Genealogy Chat

Please do not type in Capital letters...in computer usage it is generally regarded as shouting...and appears aggressive and is very annoying.......unless anyone disagrees with me (which they often do when i get stroppy!!!!)

Derek (Derbyshire)

Has anyone noticed that Road Signs are in mixed case, capitals are only used for the first letter for proper or name place. The reason is that they are actually easier to read than IF THEY WERE ALL IN CAPITALS

So you get

School entrance
Milton Keynes
Register office
Hemel Hempstead

(But not Registry Office as you will find in Harrogate.....!)

Quite So,
IGP,

was it James May? or Jeremy Clarkson that met up with the original designer of the modern road signs? primarily it seems it was to accomodate the signage on the new Motorways......
apparently her suggestions for the font and colouring were met with some derision at the time, but as you say.........

IT WORKS!

Bob

It really does'nt bother me about using capitals, don't see it as shouting or being rude as some people find it easier. Not really bothered about spelling either as there are alot of people with spelling difficulties, as long as I can work out what they are trying to say. The long paragraphs are annoying though without punctuation.
Hilary

It could be that some find it difficult to keep changing from Capitals to small case. Perhaps they suffer from a disability that makes it painful

Sorry will not add any more as this isn't really what the boards are about.
You have to have a rant occasionally, especially after 2 glasses of red wine and husband watching England play football.

Have a good evening.

It's unfair to make assumptions about strangers. As far as I understand it members on this site are equals regardless of background, education, disabilities etc. so judging people in terms of how they write is unfair and condescending.

Personally, I prefer not to read large chunks of text in capital letters so I don't. We have a choice. End of.

If anyone is upset by this thread then report it to Genes.

The Rules
Please don't communicate anything that is, or could be considered, abusive, vulgar, offensive or threatening – your behaviour must be polite, patient, and not intended to cause (or capable of causing) trouble or offence to other members.

I agree with RutlandBelle; someone who has difficulty spelling correctly is unlikely to record and transmit names and dates with acccuracy.

Peter

but that's their problem which they probably already know about and don't need it pointing out on a public website. Besides which just because someone can't spell doesn't mean they can't read or copy accurately. It might mean they have dyslexia though which is something they can't do much about.

POT KETTLE

Derek Yesterday at 22:03 Request review
hi Gooner your marriage for WILLIAM SNEAP to SARAH ATHERLEY St Alkmund Derby 16.01.1854 is correct..Husbands age 36 Bride 33....bit long in the tooth for as first marriage???????????

Derek.

I cannot believe how extremely "picky" these boards have become of late.

Do we know why some people type in capitals...I know for a fact some members do so because of a disability.

To say quote...someone who has difficulty spelling correctly is unlikely to record and transmit names and dates with acccuracy....is quite beyond belief!

For goodness sake some empathy would not come amiss. Who or what do we know of other GR members...their disabilities or their short comings.

If you do not like the member's thread just pass it by...there is always someone else who will take the trouble to answer if possible.

Linda

I quite agree with you LindaB, its getting really picky on here lately..
Capitals don't bother me, neither does spelling etc...Everyone is different....

Have a good day
Jules x

I am an old girl now. I was born and raised in S.E.London and I have a real cockney accent but I did learn good written English and spelling in my school. I absolutely hate the written English that our young people adopt now. It really makes me annoyed, they are adding further corrosion to the British way of life. It is not just the young people, when you read newspapers and magazines, you see paragraphs starting with 'And' or 'But' these words should not be at the start of a paragraph, they represent a pause and should be used in that context.

Sorry guys, I have been wanting to say that for a long time time, I want England to be English again.

Why do we have such a little space to write and why does it not becaome visible when we have exceeded the space provided?


Pat

Dear me

I don't imagine that Derek meant anything other than to advise people that using capitals throughout can be very offputting and difficult to read. It is probably something that many people have not realised - and it's never too late to learn. Of course people who find it difficult to type in a mixture of cases for whatever reason, are perfectly within their rights to do so.

Let's not start slating the "oldies" for offering advice to "newbies" - that IS one of the purposes of this board and it doesn't mean that such advisors have disregard for other more troubling problems in the world.

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? "

I do confess it worries me less that people use capitals, or that their spelling is poor ( for whatever reason) , than the absence of 'white space' in a post. That is purely because I find it difficult to read and so I often do not try.

But (lol) there is always someone willing to wade through and help. Isn't that the strength of these boards? The immense kindness of strangers :)

In my opinion Derek's post is polite and friendly. What troubles me are the posts that cause possible humiliation to those who may not be able to do anything about their literacy levels.

My mother's school was bombed in WWII and her literacy levels are poor, so much so that I actually think she might be dyslexic. She is absolutely fascinated with the information I have gathered about our family, getting quite excited about anything new I tell her .

I have mentioned to my husband about buying her a laptop for her to use because since having a stroke two years ago she has not been so active and gets depressed stuck at home.

Goodness knows though, there is no way I could introduce her to this site , what with her literacy levels and zero computer skills the little confidence she has would be killed off by the comments I've seen on here.

I've received some good advice and help on GR for which I am always grateful but to be honest it is little reward compared to the anger I feel when I see the judgmental and patronising comments by just a few. It's shameful.

Polly, the vast majority of those who have posted here would not dream of commenting personally to someone with poor grammar, spelling or whatever. I suspect your mother might welcome being gently told that capitals are not easy to read. Do buy her that laptop and let her have a go.

1. Fact is text in capitals is NOT easier to read.
2. Whilst there are undoubtedly a small number of people with difficulties, most examples of bad spelling and grammar we see are just laziness and sloppiness.

I am not perfect and do miss-type more as I get older, but if I see a mistake I correct it, and will often go back and edit a post to make it read /better or correct spellings.

Hi InspectorGreenPen

Whilst I agree there has been a marked increase in poor spelling and grammar I disagree that most is due to laziness and sloppiness. This is your opinion based on subjective experiences and observations.

The fact is that there are many people with literacy problems at varying levels due to developmental problems and/or educational failings. There are still many young people emerging from schools with dreadful experiences including poor support and undiagnosed developmental problems. Most of these failings are a result of the educational system being strapped for cash for either assessing the child or training the staff to recognise potential problems.

For those people who have no problems other than failing to recognise the importance of spelling and grammar I ask you, is it all their fault or is there some underlying problem with the education system?

I think it dreadfully unfair to criticise strangers on a public website whose purpose is to share interests in a hobby. It's not an improve your English website and no one, but no one, should be made to feel inferior by members who seem to portray an air of superiority because they can spell and use a computer correctly.

I too, find reading text in capitals difficult so I don't bother to read them. Happily, you have a choice to read a post or not and no one will even know so no harm done. Like I've already mentioned, I think the original post was polite and friendly, it was subsequent posts and others 'jumping on the bandwagon' that stirred me into action.