New forum policy: capital letters and punctuation marks.

[Elegast]

I propose two additions to the forum policies:

• Sentences start with a capital letter.
• Sentences end with a punctuation mark.

It will make communication easier and more enjoyable on the boards.

[tuttman1234]

Three cheers for this idea!

Hip Hip!

Hooray!

[cenwolfgirl]

I AM APOSED strongly
extreamly
in a VERY BIG WAY!!!

[Elegast]

I AM APOSED strongly
extreamly
in a VERY BIG WAY!!!

Uhm... But your posts are still easy to read and understand. Maybe a more vague rule about readability? (but that would hard to enforce objectively...)

[cenwolfgirl]

one. hard to enforce
two. do we really want to have to get stressed about typos and stuff

mistakes happen and some people are still learning to spell and use grammar and stuff, so it would be unfair on those of us that are not grammar/spelling Narzi !

[Priscellie]

We already encourage proper spelling and grammar, but we don't want to make it an iron-clad rule.  There are a number of folks for whom writing represents a major hurdle, and we don't want to create an unduly stressful environment for them.

[knnn]

I'm actually of two minds with this.

While on the one hand, I really dislike ill-edited and inaccurate posts (they personally drive me up the wall), on the other hand, not everyone has the time to personally clean up every post.  For that matter, a large number of posters do not have English as their first language, and you'd be penalizing them unfairly.  Remember that the board are supposed to be fun, so as long as you not ruining it for others. 

My compromise suggestion would be that maybe you can require clarity from any "official" posts.  That is, legibility could be a requirement for eligibility as a "reference thread".  That way, the majority of people can have their fun, while the core threads will be easily readable.

[Elegast]

For that matter, a large number of posters do not have English as their first language, and you'd be penalizing them unfairly. 

English is my second language, so I'll be the last to demand perfect grammar and spelling.

[Priscellie]

My compromise suggestion would be that maybe you can require clarity from any "official" posts.  That is, legibility could be a requirement for eligibility as a "reference thread".  That way, the majority of people can have their fun, while the core threads will be easily readable.

I agree completely.  If a fan wants to compose a post for consideration in the Reference section, but he or she has difficulty with the language, he or she is invited to ask a fan with stronger spelling/grammar skills to assist in cleanup.

[tuttman1234]

I agree completely.  If a fan wants to compose a post for consideration in the Reference section, but he or she has difficulty with the language, he or she is invited to ask a fan with stronger spelling/grammar skills to assist in cleanup.

That is a capital idea!

[Priscellie]

That is a capital idea!

NO, THIS IS A CAPITAL IDEA.

[tuttman1234]

NO, THIS IS A CAPITAL IDEA.

 

[Shecky]

I still wouldn't require clarity, as everyone has some concepts that they simply can't get across easily to others, and everyone has some concepts that they simply cannot understand in the same way as others. Exhort people to write with clarity, sure, but a rule requiring it would be going ninety degrees from the intent of the rest of our rules.

[Dina]

Sadly, I have to agree with Shecky. A rule like the suggested one would make my life much easier, as English is my third language, but it would be unfair and perhaps annoying for many people.

[Priscellie]

No, we're only suggesting a requirement of clarity in resource/reference posts, not day-to-day stuff!