Potential change alert: should we make bolding, underlining, links and smileys easier? And what of spellcheck?

[Tech]

Hello all, Following on from the recent discussions on bolding, underlining, links etc, we are thinking of changing the "add a message" box on talk to have a small toolbar above it, a bit like in a word processor. This would have buttons for bold, underline and strikeout that you could use instead of typing ^, * and its mates. The smileys would also be on buttons, and we'd include a link button. If you wanted to add a link you could just click the button and paste in the URL from the other page. You'd see the effects on the text as you were entering it, kind of like a live preview.

Depending how we implement it, it may also support a spelling checker. We'd add a custom dictionary so it recognized mumsnet-isms and didn't complain about them.

So, if we did that, would you like it, love it, hate it? We'd keep the ability to use the manual codes in the text - partly because if you are on a mobile device you might not have the buttons and might have no other option.

So whaddaya reckon? Welcome enhancement or latest regrettable step in an inexorable process of disintegration?

Ta, Tech

I already seem to get speelchucked but I suppose that's within Google Chrome browser, and Firefox, the two browsers I use most of the time (spell checker underlines legitimate English (UK) spellings, too, as they are probably set to US spellings based on origin of the browsers).

Anybody want to join me in spurning Tech?

He's been on the aussie thread buttering them up but ignoring us Poms!

HumphHumphandDoubleHumph.

Ah, but their complaint is two years old and what he has posted on this thread is just a 'possible' change which isn't essential.

Also, he might fear for his safety if a bunch of fit Aussie MN users arrive next week to 'sort him out'

Spellchecking!

But who would all we pedants mock then?!

But if there's a spellchecker and they don't use it,we can mock them with a clear conscience...

And chaos-I don't need automatic capitalisation at the start of my post, as my iPad does it for me.

(I do seem to be in need of a [smug] emoticon, though...)

No, no Rusty that won't do at all. The people who know they are useless spellers will (quite rightly) take advantage of Spellcheck, and just we confident/optimistic types will forge ahead without it, and occasionally (due to drunkenness or some distraction or other) make faux pas (how do you do the plural of faux pas? ) which we will get slaughtered for.

But there are some pleasant pednats on here FN.

I need a spell checker!

I do not want autocorrection of any sort. It already drives me nuts when my iPhone decides I want to say something that I did not at all want to say. So, please, no autocorrect and no autocapitalisation.

Keep Mumsnet idiosyncratic!

I like the toolbar idea but I can see it all going horribly wrong.

Not fussed about a spell checker as my browser has one anyway.

Plural of faux pas is apparently... faux pas!
But the pas is pronounced pahs instead of pah.