To think people who use text speak in posts are probably less intelligent?

[lesley33]

Just as the title says really - that if you use text speak in your posts I do assume that you are probably a less intelligent poster.
AIBU?

kickme - No real reasoning tbh - I know it is just prejudice. But I wondered what others thought. I expected to et flamed though and have been surprised at the number of people who have agreed with me.

It's threads like this that give MN it's middle class, dm reading, elitist reputation.

So true.

Also, as was obvious, I didn't say anyone was dm reading and elitist I said that is mn's reputation to some people.

Hmmm, well at least you admit to having a baseless prejudices. Now, as the intelligent one, what are you going to do to correct this :)

Thank you kickme [buwink]

Poncey is exactly the word I would use to describe this thread, the OP and the people she has agreeing with her. No more attention seeking threads then eh OP? They finally like you, life is complete!

Thing is, there is only one person at the moment who is typing in text speak, you just don't have the balls to say this crap on that thread so you have to start this sly one, shame on you!! By the way, isn't it frowned upon to have numbers in your username? Tut tut OP, that's not the MN way!

Am now going to hide this thread, only wish I could hide OP and some of her posters too.......

kickme - Is there a diversity course about people who use text speak in posts?

Mord - Sorry I honestly don't know what thraed you are talking about? This is NOT having a go at another thread on here.

No- MN has always had a reputation for being middle-class, well-educated blah blah blah. Look at the MN Census- most posters are (or were in earlier days) educated to at least degree level. And many of the early adopters would be spinning in their moldie graves to be accused of being Daily Mail readers. They were mostly Guardianistas.

Things may have changed over the years, a bit, but I think the site will always retain that sort of flavour as its USP. If it dumbs down too much (for better or worse), it will be like all the other parenting sites on the web, and will lose its influence and what makes it interesting.

Other sites are lots of good things: supportive, places to make friends etc etc, fun, full of advice. But not interesting to your average non-mummy reader. That's what makes MN different.

If it dumbs down

Why is text speak viewed as dumbing down, therefore implying less intelligence?
Is it not more akin to evolution?

I am not middle class in definatley not educated to degree level (see spelling) and i dont hold any middle class views ( i dont think ) yet i enjoy mumsnet I think its for everybody , I do find it a maturer site even if some of the threads are silly ,

I agree with most of what you say lebof but the phrase "dumbing down" is another that I can't stand.

Yes the lack of text speak does set MN apart, it's one of the reasons it's the only one I use BUT I don't see how threads like this do anything but harm.

So what if a new poster uses text speak instead of MN approved abbreviations? The more they read and post the more they will see that others don't use it so will probably use it less. Rounding on them is just not on.

I hate seeing a post from someone who is clearly new and doesn't know the "rules" about this sort of thing. I cringe because I know that amongst the great, helpful and supportive advice that MN is so fabulous for will be some horrid snidey comments about how the poster would get more/better advice if they spoke properly.

Same with the grammar/punctuation/paragraph comments. It's very easy to say "it's sometimes difficult to read long posts without paragraphs op" instead of the usual "can't be arsed to read all that, ever heard of paragraphs ffs?"

I would much rather someone uses text speak and manners than erudite rudeness!

And I've seen plenty of threads in my time here where someone new pours their heart out and some clown with a copy of 'The Rules' snidely points out that they can't be bothered to read it due to lack of paragraphs etc. how welcoming

I too hate the snidey comments ive seen some posters get if they dont know the rules or the correct grammar , I once got a complete tearing down because i used alot instead of a lot , complete with a link to a site about dumb people use these words not the correct website but that was the gist , I am glad i am rhino skinned and can cope with that , this is an internet forum thats all people can dress it up as anything a place for the middle classes a place for the well read blah blah, but its an internet forum , it means nothing to anybody really ,

I'm ashamed to say that I never read long threads without paragraphs.
It's too much like hard work.
I never say anything to the poster though, I just ignore.
I have noticed that occasionally other posters will kindly put it into paragraphs to make it readable.
So is that being rude or just being helpful?

lady both those options are absolutely fine imo!

what a stoopid op

People who post OPs without punctuation or paragraphs usually get told that it's hard to read, that they won't get many replies etc.

often someone will copy and paste the OP and put it in paragraphs.

MN is a place where paragraphs, punctuation and proper communication matters. The acronyms are not txtspeak, they are terms, not hatchet jobs on random words.

Spelling is sometimes picked up on, but where dyslexia is a factor it's perfectly accepted, as it ought to be.

TXTSPK is english dumbed down, it's nigh on impossible to read and to be honest there is very little to be gained by hacking some letters out of a word.

No-one is having a go at anyone in particular at the moment who is using textspeak, but as LeBOF says, This is Mumsnet. You have to 'get' the culture of the site you are on, otherwise it's actually reverse-snobbery.

Txtspkrs CAN write in english, but choose not to, this is a clear demonstration of a lack of respect for the culture of the site and smacks of turning up in full EasyRynaShiteJet skanky tracky bottoms and Ugg boots for a flight in First Class.

It's just unseemly.

So yeah, I judge too...

and you usual

honestly people really do moan on here don't they lately

more blinking posts about mn rather than discussing interesting issues

innit

usualsuspect. That was a personal attack. Utterly unacceptable.

Usual's post may have been unacceptable but I completely agree with her.

Your post was, judgmental, snobbish and imo just vile.

I have two friends who are English grads from Oxford and they use text speak. It annoys me more than leads me to judge just because I think it doesn't necessarily take longer to type in full. One of them has a theory that our language has evolved over the years and this is just another stage in its evolution. Scary.

Report it then