but on BB's and in chat rooms, the idea is dialog.. everyone is both reader and writer... when you wear both hats, short hand works for both..

but in the beginning.. it is a "secret code" and it requires newbies to work at learning the language of the medium.

didn't we discuss this some months ago, relating to an article about prescriptive and descriptive dictionaries?

i know several versions of english-- one i worked hard at-- with no spell check or grammar check on my old computer.. while i was in college.. an other english i speak- and while i pride myself on almost never using um, er, you know, like.. i also have words i use for effect.. I frequently use ain't in spoken language.. but i never use it in written language, not even here.. on the internet, where there are different rules..

internet language dislikes ALL CAPS! and even cap's on proper nouns.. I don't correct people who call me of Troy-- but i am of troy.. and tsuwm.. is just that, not Tsuwm..

we use very few of the C U! or kma! or other shorthand, and when we do, it almost alway has some sort of background..
SWMBO- for example..

too much short hand make the board hard for new comers. this board has some rather exceptional members, and exceptional rules.. we don't have to change them. but if we are interested in language, we should know what going on with english.. here, there, and cyberwhere!


my other obsession