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Original poster

Question marks seen as demanding

40 replies

HesARealDouche · 15/11/2018 11:34

I somehow got onto the subject of question marks in messages with my 15 yr old DS.

He said that if one of his friends sent him a message along the lines of:

"Are you coming to the cinema tomorrow?" It would be seen as demanding an immediate answer and brusque in tone. The "friendly" way would be to send:

Are you coming to the cinema tomorrow.

Is this is nationwide thing or is it just my DS's school? Do your DCs use question marks?

OP posts:
Fairylea · 15/11/2018 11:39

Dd aged 15 would think that was terrible English (not using the question mark).

Storm4star · 15/11/2018 11:40

I haven't seen that so I don't know the answer! But I have had occasions where someones sent me a message and when I haven't responded, they just sent "???" That comes across as aggressive to me. So maybe it's linked to that.

PurpleDaisies · 15/11/2018 11:40

I’ve never heard of that.

Looking at the question without a question mark at the end makes my eyes bleed.

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15 year olds
crrrzy · 15/11/2018 11:40

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

AlexanderHamilton · 15/11/2018 11:45

Ds aged 14 would just think its bad grammar.

AbsintheFriends · 15/11/2018 11:50

My kids think full stops make texts sound angry.

RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 11:52

My kid told me the same thing.

Full stops sound angry too!

RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 11:52

X post!

Original poster
HesARealDouche · 15/11/2018 11:54

Kids eh?!

OP posts:
Original poster
HesARealDouche · 15/11/2018 11:55

In fairness be uses them in school, just not in messages/social media etc.

OP posts:
RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 11:59

A parent's place is in the wrong.

RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 12:11

I also sometimes leave caps lock on.

This is shouting apparently.

( No it's a quick, convenient text message, Text Grammar Pedant, Youth wing !)

PurpleDaisies · 15/11/2018 12:12

Oooh, caps lock is BAD. You are IN DEEP TROUBLE if caps lock goes on.

SoupDragon · 15/11/2018 12:13

It's punctuation in general I think. Like a PP, DS1 tells me off for using full stops as they look angry. Therefore I use them as much as possible!

LemonBreeland · 15/11/2018 12:22

I have never heard this. I am going to ask DS15 later if this is the case for him.

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 15/11/2018 12:24

Oh yes, 16 yo also tells me that if I text her in full sentences with full stops and no emojis or kiss at the end, she thinks she’s ‘in trouble’ Hmm. Yoof, eh?

TheFatberg · 15/11/2018 12:26

I see this a lot on Twitter as well, must be a millennial thing!

FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 15/11/2018 12:31

Yep, my teenage DC do the same - apparantly a question mark in a message is pushy and aggressive!

FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 15/11/2018 12:31

*apparently

EspressoButler · 15/11/2018 12:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 12:36

This is handy, thanks.

kk confused me for a while. ( It's OK apparently.)

EspressoButler · 15/11/2018 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EspressoButler · 15/11/2018 12:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedRoseReb · 15/11/2018 12:44

Espresso, you are my text-language coach! Thanks.

LucyMorningStar · 15/11/2018 12:51

I heard that just one k is a 'grumpy ok' whereas kk is a 'happy ok'. Fuck knows really, these lot (teenagers) are a different breed altogether.