Speak english, please

[Vimana]

OMG liek can ne1 of u understand wut im sayin?
Evry1 sotp it b4 I go mad!

Ok, I'm getting sick of that way of typing, not only does it annoy everyone, but it makes reading a message difficult to us non-english speakers.
I propose a ban to anyone who types like an idiot, anyone with me?
Of course if you make a little typo, it doesn't cause ban.

[BOiNG!]

I especially hate those kind of "ELITE" talks. Waste so much of my brain processing power & time just to decode their messages, & usually cause miscommunications. Terms like "OMG" or "FYI" is OK since those are quite general. But we also have to take notice of foriegn speakers who're not good in English, so some consideration should be given to them.

[Vimana]

Bah, a hypocrite.
What's with the 'I suggest u zip/compress all that files. There are too many files to be even listed here.' in my torrent thread?
What did the 'u' do in there, I had to spend an extra 180 seconds to dig up a finnish-english-finnish dictionary and look up 'u' and how to pronounce that.

In fact, thinking up this whole message took me about ten minutes.

[jsnut]

Ban? I wouldn't go as far as banning them. True, it's annoying but you can just ignore what they said/typed and move on to the one that is readable.

[teapot]

Well most of the time I am able to read event those "cripted " messages even though I am not english speaking originally but that could be because I sometimes read in local dialect ( english dialect )..... " liek " and "sotp" I really do not know though :(
But I agree that there are many non english speaking /reading who do understand english but do not know how to read those kind of messages .... on the other hand banning would be too much .......
Afraid to say it but "netlanguage " is hard on anyone in any language even though to those of the same native language it is often understood.
I'm used to most dutch, french and english "netlanguage" but any newbies would still be shaking their heads I suppose.
This is an international forum soo .... I agree that the language should at least be comprehensible to all who can read that language ( after all there are some posts here where other languages are used ).
That is about it .... 4ever yours truly ;)

[kakunou]

OMGWTFBBQ!?!? 4nn0'/!nG 1337 5p34|< 'n LOLZERCOASTERZ! ZOMG!? </sarcasm>

Then yes, none of that. >_< I got enough of that from another forum I used to frequent where everyone started to write like that and the admin did nothing -_-;;

I think that if it's occasional enough, and if _most_ of the message is coherent, let it slide. In the example Vimana gave, maybe a warning of sorts if it's frequent? o.o

[Vimana]

jsnut: Come on, something has to be done about those guys.
If we want to make hongfire a perfect anime community, then everyone here will speak the way every hongfire member will understand each other. (Though, the Japanese forum is an exeption.)

teapot: 'after all there are some posts here where other languages are used'
I have no problem with that, just the f*cked up english bothers me.

[sonsaku]

OMG liek can ne1 of u understand wut im sayin? Evry1 sotp it b4 I go mad!

lol..I agree though, I try to make it a point to even make sure I didn't make a typo. I can't stand that dribble "733t" or "pwn u @55". I agree with a firm warning about that kind of thing.

[superknarf]

Do people actually type like that....?
What can I say.... OMGWTFBBQ!!!!
I don't think you should ban people like that, instead, let's make fun of them.:D
If they don't know how to type and people do not take the time to decript their messages it's their bad. Let them do as they please, as long as they aren't spamming it's alright, right?

[kakunou]

Exactly, superknarf.

A meaningless acronym which most often stands for "Oh My God What The *#$@ Barbeque." It most likely originated on Something Awful (somethingawful.com). It can be interpreted simply as gibberish, or used when one wants to emphasize one's own incoherence, lack of understanding, or to mock others.

It usually has an air of mockery, specifically with regard to teenagers who a lot of use three-letter acronyms.
Emphasis mine.

[orka]

Omgwtfbbq!!!! Snes!!! Ps2!!!

:D :D

Sorry, I couldn't resist the barbecue one... I personally don't use any abbreviations other than lol or omg, but I don't think there's been much "l337 sp34k" (is that how you say it?) problem on these boards so far.

[jsnut]

Ok I agree that warning should be issued but banning is still too much IMO.

[Maria Renard]

mmh, it

[Crys]

We're not aiming for a perfect community. "Perfect" jumped ship months ago. l33tspeak can be used for a variety of purposes. Idiots use it as a legitimate form of expression, as if it were the perfectly normal thing to do (omgstfuhomosexx0r), but some others use it for comedic effect ("You, my good sir, have been 0wnz3d"). Learn to deal. We can't ban these people, because that's just as silly as typing l33t like it's your mother tongue, but like superknarf said, we can mock them. People that say things like "plz sho me 2 da romz or crackz for sekks1 b34ch 2 or omg i will liek mailbommb j00z0r!!!1one" should not be banned, but simply pitied for their lack of cohesive grammar skills and promptly ridiculed until they crawl off in shame only to return once proper language skills have been acquired. Unless they start every thread with "omgwtf" and even name threads "omgwtf", this really isn't a topic for SERIOUS discussion. When l33tsp34k becomes a TRUE problem, then HongFire might have to start filtering posts, but until that time comes, we shouldn't worry about it too much.

[Vimana]

Ok then, I'll try to get used to and understand this ofmg13375p33k.
[QUOTE=Maria Renard]by the way vimana, cute avatar, it

[ahnaha]

Hmm... I thought "liek" and "sotp" is a typo for "like' & "stop".

[Vimana]

They are, but some use them intentionally.

[Crys]

This whole abbreviation thing....It's all AOL's fault anyway :( Damn Instant Messager taught kids that it's alright to say "i m ha-p 2 c u". My sister's a teacher and she gets papers from students that actually say things like this. The good thing about all of this is that in twenty years, nobody will have to play the college admissions game. My prediction is that you will be able to get into Ivy League colleges if you can SPELL. Others become stupid, and we will reap the benefits. It's Social Darwinism at its FINEST. Vimana, we will be on top of the world. It's just a matter of time.

[kakunou]

My prediction is that you will be able to get into Ivy League colleges if you can SPELL. Others become stupid, and we will reap the benefits. It's Social Darwinism at its FINEST.
Yay, maybe I'll actually have a chance of getting into Columbia and then UPenn's med school :D

But seriously, it's a kinda general statement to lay _all_ the blame on instant/text messaging. It's laziness of _some_ people as well, not everyone who uses messenger turns out like that. Some of the blame lands on a small group of teachers who _allow_ this to go on. I had a teacher in seventh year who _accepted_ and _passed_ a student who wrote an incoherent paper with that type of shorthand. (No, this wasn't a stupid person class mind you, Honors level was the highest offered.) And some parents as well. </incoherentrambling>

[NeoHunter008]

ZOMG REI X1X1!!!

Heh, yeah I hate that interweb-slang lingo crap people use on aim or at forums. If you can spell one coherent sentence, then I can't really be bothered. I'm willing to accept some people can't spell well, or are lazy, but when I see like 30 lines that read like "numbers met letters in a head on collision, half assed grammar and punctuation to follow!" If you are over 20 and type like that, I'm sorry, but you need to be kicked in the ass, or put out of your misery.

Its disrespectful to the english langague, to people around you who bother with things like grammer and sentence structure, and its also very annoying.

Perfect example of a craphole where alot of these garbage terms came from, like my "ZOMG REI" one.

www.somethingawful.com
www.4-chan.org
www.gamefaqs.com
and my favorite cesspool- www.gaiaonline.com

Be warned, that place is just a shithole, and you better check you brain in at the door, cause if you even click on the random Oekaki, you will be scared for life.

If nothing else, a nice "Learn to spell imbecile!(or Baka :P)" tag added to the persons profile would make for a good laugh, no?

Look, I'm not a mean person, but if I find serious miss-use of the english langauge, I will be forced to kill you with a cheese grater...slowly :D

[kikori]

Ok I agree that warning should be issued but banning is still too much IMO.I wouldn't warn them, either.

I find it just as annoying as everyone else, and it makes the people who write like that look like complete idiots, but warning or banning someone based on what "words" they choose, short of what's covered in the rules already, is overboard.

If you don't like it, don't read it -- it's that simple.

[nekobekko]

OMFGWTFIWWYP! opppss just had ta say it. Anyway, I was wandering what XD means. somebody responded XD to a picture and used no words, just XD :confused: then in the next picture the same person put XDDD . :confused: Then she put XDDDDDDD on the next one :mad: ; talk about spams. I don't even know what it means, and there are no word in any of them. Are more Ds better? Im confused..... yet again :(

[Deathy]

XD is a smile like >.< , :D and other stuff...
(Unless I've been tricked all this time O.o)

About the english problem, I have to say that Banning is really too much, but I guess a warning wouldn't hurt. But like most people said here, if you don't like/understand it, just don't read it.

[takahira]

humiliate them?? I think we should just re-educate those folks with the lack of common sense to write properly. this maybe the net, but it is still dominated by the UNIVERSAL language, which is English, not 0's or 1's or which ever language they are trying to invent.

[BOiNG!]

Speaking of English, can someone please help me with this? I have no idea what it means. It's in English (i think)

I lubborz Zenra! I lubbors j00!
My feeble little mind can't decode this. Maybe we should change this thread to "Language Jargon Translation Thread"

[justaride]

I wouldn't warn them, either.

I find it just as annoying as everyone else, and it makes the people who write like that look like complete idiots, but warning or banning someone based on what "words" they choose, short of what's covered in the rules already, is overboard.

If you don't like it, don't read it -- it's that simple.

Maybe it should be covered in the rules, something like:

Please remember this an international community and for many members english is a 2nd language. Excessive use of slang, unnessecary abbreviations or "l337 sp43k" is difficult for many members to understand and is considered impolite. It may result in being ignored and/or loss of reputation.

just a suggestion from a humble junior member

[NightviSion]

I lubborz Zenra! I lubbors j00!
I can't say he's an english speaker, but I think he's saying: I love Zenra.. whatever :p
Anyway, I can't really lay the blame on those ppl doing this, becuz' they may have fallen victims to others as well. of course some ppl may do this intentionally just to piss off others. Now the problem is, the newer generation is getting used to this gibberish stuff and reaching a poin to even forget how to type proper english (I wonder if they do this when they handwrite as well :eek: ).
I personally try to avoid these typos, abb,.. whenever possible and type in full sentence.

[Miltani]

Normal:Well, the only suggestion i can give other than ban or warning is to give them negative reputation points and such or send them a PM (which i expect the other party to return a reply saying this is a forum i have the FREEDOM to type what i want) So what ever makes everyone happys huh?

Noob Talk:W3L DA ONLY SUGESTION I CAN GIEV OTH3R THAN BAN OR WARNNG IS 2 GIEV THEM NAGATIEV REPUTATION POINTS AND SUCH OR SAND TH3M A PM (WHICH I EXP3CT DA OTHER PARTY 2 RATURN A RAPLY SAYNG THIS IS A FORUM I HAEV DA FREDOM 2 TYPE WUT I WANT) SO WUT EVER MAEKS AV3RYONE HAPYS HUH?!!!!!!!! LOL Actually I found this translator (http://ssshotaru.homestead.com/files/aolertranslator.html) for noob talk. Enjoy it :D

[TheException]

i suggest some kind of dictionary where we could refer to and know EXACTLY what things mean. it is difficult for some ppl (oops) to understand the jargon, however, some ppl (oops) are so used to it that it comes out naturally. no one is really to blame, that's how things are.

[takahira]

over in Canada, there was an article on newspaper about something related. Where a bunch of gr 10 kids did an assignment and the teacher gave it back with an F because of all these net lingo being used on actual writing. What has society come to... damn...

[TheException]

languages evolve. it's a fact. no one can go against it. not even teachers. they can only try and slow it down. only try.

[BOiNG!]

I have an idea. Start a new thread called "Worst.Comments.EVER", & each of us post it with the worst sounding comments that we see on any threads. I'm sure it'll be a very long list (full of newbies I bet). I saw a few suckers recently......

[kakunou]

I have an idea. Start a new thread called "Worst.Comments.EVER", & each of us post it with the worst sounding comments that we see on any threads. I'm sure it'll be a very long list (full of newbies I bet). I saw a few suckers recently......
Worst comments? Worst. Parody. Evar. (http://www.hongfire.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6825) That entire thing has to be worse than what most people can throw out XD

[Adust Wanderer]

Maybe people should check their replies for spelling errors. Sometimes when we type too fast, i tbecomes liek t his. (It becomes like this)

[Neo Gaara]

I think that its a waste of time to type like that. I mean come on if your so 1337 then how come you can't type full sentences? I don't really think that a ban is really needed for people like that a warning is better. It gives them the chance to clean up their act.

Well thats my 2 cents.

[Adust Wanderer]

What does 1337 mean?

[NeoHunter008]

1337=Fail

I keep seeing more and more of this crap, and I'm starting to become quite annoyed. I feel like changing my name(which is based on a 1990's PC game btw) to NoobHunter, since it seems I need to explain how to speak english..by taking my dictionary and whacking it over their heads..over and over again.

1337 is a term that spawned from Counter Strike, and is basically stands for "Elite". However, some mastermind had the idea to replace the words with numbers, and thus, "LEET" was born.

[TheException]

i understand when ppl use jargon because some words are too long ( i.e people :) ) but when it's just for the sake of writing jargon then it sure is unecessary. please ppl numbers are numbers. let them be numbers in peace.

[Desmonthes]

i can understand a little of those elite typing, but when posting in the forum you should say or type ? :D clearly for everyone to undestand, a few of them for fun is ok :p

[AnimeJanai]

Isn't the easiest thing to do something that doesn't require Hongfire to create a "spelling politeness rule" in the FAQ? I mean, something like that looks stupid in a FAQ that is hopefully as small as possible (since it is clear people lose attention span if anything is over 100 words long).

What I do is simply let other people do as they will. But that means I can do as I will too. I choose to NOT answer requests from those who use leet speak. I suppose for the most egregious cases, negative reputation might provide feedback to the LEET DUDEZORs to not do that anymore. The advantage of this is that the feedback is quiet (not posted) and thus also preserves community spirit because we don't have to see a bunch of PUBLICly done posts about leet speak.

[Vimana]

I can understand people shortening the words on chatrooms. But shortened words have no place in forums, it only makes you look dumb.

Now that I think about it, a straight up banning is a bit harsh.
So, how about something progressive? Warning --> One week ban --> Goodbye

People can improve, though. There was this one guy in some other forum that typed like your generic 1337AOLer but after people *****ed enough to him, he periodically improved. Although, it took a whole year to make him type like a human being, now he's also a moderator on the said forum.

[Taishi]

@ Vimana
Yea.... but think of it the other way around ^^
some ppl that arent english (me) do type short thinds like "u" (you) cuz its kinda faster...
some of us dnt got a whole day to look if they typed right =) that way ppl shorten some words...
and realy ban for 3 times same error... umm you said it took that guy that he needed whole year... and you want us to have only 3 channces??? somthings not fair here again ^^"

[Souzen]

This is probably the craziest thing I've ever read.

Proposing to ban people (gradual or not) because they want to shorten typing, or be funny (to an extent)? If someone actually makes this a rule, I think I might cry.

[TeaHouse]

o.O well.....i dont' understand too much english...but at least i make an effort...if i see all those abreviations to shorten the typing cuase some people are just cough cough lazy ;) heehee you know you are XD heehee cause i used to do the same...-_-;

either way...i just skip over thier post and not read them cause....its too much work trying to figure out what they mean -_-;

english = a very hard language.....grrrrr

[NeoHunter008]

I don't agree with banning anyone for this, but I seriously have low opinions of people who can't spell words, and I really don't care if you are just being lazy. I don't care about chatrooms, but on a forum, how you spell can make or break you to all the members around you.

Yes, I know somtimes we get lazy, or somtimes we just don't care. However lazy, doesn't change the fact that abbreviating everything works.

lik if i tlk lke ths all day plz can any 1 underst me(abbreviation hell)
or
1f I t4lk 71k3 7h15 41l d4Mn d4Y(Leet crap)
or
lol, omg stfu, u talk 2 much u falmin fagot OmgwtfBBQ lolololamo ZomgRei fag!11!!(I AM AN IDIOT talk)
or
It is good that being what it is, the people who be the ones with posting, and it is for pleasurable experience.(I am be using Babblefish, who is being the best of translate)

I donno about you, but typing all of those lines, took longer then the semi-paragraph
above them. I kinda like the last one though, cause unlike the other ones, at least that gives me a clue as to what the hell you just said :D

[Vimana]

some ppl that arent english (me) do type short thinds like "u" (you) cuz its kinda faster...
some of us dnt got a whole day to look if they typed right =) that way ppl shorten some words...
-_- That makes me sad...
No matter how much quicker shortening the words is, that's just not what the forums are about.
Please, make some effort. (Take TeaHouse's post as an exaple) If you can speak english, then do it, leave the shortening crap for chats.
And as I said in my first post, if you make a little typo, that's ok, but please, for the love of god don't shorten the words!

[kikori]

A couple of people have said it already, but giving negative reputation for this sort of thing is an excellent idea.

[Crys]

Nobody wants to give Negative Reputation, because everybody's afraid of PM flame wars and negative reputation bitebacks. Then you have to take the matter up with a moderator, and things get messy and take up too much time. I give 3l n00b0 negative reputation, then he gives me negative reputation in return for giving him negative reputation, or starts spamming my PM Box with nasty messages, which I could get him banned fo--.......:) Nevermind.

[DaMaGeDiGiTl]

Can I still say bollocks, will you guys unsterstand me???? :)

[kikori]

Nobody wants to give Negative Reputation, because everybody's afraid of PM flame wars and negative reputation bitebacks.No offense meant, but that's a coward's way out. You're afraid of telling somebody that their post is awful because they might give you bad rep back or send you a PM? :confused: Yet some people seem right at home publicly flaming someone in an unlreated thread (i.e. not this one) for their bad spelling, or asking us to dole out punishment for it...

[Crys]

No offense meant, but that's a coward's way out. You're afraid of telling somebody that their post is awful because they might give you bad rep back or send you a PM? :confused: Yet some people seem right at home publicly flaming someone in an unlreated thread (i.e. not this one) for their bad spelling, or asking us to dole out punishment for it...

I didn't say me specifically. Although, truthfully, I don't know of anyone who has given negative reputation yet.

[kikori]

I didn't say me specifically. Although, truthfully, I don't know of anyone who has given negative reputation yet.Understood -- and I wasn't directing my comments at you specifically, either.

Personally, I think this is exactly the kind of thing the reputation system is designed for. You're right, though: you do open yourself up to retaliation in some form or another. I guess that thought doesn't bother me so much, but I'm also already quite used to not being everyone's favorite mod. :D

[Taishi]

I think you are forgetting very important thing...
It realy does not matter how someone says somthing.... more important is what they say =P
(ex. some wise pelople are hard to understand too ;)

[odee]

maybe because you dont use it much often.... or not at all...
some people use it because its alot faster and you dont need to worry about the spelling... hehehe... just like sending sms from your mobile phone...

[Vimana]

...
Not that it would be a problem for me, but I like having the freedom to go "OMGWTFBBQ f'n n00bz y u g0tta B liek that?"
Should I ever feel compelled to do so. :p
If you're using that kind of typing for comical purposes, I have no problem with that.
Although, I would still have little trouble deciphering the text...

Let people talk as they like, they're not calling you a snob for having "perfect" (note the parentheses) spelling, grammar, and punctuation, so don't be hating on them for being who they are.
I'm pretty sure my grammar is nowhere near perfect as I'm not that good in english, you just may not notice it as I take much time writing these posts.

maybe because you dont use it much often.... or not at all...
some people use it because its alot faster and you dont need to worry about the spelling... hehehe... just like sending sms from your mobile phone...
SMS message is a little bit different than forums, there is that 160 (or what was it?) character limit in SMS, there isn't one on the forums.
So if you don't feel like putting some effort to your posts, why bother posting at all?