Folks-
As Internet access has grown, so have these Forums. While we have a much larger pool of Members to interact with, we also see an increasing number of, well, "impetuous" posters. As a result we're seeing an increase in posts which are virtually unreadable due to outrageously bad spelling, grammar, lack of punctuation, two paragraph run-on sentences and the like.
Before the gnashing of teeth begins, no one is going to be tasked as the Grammar Police....in fact, very few will even notice our efforts in this area. However, we will be taking action against the most egregious shredding of the English language. When we see posts that fail to rise to a common 6th grade level of composition, we will be quietly deleting those posts; counseling and, if necessary, ejecting the Member is also on the table.
While we do not expect every post to be worthy of a Rhodes Scholar, we remind you that your entire interaction here is based solely on your writing. Members form opinions and images of you based on that alone. Outsiders and fence sitters will most certainly form opinions about gun owners in general based on post form and content observed on this board. First impressions are easily made and difficult to change. Even a brilliant thought will be universally dismissed, unless it is communicated with at least minimal skill.
If you lack reasonable writing skills, tools are available today to help you better communicate your thoughts in writing. Many Browsers, including Firefox, now offer built in Spell-Check components or add-ins. Another spelling alternative can be found at
iespell.com. Microsoft Word offers this and much more. We recognize that English is not a first language to many of our Members. We have always made allowances for this and will continue to do so.
Again, we all make mistakes: keystroke errors, misspellings, lack of proper grammar and the like. That's OK, so long as it remains the exception rather than the rule. Once it rises to the level of rendering a post unreadable or embarrassing to the TFL community, we will have to step in....and we hope our Members will support that effort by working with us behind the scenes.
For the first time in eight years, we've added to the TFL Policies to reflect the value we place on this issue. We ask each of you to assist us in raising the bar.
Best regards-
Rich Lucibella
on behalf of the TFL Staff