Want to rant!

taylorce1 · March 1, 2011, 11:07 AM

Recently there has been a rash of 'text' style posting on the forums. In the past I've tried to send PM to the culprits to get them to clean up their post. This has usually fallen on deaf ears by the posters.

So I've tried posting on their topics and asking/telling them to clean it up, and I'm not the only one that has done this. Then we get responses like this:

Quote:

yes yes yes ive heard it before and dont have time for it so i would lay off because my grammar and or spelling is not the worst in this forum

Then there are the other members whose posts are even far worse than the 'texters':

Quote:

Today i had boughten powder cleaner for my mosin nagant and i was finally able to find the rifling Thats sad that shows how well the person before me had taken care of it

I'm sure these are young members and while I don't want to get them kicked off the site, I just want to read coherent posts. I find myself not wanting to offer any advice to these members except that they pay English tutoring. Plus I catch quite a bit of negativity from other members for pointing out the bad posting especially if I quote rule #4 from the FAQ.

I'm not saying that I'm any expert on English or Grammar as most of my education after high school has taken place in the Army. The Army really isn't known for employing English Professors that is for sure. And most military writing is done in bullet style comments. If I find problems in my posts I'll edit them if the option is available, as I want to practice what I'm preaching.

Without sounding like a forum Nazi how do we stear these members to clean up their posts?

Evan Thomas · March 1, 2011, 12:02 PM

From Rule 4:

Quote:

Mangling of the English language whether through ignorance, age, sloth or intent...

Hit the "report post" button, say I, when a post is clearly in violation of forum rules. Rule 4 is pretty clear, I think. I admit, I get a bit lazy about this, and I too try not to be a "grammar Nazi" -- but I was also annoyed by both of the posts you're referring to, as I've been, Heaven knows, by plenty of others.

I fret a little about bugging the moderators with this stuff, as well, but then again, if enough of us report these posts, it will help to show that plenty of members do care, and -- who knows -- might encourage the Mods to remove "recidivists," as Rule 4 also says they should...

Jake Balam · March 1, 2011, 12:48 PM

I post 99% of my replies and threads from my cellphone. Some people just really suck at sentence structure...

Brian Pfleuger · March 1, 2011, 01:08 PM

Vanya has it right.... I always feel bad reporting those posts, especially because "crappy grammar and incoherent sentence structure" is not in the list of reasons for reporting a post and all the reasons that ARE listed seem "serious"....

PM the offenders has never netted any positive results for me... I am either ignored or attacked.

taylorce1 · March 1, 2011, 01:10 PM

Just got this video from my Wife, who knows I've been on this rant lately.

**Mike Irwin** · March 1, 2011, 01:29 PM

OK.

First off, generally it's considered to be fairly bad form to go after someone in public about their grammar, spelling, etc.

Granted, some posts demand it simply because you can't figure out what the poster is trying to say. In those cases, you should ask for clarification of content, but should not start wantonly slamming the OP's lack of various skills...

BUT...

Please remember if you think something is a problem, it's NEVER the wrong course of action to click the report post button and let staff deal with it.

Trust me, stuff like this does NOT go unnoticed by staff. When necessary, we deal with it.

I'm going to close this now.

March 1, 2011, 12:48 PM	#3
Jake Balam Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: 360 Washington Posts: 160	I post 99% of my replies and threads from my cellphone. Some people just really suck at sentence structure... __________________ Patiently awaiting the zombie apacolypse.

March 1, 2011, 01:29 PM	#6
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	OK. First off, generally it's considered to be fairly bad form to go after someone in public about their grammar, spelling, etc. Granted, some posts demand it simply because you can't figure out what the poster is trying to say. In those cases, you should ask for clarification of content, but should not start wantonly slamming the OP's lack of various skills... BUT... Please remember if you think something is a problem, it's NEVER the wrong course of action to click the report post button and let staff deal with it. Trust me, stuff like this does NOT go unnoticed by staff. When necessary, we deal with it. I'm going to close this now. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 1, 2011, 01:08 PM	#4
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	Vanya has it right.... I always feel bad reporting those posts, especially because "crappy grammar and incoherent sentence structure" is not in the list of reasons for reporting a post and all the reasons that ARE listed seem "serious".... PM the offenders has never netted any positive results for me... I am either ignored or attacked. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

March 1, 2011, 01:10 PM	#5
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	Just got this video from my Wife, who knows I've been on this rant lately.