Should Mumsnet towers start a topic called 'Textspeak conversations'

[ThereWASaGiraffeInTheNativity]

Then all the fans of text language could congregate in one place

I use text language a lot when texting, but I do punctuate fully and use capitals correctly ... how confused is that!

If I ever use text language on here it's unintentional

lol at the phone being a fly by night fad!

Does more txtspk in posts inevitably mean that the content of posts will degener8? Does use of textspeak encourage more simplistic, superficial writing?

I don't give a monkeys whether it's the way forward or not - I can't bloody understand it and tbh when someone posts in it I don't read the post.

Whoever said textspeak is good for mobile phones and proper english like is good for keyboards is right.

it reminds me of that ad in the back of your Mum's Woman's Own, the graphic of a well manicured hand writing on a pad "if y cn rd ths mssge y cld gt a gd jb"

ring any bells

I despise it as it shows my age, I can't understand it and I think anyone who uses it should carry proof that they can write properly as well

All you people getting ar$y about text speak should stop using lol, pmsl, iyswim and type those out full too. Live and let live.

It's not just about being arsy. It's also difficult to read and too much to me says laziness and turns me off a post.

But I am over 30.

lol @ suzy - I remember that too and used to be so pleased with myself that I could read it. Felt sure it was a sign of genius.

Me, too suzy! Shld hv bcm a scrtry

Oooh SuzyW I remember seeing that on tube trains as well.

I don't think it's about being arsey, either ... although I tend not to use abbreviations in posts so maybe I'm more arsey than I thought I was

It's about being able to read and understand a post without having to concentrate three times as hard as I would normally have to, and I'm afraid I switch off if a post isn't reader-friendly and clearly laid out. It's not just text speak that has that effect on me - I don't read long posts without full stops, capital letters or paragraphs in them either because it's too much for my brain to take in.

I knew I'd seen it somewhere! Of course, tubetrains.

I can't bear long posts with no paragraphs.

I really can't face reading unpunctuated posts - I get too confused.

True, I am guilty of double standards since I'm perfectly happy with wtf, ffs, and all other mumsnet acronyms but not text speak. Or long posts with no paragraphs, I don't read or respond to those either.

I just think that if someone wants help or someone to listen to we should letthem have that opportunity whether there are paragraphs, puncuation, correct spellings or whatever. It's difficult for some you know.

I dont mind text speak in particular

I bet a lot of you are teachers

I am!

i thought so! lol (can i say lol or would you prefer hahahaha?

I suspect that this whole debate is actually an age issue. I would bet that the majority of those who don't like text speak (I'm not mad about it, but don't really care too much) are in their late 20's or 30's.

Another vote here for good punctuation, paragraphs, proper spelling and no textspeak (takes me far too long to work out what they are saying so I tend to skip those posts).

I can understand the need for textspeak when texting (although I still type everything out in full even then), but, with a keyboard, there is absolutely no need. I realise that no everyone is a trained typist, so will make some allowance, but a lot of posts are all but indecipherable to me so I probably miss out on a lot (and possibly miss out on being able to offer any help) because I just don't bother reading them.

Me too, and I can't spell or type!

So, while I have sympathy for people who can't spell, I also cringe at Coz 2morrow kno etc.

I also can't cope with long posts that don't have paragraphs, or are typed all in capital letters.

It isn't that I gasp in horror at a wrongly spelled word (how could I ) but there are things that I just can't read in comfort.

Yeah you're probably right, i'm indifferent to be honest, but it annoys me when people judge people on it sometimes.