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Subject: Grammar Police?

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Posted by: SgtSTFU
grammar police.. just let that sink in. It sounds pretty pitiful doesn't it? I don't think we should lower our standards any more.


Are you serious?

SS_Zag1
Grammar Police

I drive mai fancy policyman car.

  • 04.08.2007 2:14 PM PDT
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Posted by: natedogr
I would rather give posters freedom to make posts, than regulate their grammar. This isn't an English class.
And for some members, English isn't their first language.

[Edited on 04.08.2007 2:56 PM PDT]

  • 04.08.2007 2:17 PM PDT

*Sgt

Posted by: SS_Zag1
Posted by: SgtSTFU
grammar police.. just let that sink in. It sounds pretty pitiful doesn't it? I don't think we should lower our standards any more.


Are you serious?

SS_Zag1
Grammar Police

I drive mai fancy policyman car.


I hope you're not serious.

  • 04.08.2007 2:20 PM PDT

Sandswept Studios Design Director

Visit us and check out our games at Sandswept.net!

~~Pardon Our Dust.~~

Posted by: SgtSTFU
Posted by: SS_Zag1
Posted by: SgtSTFU
grammar police.. just let that sink in. It sounds pretty pitiful doesn't it? I don't think we should lower our standards any more.


Are you serious?

SS_Zag1
Grammar Police

I drive mai fancy policyman car.


I hope you're not serious.


Have you ever heard a man say 'policyman car' while laughing? I think not.

  • 04.08.2007 2:21 PM PDT
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"Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist."
George Carlin

Posted by: RedPhoenix 57
I think there should be a new form of grammar enforcement, the Grammar Police. Their only power would be only to edit posts and make them understandable. I realise there's probably a million flaws with this and that a lot of people won't like it because it violates their right to "free speech". It's not as if the person's idea will be changed, it will just be in a more legible and reader friendly form. I hate trying to read walls of text and all sorts of horribly typed ideas. Some of them are quite good if you can get past the horrendous grammar and spelling.

I know there's a spellcheck, which I just used, but people seem to ignore it. Also, having a grammar police may increase the amount of people who type badly just because they know it will be corrected and will not have to correct it. It's not as if a Grammar Cop will have to change every post, they will only change posts at their own discretion. Some are typed in a certain style and manner purposefully.

The more I think about it, the more dumb it sounds to me, but I just thought I'd get your opinions.

What do you think of having a Grammar Police on b.net?

If there are any questions, I'll answer try my best to answer them to your satisfaction. I will then edit the question and answer into this post for future reference.

Lawl Pezza like am jerkz! - RedPhoenix 57

No.

  • 04.08.2007 3:56 PM PDT

See the blue bar? Now zip it son!

Once I believed I could see the world, then I saw the bus fare...

Two Fat Gamers

No, Leave them with their bad grammar. We'll just end up with whinners that dislike their post being edited.

  • 04.08.2007 5:02 PM PDT
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OMG. That's one of the dumbest ideas for b.net that I've heard. Let people type how they want and if you don't like it then tough -blam!-.

PS: Lawl. m3 typ3 L1k3 th15 t0 p155 U 0ff! :P

  • 04.08.2007 7:04 PM PDT

I work here: Sound Devices, LLC. We make bad-ass field audio gear, and you think that's awesome. My messy desk (With work-related items on the computer screen).

One does not simply grenade jump into Mordor...

Yeah, I'm a proponent of efficient communication. I can understand why people don't like ALL CAPS and no punctuation, but things like mispellings and abbreviations (As long as they aren't overused), don't really bother me as much. In most other online areas, I don't use capitalization (At the beginning of sentences or for proper nouns, etc) because I can type at a speed closer to what I'm thinking if I don't waste time on the shift key. I use capitalization here, because people tend to react negatively if I don't.

It's about exchanging ideas and having discussions. If someone makes a bunch of typos and uses a bunch of improper grammar, I don't really mind much as long as I didn't have to struggle to comprehend their idea. Like Achronos said, if the typing/grammar/spelling is poor enough, it will be its own "grammar police".

This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?

[Edited on 04.09.2007 8:10 AM PDT]

  • 04.09.2007 8:09 AM PDT
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Posted by: DEATHPIMP72
Anyone but Foman. He smells like cheese.

Posted by: AnalogWeapon
This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?


Aggghhhh flashback to 1998 email chains!!! Just kidding. It does illustrate your point rather well.

At any rate, to get back on topic: I respectfully disagree with the idea of "grammar police" for four reasons:

1) I have seen, quite literally, fewer than five users here who I would trust with editing posts for grammar and spelling. Most everybody (myself included) on this site makes fairly frequent grammatical and spelling errors. That's not a bad thing at all; I am just pointing out that you should, to use the Biblical term, "remove the plank from your own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's."

2) The power to edit posts is perhaps the greatest power that a user could have on this site -- greater, even, than the power to delete a profile. This power should be doled out very sparingly. Frankly, I'd only trust the current moderators (who are closely watched in their own right) and maybe a small handful of other users to do this. This is too few people to be the "grammar police."

3) Reputations here are based in large part on the way one presents his or her ideas. If every post was presented in a uniform manner, it would detract from users' individuality. Additionally, an "editor" or "grammar policeman" might misconstrue or misrepresent an idea unintentionally when editing and end up destroying the original poster's thought.

4) Here in the b.net groups, I edit a lot of interviews and chapter reviews for The Guide, and I can tell you that it is much harder than it may seem to be. To fix someone's grammar or spelling while still being extremely careful to maintain honesty and integrity in conveying the original intended meaning can often take much, MUCH longer than writing the original piece itself. It takes too much time and nobody would want to do it for post after post after post. Eventually they'd get lazy and start making mistakes or not doing it at all, thus destroying the purpose of having "grammar police" in the first place.

Anyway, I think that this thread has pretty much run its course, but I just wanted to submit some extra input that should help solidify the thought that this is not a great idea.

Thus, I respectfully disagree with the idea of grammar police.



[Edited on 04.09.2007 8:35 AM PDT]

  • 04.09.2007 8:35 AM PDT
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When the WeeklyWhatsUpdates are kind of thin, and there isnt really much to talk about; people with poor grammar give us something to do while we wait for more Bungie info.

  • 04.09.2007 10:19 AM PDT

cockburnicus@live.com
New Flood

I like the current way of dealing with bad grammer and spelling. People just absolutely flame them and that tends to shut them up.

[Edited on 04.09.2007 10:29 AM PDT]

  • 04.09.2007 10:28 AM PDT
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gRamMorz can gO banT.

  • 04.09.2007 6:32 PM PDT
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They could just have Ninjas lock threads, where the OP has so much bad grammar, the majority of the posts are "i wish i could answer, if i could read it". Those threads are primarily spam. Individual Posts, though are fine.


Posted by: Achronos
The method of communication in a forum is the written word. If your grammar/spelling is so poor you can't get your message across, well, that's its own grammar police, isn't it?

Furthermore, how you present your point of view is often as important as what your ideas are. If you can't relay said ideas because you can't be bother to use periods, for example, then that also represents a from of grammar police.

Those happen naturally. A human correctly people for grammar is thus redundant and probably stupid, given that the above too methods are far better at stopping bad grammar. Besides, if the reader can understand enough to correct the grammar without losing the intended meaning... well, then what's the difference other than the policeman being seen as stuck up prick?

  • 04.09.2007 6:46 PM PDT
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Toast always lands butterside down.
Attach to back of cat always lands on feet......

Result:Antigravity!

Posted by: Code Zero
if i talk like dis u can still understand rite??

Yes but I read it in a stupid voice and I read it slowly which isn't that annoing until you run into a paragraph.

  • 04.09.2007 6:49 PM PDT
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Tact is for those who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic.

No use cryin' over Spillt Milk

Posted by: x Foman123 x
Posted by: AnalogWeapon
This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?


3) Reputations here are based in large part on the way one presents his or her ideas. If every post was presented in a uniform manner, it would detract from users' individuality. Additionally, an "editor" or "grammar policeman" might misconstrue or misrepresent an idea unintentionally when editing and end up destroying the original poster's thought.


So let me get this straight...you're saying that if everyone used proper grammar, users' individuality would suffer?

Who knew proper grammar was such a detriment to uniqueness?

  • 04.09.2007 7:10 PM PDT

Why the hell are you looking at this? Get out.

And no group invites, you jerk. I'm not interested.

Posted by: shiv master
Posted by: x Foman123 x
Posted by: AnalogWeapon
This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?


3) Reputations here are based in large part on the way one presents his or her ideas. If every post was presented in a uniform manner, it would detract from users' individuality. Additionally, an "editor" or "grammar policeman" might misconstrue or misrepresent an idea unintentionally when editing and end up destroying the original poster's thought.


So let me get this straight...you're saying that if everyone used proper grammar, users' individuality would suffer?

Who knew proper grammar was such a detriment to uniqueness?
Yes. Join us. Don't we all look like zombies when we type in a form that doesn't make you look like a retard?

  • 04.09.2007 7:13 PM PDT

*Sgt

Posted by: AnalogWeapon
Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?


But not ervyedboy tlaks wtih olny the frsit and lsat ltters in the crrocet palce ;)

  • 04.09.2007 7:49 PM PDT
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Posted by: DEATHPIMP72
Anyone but Foman. He smells like cheese.

nevermind

[Edited on 04.09.2007 9:27 PM PDT]

  • 04.09.2007 9:25 PM PDT
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~~OpsY
Love you Bungie!
Still playing Halo1 Custom Edition!

a java script spell check would do the job...

PS where are signatures gone? I can'T seem to see them anymore!

  • 04.09.2007 10:03 PM PDT

Posted by: OpsY 31337
PS where are signatures gone? I can'T seem to see them anymore!
Put your mouse over an avatar.

  • 04.09.2007 10:43 PM PDT

P.S.
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT endorse, support, or condone the modification or editing of Halo 3 and/or Halo Reach outside of the developer-established boundaries. I have never, and never will, modify any game on Xbox Live outside of developer-established boundaries intended for the end user.
SPARTAN-III SEBS

Posted by: RedPhoenix 57
I think there should be a new form of grammar enforcement, the Grammar Police. Their only power would be only to edit posts and make them understandable. I realise there's probably a million flaws with this and that a lot of people won't like it because it violates their right to "free speech". It's not as if the person's idea will be changed, it will just be in a more legible and reader friendly form. I hate trying to read walls of text and all sorts of horribly typed ideas. Some of them are quite good if you can get past the horrendous grammar and spelling.

I know there's a spellcheck, which I just used, but people seem to ignore it. Also, having a grammar police may increase the amount of people who type badly just because they know it will be corrected and will not have to correct it. It's not as if a Grammar Cop will have to change every post, they will only change posts at their own discretion. Some are typed in a certain style and manner purposefully.

The more I think about it, the more dumb it sounds to me, but I just thought I'd get your opinions.

What do you think of having a Grammar Police on b.net?

If there are any questions, I'll answer try my best to answer them to your satisfaction. I will then edit the question and answer into this post for future reference.

Lawl Pezza like am jerkz! - RedPhoenix 57

This is quite possibly the best idea that I have ever seen.
If this is enforced, it will most likely be focused on the Halo 3 fourm.
:/

  • 04.09.2007 11:01 PM PDT

A lime a day keeps teh scurvy at bay.

Posted by: shiv master
Posted by: x Foman123 x
Posted by: AnalogWeapon
This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?



3) Reputations here are based in large part on the way one presents his or her ideas. If every post was presented in a uniform manner, it would detract from users' individuality. Additionally, an "editor" or "grammar policeman" might misconstrue or misrepresent an idea unintentionally when editing and end up destroying the original poster's thought.


So let me get this straight...you're saying that if everyone used proper grammar, users' individuality would suffer?

Who knew proper grammar was such a detriment to uniqueness?
you didn't get him straight.


when you correct someone else, especially someone with exceedingly poor grammar and spelling skills, you risk denying his individuality not because you made the post legible, but because it's legible through YOUR mind. everyone has a different writing/typing style, so when these grammar police would be out correcting errors, the most dreadful, unreadable posts would be reworked to be made legible---and in doing so, according to Foman, destroy the original posters intent, or at the very least, make the original poster sound like a clone of someone else.


In other words, in your haste to make a snappy and sarcastic post, you missed his point and emulated the fallacy of having others police the threads for unbearable posts. If you can't understand what Fo meant when he typed it out clear as day, how could we expect anyone else to accurately represent the illegible illiterates?

  • 04.11.2007 6:50 AM PDT
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I use Firefox. and it already has spell check. While I'm here, how come I can't post a new thread? I'm new, so I have no idea what to do here. help would be much appreciated.

[Edited on 04.11.2007 9:22 AM PDT]

  • 04.11.2007 9:22 AM PDT
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If you invite me to your group you will be blocked.

Posted by: a paper clip
I use Firefox. and it already has spell check. While I'm here, how come I can't post a new thread? I'm new, so I have no idea what to do here. help would be much appreciated.

You must wait 24 hours before posting a new thread.
It's just something to make it harder for spammers to defile our community.

  • 04.11.2007 11:25 AM PDT
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Tact is for those who aren't witty enough to be sarcastic.

No use cryin' over Spillt Milk

Posted by: Hobbsilius
Posted by: shiv master
Posted by: x Foman123 x
Posted by: AnalogWeapon
This illustrates what I'm talking about (Sort of):

Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

While that is pretty difficult to read, most people are surprised at how easy it is to read considering the fact that every single word (besides pronouns and conjunctions) is misspelled. Interesting, huh?



3) Reputations here are based in large part on the way one presents his or her ideas. If every post was presented in a uniform manner, it would detract from users' individuality. Additionally, an "editor" or "grammar policeman" might misconstrue or misrepresent an idea unintentionally when editing and end up destroying the original poster's thought.


So let me get this straight...you're saying that if everyone used proper grammar, users' individuality would suffer?

Who knew proper grammar was such a detriment to uniqueness?
you didn't get him straight.


when you correct someone else, especially someone with exceedingly poor grammar and spelling skills, you risk denying his individuality not because you made the post legible, but because it's legible through YOUR mind. everyone has a different writing/typing style, so when these grammar police would be out correcting errors, the most dreadful, unreadable posts would be reworked to be made legible---and in doing so, according to Foman, destroy the original posters intent, or at the very least, make the original poster sound like a clone of someone else.


In other words, in your haste to make a snappy and sarcastic post, you missed his point and emulated the fallacy of having others police the threads for unbearable posts. If you can't understand what Fo meant when he typed it out clear as day, how could we expect anyone else to accurately represent the illegible illiterates?


While the worry of an editor misunderstanding the intent of the post he/she is editing is a very real concern, I'm not convinced that anyone who needs their post edited should be afforded any such individuality.

Oh by the by...you sound an awful lot like Foman...are you guys perchance members of the same humorless cult?

  • 04.11.2007 1:54 PM PDT

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