I just read this all-too-typical post on another forum I frequent:

"I have a 1975 mg midget that I just bought from a guy, it was freshly restored and then is son wrecked it, but everything was fine it was all cosmetic damage except for the radiator that got crushed. But the problem is that when I bought the car we towed it our selfs with one of the 2 wheel tow dolls and the rear 2 wheels were dragging back but when we were doing the wheels began to lock up. So we were told to engage the clutch then it began to roll but. But I have no idea what is wrong with it. (P.S the original trans was changed out for a mustang t-5 trans from a 89 mustang)"

I don't want to sound like my 10th grade English teacher, but gosh, this fellow just slammed his fingers on a keyboard, let it spew, and hit "submit". Ultimately, his car is going to suffer from this sort of carelessness.

Perhaps the 928 simply requires more organized thought patterns, a little German precision, but regardless, I enjoy the unusually good writing of this forum. Thanks to all.

 

I agree, and I also appreciate the general lack of "texting shorthand" here.

 

I agree wholeheartedly!
A well written post is easier to read.


Seth K. Pyle

 

I but see sometimes nothing else together wrong?

 

posted twice...my bad.

 

WTF?!! LOL! ROLFLMFAO!! YMMV! WWJD?!!



I luv whel writen post to their great!

 

It's going to happen more and more due to Smartphones, and the gradual increase of younger guys into this forum.

 

It's not just being able to write but taking the time to write and proofread that matters. There's also better understanding that other people won't understand a stream-of-consciousness internal dialog spewed out as text. It's called "writing."

Average post quality is increased further through thoughtful application of the ignore feature.

 

As a newbie (I've got a year of ownership now...am I no longer a newbie?), I try to write detailed posts with decent grammar and pictures for two reasons:

1. In the hopes that it'll make it easier for those "who know" to ascertain most of the details pertaining to my problem.
2. To make it easier for those in the future who are having a similar problem to find my thread and hopefully see what others had provided.

 

And I would add, as someone with a second language (that I do not use here, nor do I use my 3d, which is mostly unintelligible to native speakers), that I very much admire the posts of those on this forum whose second language is English. It is difficult enough for a native speaker, and when the subject matter is technical, things are even harder. Here's to those who contribute in spite of the language difficulties (noting that their English writing skills are often on a par with our own)!

 

Em, oot.

I tub ees semitemos gnihton esle rehtegot gnorw?

Nairb.

 

I joined this forum when I was 16. I've tried to keep my posts in actual english for the most part.

It helps having members here that are mature and not like the people I grew up with now posting in the honda and chevy forums making incoherent sentences like the ones jokingly posted above.

But personally, I cannot stand shortened words that my generation uses so prevalently in texts and in spoken conversations.

Conversations are much nicer when you know what people are actually saying and not trying to decipher what they mean.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with all the thoughts shared above. There's a golden rule in here somewhere, suggesting that the tone and content of the help I receive tends to shape the tone and content of my posts.

A couple generations of 928 lists ago, Gene O'Rourke set some of the tone here. A professional journalist, he was precise in the way that he stated things, humorous in the way he related events and experiences, and had limited tolerance for poor grammar and punctuation. Turns out we had gone to the same schools, at different times and different places, so we could swap barbs harmlessly both on and off list. There are undoubtedly many more who have helped shape the tone and character of this group. Thanks to all of them and to all of you who make it a pleasure to read and participate. I can safely say that this is one of the most professional and helpful owner support groups I've had the pleasure of reading.

 

With the corollary being:

The amount and type of assistance I receive tends to be reflective of the tone and content of my requests.

The "smart guys" on here tend to be older (or at least seem that way). They post in coherent sentences with reasonably correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

They seem to offer the best help to those who ask in that manner.

It seems like after the 2nd or 3rd request to post in a way that is understandable to them, the help dries up.

 

+928 to all said above.

As many of you already know (or have noticed!) English is not my first language.

I was born, raised, went to school and work 90% of the time in French.

I really appreciate it when posts are well written. It is way easier to understand and more enjoyable to read. At least for me.

I know that my English is far from perfect, but I can assure you that I always try to do my best and take all the time it needs to write the best I can.
It's just a question of respect to all the great members/users here.

Thank you all for your patience and great help.

Rennlist is indeed a very special forum.