Author: Dann Corbit
Date: 16:36:14 07/14/99
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On July 14, 1999 at 18:48:45, Inmann Werner wrote: [snip] >As a non English speaking person, coming from a country where capital letters >are widespread in common writing and a computer is a "he" and not understanding, >what you mean with "look".... >Can you tell me, what this whole thread is. Is it an English joke, or am I now >again back in school (hearing my English teacher: " You never will learn correct >English...") > >I thought, it only is important that everybody understands the writings and that >they are polite and no agressive. >Am I wrong? This is what is known as "A tempest in a teapot." It is a general USENET practice not to use all caps in subject lines, and not to use too many "!" symbols, etc. Many people used to such forums get a bit annoyed at the messages which seem like they are screaming. But after a while, the original new posters figure out that no additional positive attention comes from all caps or a dozen exclamation points and they stop doing it. I don't think we need to spend a month discussing the merits of proper punctuation and capitalization. Normal punctuation and capitalization, together with correct spelling and grammar make the messages easier to read. That is all. I think that all caps is annoying, but I never say 'never.' So do it once in a while if you feel like it. It's not like you are being insulting or derogatory. Here is the same message in "newbie" format: THIS IS WHAT IS KNOWN AS "A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" IT IS A GENERAL USENET PRACTICE NOT TO USE ALL CAPS IN SUBJECT LINES AND NOT TO USE TOO MANY "!" SYMBOLS ETC MANY PEOPLE USED TO SUCH FORUMS GET A BIT ANNOYED AT THE MESSAGES WHICH SEEM LIKE THEY ARE SCREAMING BUT AFTER A WHILE THE ORIGINAL NEW POSTERS FIGURE OUT THAT NO ADDITIONAL POSITIVE ATTENTION COMES FROM ALL CAPS OR A DOZEN EXCLAMATION POINTS AND THEY STOP DOING IT I DONT THINK WE NEED TO SPEND A MONTH DISCUSSING THE MERITS OF PROPER PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NORMAL PUNCTUATION AND CAPITALIZATION TOGETHER WITH CORRECT SPELLING AND GRAMMAR MAKE THE MESSAGES EASIER TO READ THAT IS ALL I THINK THAT ALL CAPS IS ANNOYING BUT I NEVER SAY 'NEVER' SO DO IT ONCE IN A WHILE IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE BEING INSULTING OR DEROGATORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Salt in a few misspellings to complete the picture. I could not decide which words to bruise.
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