more then his fair share"
"he must of known"

I hate being thought of as part of the spelling/grammar police but I really have to back track with a lot of sentances to make sense of them. I never reply to a post unless I have read the whole thread and trying to figure out what someone really means can be the make or break of a thread for me.

I'm not top of the class by any means when it comes to either spelling or grammar and I have had my fair share of typos over the years but I'm sure these are deliberate rather than typos. I think typos are easily spotted and therefore easily ignored.

Can't stand netspeak, yet I find myself using it...lol (see?).

For the most part however, I avoid it. Because half the time I haven't the vaguest notion what it means.

ZOMG, for example. No clue.