More Rules - Another Modest Proposal

OK, now that we've agreed to discuss things without name calling or dogma, let's try to improve the presentation.

Most of us have been the beneficiaries of a tax-supported public education. Let's make use of what we were taught. Let's use correct grammar, sentence structure, capitalization and punctuation. If you aren't sure about spelling, look it up in a dictionary. That's what we all did before SpellCheck - works just fine.

Group related thoughts together in paragraphs. Try to put together a coherent essay out of its component paragraphs. Then, before you click "Submit", read it over again and EDIT your post. Make sure your post actually says what you intend it to say.

If you follow these rules, you greatly improve the chances of having your post read and understood. Your post will be A LOT easier to read, and thus more likely to actually be read all the way to the end. Furthermore, first impressions do count - people who ignore these rules take the chance of having their post dismissed as a semi-literate rant.

Looking for examples? Read any essay written by William F. Buckley Jr. or Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Both write beautifully polished prose, without a word out of place. That level of skill isn't necessary here, but it's something to aspire to.

Strelnikov

- OR

Express yourself however you feel like it. Come here and relax for a change and express how you feel. If you write something that is incoherent, it may not be read at all. Most of us can make out the general idea of a person's post for the most part. I'm not about to try and decifer what and how people write. If I don't understand it, I just move on. KISS (Keep IT Simple Sexy) Be well.

Moderation...lol

Well....I also prefer to read a coherent post, but I do agree that no one should be intimidated by worrying about proper spelling/grammar/ English (in an international sense). But Strel has a point (as always.. ) ...we could all strive to improve a bit! I read everything anyway, but at times I also fail to achieve an understanding of what the author is trying to convey. I dangle participles and overuse """"<,,,,)()(!!... some punctuation myself, due to laziness and bad typing skills. Anyway, here's to a bold new world! Q

Bein' as I'm one t'use colloquialisms and regional dialectic spellings in my posts, I do hope I'm not offendin', Strel. OTOH, how many folks that speak as I do can spell it properly?

I do dig the notion, though, of applyin' a bit more thought to the writin', and givin' more for the words typed.

Personally, I'm just impressed that you're seekin' t'better your surroundings. It's so... American of ya. I dig it. Speaks well of the Southern Man, y'know? I hope more consider your suggestion, sir.

dvnc
- wiley in the west

D V N C

Is no problem writing in dialect, tovarisch - is just another way of expressing personality.

Is problem when whole 2000 word post is single run-on sentence, without punctuation or capitalization, like writing of nekulturny barbarian. Zvo tovyu mat!

Strelnikov