Is It Too Much To Ask?

[EcclesCake]

I have just read a thread with a reply that I simply cannot understand as it is using abbreviations/street slang/local dialect/I don't know what.

When such posts are queried the questioner is frequently vilified with a similarly unintelligible response.

Can anyone please tell me why adults feel the need to use such inane phrasing that is to many of us complete gibberish? If it was an obvious short cut I would understand but quite frequently the gibberish word is longer than the dictionary listed version.

We have a hard enough time struggling through posts that are poorly punctuated and have a total absence of paragraphs, to add translating gibberish just adds to the mire.

Given that this a Q&A site it would be a good thing if both the Q&A were easily understood?

[-Talbot-]

I dunno innit!

[Baldric]

Eccles canyou give us a link or the title of the OP please?

[woofgang]

well but if you don't want to be involved in a thread for whatever reason no one makes you, you can just walk on by

[EcclesCake]

Talbot...be careful, you are never too big for a slap!

Baldric, I'd prefer to decline that invitation as although this post has been stirred by one post it is a common problem involving a number of individuals.

[bookbinder]

I sympathise with you, Eccles. It is certainly irritating when one reads a thread that is obviously written by someone who wants to put over a message, but manages to make that message unintelligible. Some people really do talk in the way that you describe, and they naively believe that others can understand them. The easy way out is to just ignore them, and have a look at Crosswords or Quizzes and Puzzles.

[Mamyalynne]

I once queried something unintelligible and was more or less informed that if I didn't know what the gibberish was I shouldn't be attempting to answer.


Four people then followed me in a similar vein, so I didn't feel too much out of the loop.

[bednobs]

there are at least 4 posters who are mainly unintelligible so i find myself not bothering to read their posts any more

[EcclesCake]

And that is precisely what I do Woofgang when I cannot get me head around an OP. However, the gibberish responses are of no use to man nor beast if they are unintelligible. It frustrates me when I read drivel from apparently intelligent folk who seemingly have something to offer but insist on using a phrasing that is so difficult to understand. It strikes me as a sad waste of everyone's time and intellect.

[Peter Pedant]

have a cup of sweet tea and re-charge your batteries Ecc

and remember Gibberish is subjective - you may not understand it but others might.. and probably do

[sherrardk]

I've no idea what post you are referring to but I suspect some people do it for affect, to add character and interest to what would otherwise be a boring pile of steaming ***.

[anneasquith]

no idea what post you are talking about, but................ maybe some of us abers have reasons not to ' appear great posters' . maybe best not to judge ?

[Pete65]

Ecclescake, I sympathise with you.
I think these posters are intelligent enough to post in plain English, but feel more confident posting in their local argot.
I think it is laziness, and give their posts little attention.
The English language is very widely recognised and spoken throughout the world.
Surely best to post in a language understood by most if us.

[Svejk]

Lay off the polari boys.

[Pete65]

Gibberish sentences frequently end in "lol".

[Old_Geezer]

So I see :-)

[1ozzy]

Lol, ya rekon?

[pixie374]

I agree with Anne. There might well be posters on here who are dyslexic, etc, who just haven't said. Usually the meaning is still there, so answers, ask for clarification or ignore it xx

[Zacs-Master]

Agree with pixie.

[Slapshot]

One of my other forums/websites has banned text speak, posts are simply removed. Dyslexia is a different thing I think, reading syntax, spelling and other grammar you can generally tell.

[Pete65]

It is the people who fondly imagine that their jargon is understood by all, that I pass by.
I have not a problem with those whose skills come up a little bit short.