Re: ever so 'umble
blah b b blah (jrovira@juno.com)
Tue, 09 Mar 1999 17:02:39 -0500 (EST)
There's the issue itself -- adherence to All the proper formalities of
the English language in all written correspondence to a listserve.
Then there's a subissue of "possible motivations for deviating from the
norm."
I see listserves as being the most low-key forms of written
correspondence. Listserve varies from listserve, of course, but overall
most of the ones I've participated in have the qualities of the local bar
(or pub, wherever you happen to be writing from). We're all relaxed
(should be, anyways), not necessarily at our best, but aren't trying to
be or expected to be. The "sudden outburst" is much more likely, as well
as the faux pas, but at the same time more well received and better
understood than in other, more formal (and, eh, Sober) contexts.
So yeah, it's a little more difficult to read a post that doesn't have
every period, capital, comma or correct grammar and spelling, for that
matter. But I just do the extra work and get over it.
As far as the possible "reasons" for these deviations, who knows?
Scottie's post attributed those who used all lower case with striking "a
pose of 'I'm much humbler & less pretentious than you....' "
Honestly, on a purely textual level, it can be interpreted that way.
But I question whether it "has to" be interpreted that way. i can type
just as easily and quickly, without conscious effort, without caps as
well as with caps. i don't even have to use punctuation or double
spacing betweeen sentences its not so automatic that its work to leave
out
Altough it does drive me a bit nuts. But I'm anal retentive.
My question is, do we "have to" ascribe the worst possible motives to an
action at all times?
Jim
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