What is correct SPAG?

[Guevara01]

I think it's good to encourage people to use SPAG. I wouldn't be able to understand most posts if they were in txt-speak. SPAG allows the board to become accessible to more people from around the world, and prompts some good discussion.

I like the way the moderators handle people not using SPAG, i think by sending a PM, it keeps the discussions private, and not open to "wannabees" as they are called.

However, i think that PMing people the rules is also the reason why we have "wannabees". If someone posts using incorrect SPAG and it is sorted out via PM, how are the other members supposed to know if something has been done about it? This may lead them to think that incorrect use of SPAG has been ignored/allowed by the Mods.

So i can sort of see both sides of the argument. But, i think SPAG is a very useful way of making the board more user-friendly to a higher amount of people!

xxx

[Liz]

However, i think that PMing people the rules is also the reason why we have "wannabees". If someone posts using incorrect SPAG and it is sorted out via PM, how are the other members supposed to know if something has been done about it? This may lead them to think that incorrect use of SPAG has been ignored/allowed by the Mods.

If a member is worried that something hasn't been done about incorrect use of SPAG, they are more than welcome to PM a moderator who is in authority to deal with it.

[Guevara01]

However, i think that PMing people the rules is also the reason why we have "wannabees". If someone posts using incorrect SPAG and it is sorted out via PM, how are the other members supposed to know if something has been done about it? This may lead them to think that incorrect use of SPAG has been ignored/allowed by the Mods.

If a member is worried that something hasn't been done about incorrect use of SPAG, they are more than welcome to PM a moderator who is in authority to deal with it.

Oh, i quite agree. I was just speculating as to why there are so many comments about the issue of SPAG and Mods vs 'Wanabees'.

xxx

[MarMar]

However, i think that PMing people the rules is also the reason why we have "wannabees". If someone posts using incorrect SPAG and it is sorted out via PM, how are the other members supposed to know if something has been done about it? This may lead them to think that incorrect use of SPAG has been ignored/allowed by the Mods.

Would you rather have warnings against you posted in a public thread?

Believe me, whenever I see something breaking the rules, I send warnings. I send at least 5 warning a day.

[Guevara01]

However, i think that PMing people the rules is also the reason why we have "wannabees". If someone posts using incorrect SPAG and it is sorted out via PM, how are the other members supposed to know if something has been done about it? This may lead them to think that incorrect use of SPAG has been ignored/allowed by the Mods.

Would you rather have warnings against you posted in a public thread?

Believe me, whenever I see something breaking the rules, I send warnings. I send at least 5 warning a day.

Okay, i think i was misunderstood in posting this. I'm all for PMing in private, and of course i believe the Mods do their jobs. I was just trying to show why people who are named "Wannabees" have this reputation. I didn't mean any offence to the Mods, who i have great respect for. I don't think i could be tolerant enough to put up with some of the stuff you have to deal with!

xxx

[Frankie]

I think the bottom line is that people have to trust the mods to do thier job...even if they can't see them doing it...

If you see someone being a wannabe...PM one of us...we will warn them too...

[Loz]

It's interesting that the subjectof SPAG generates so much debate...and such strong feelings...from both ends of the spectrum...I haven't figured that out...are we wrong to want to encourage good commmunication..or do people not just care..or is it the way we do it?...It is a puzzle.....

I think the reason it's a bigger problem on this board than on some other TV boards I visit might have to do with the average age of the members. Now, I totally don't think that just because someone is a teenager, they're going to post in text speak, but I think there's a higher incidence of not attempting proper SPAG in this age group than in other age groups.

I mean, teenagers are at school all day (when they probably don't want to be) having to write essays they don't care about on subjects that don't interest them. When they get home they probably feel that going online is something they do to get away from school lessons and the rules / formality associated with them. And then this board gets new members all the time, so even as some people acclimatise to the rules, there are new members joining who might take a while to acclimatise. Obviously I know that there are many many teenage members who have great SPAG and interesting views on the show / life in general. But I think maybe the teenage demographic has something to do with it.

Maybe the degree to which people really care about proper SPAG reflects the type of discussion they're looking for, too? Many of the people whose SPAG shows little effort at all are posting messages that aren't particularly interesting / amusing / well-thought-out. Whereas those with generally good SPAG tend to make the most interesting posts, I think.

Although, it could be that messages written with good SPAG just convey their meanings more clearly, whereas those with poor SPAG tend to be vague as a result. I'm sure if everyone 'got' that posting with good basic SPAG makes other people more likely to find them interesting, they'd make more of an effort. Maybe.

[MarMar]

Just a little bit of fun... Thought this was the best place to post it.

Work-safe video.

[TabbyCool]

It's interesting that the subjectof SPAG generates so much debate...and such strong feelings...from both ends of the spectrum...I haven't figured that out...are we wrong to want to encourage good commmunication..or do people not just care..or is it the way we do it?...It is a puzzle.....

I think the reason it's a bigger problem on this board than on some other TV boards I visit might have to do with the average age of the members. Now, I totally don't think that just because someone is a teenager, they're going to post in text speak, but I think there's a higher incidence of not attempting proper SPAG in this age group than in other age groups.

I mean, teenagers are at school all day (when they probably don't want to be) having to write essays they don't care about on subjects that don't interest them. When they get home they probably feel that going online is something they do to get away from school lessons and the rules / formality associated with them. And then this board gets new members all the time, so even as some people acclimatise to the rules, there are new members joining who might take a while to acclimatise. Obviously I know that there are many many teenage members who have great SPAG and interesting views on the show / life in general. But I think maybe the teenage demographic has something to do with it.

Maybe the degree to which people really care about proper SPAG reflects the type of discussion they're looking for, too? Many of the people whose SPAG shows little effort at all are posting messages that aren't particularly interesting / amusing / well-thought-out. Whereas those with generally good SPAG tend to make the most interesting posts, I think.

Although, it could be that messages written with good SPAG just convey their meanings more clearly, whereas those with poor SPAG tend to be vague as a result. I'm sure if everyone 'got' that posting with good basic SPAG makes other people more likely to find them interesting, they'd make more of an effort. Maybe.

Also, many of the members here are from countries where English is not their first language, so it's probably hard enough for some of them to read normal posts, never mind ones that are written in txt speak or whatever! Sometimes, I find it really hard to read txt speak and other forms of shorthand, so I can't imagine what it must be like for foreign people who don't know English as well as I do.

On the other hand, we have Mar, who has better English skills than I do! lol

Just a little bit of fun... Thought this was the best place to post it.

Work-safe video.

LOL

That's funny! :-D

[Mez83]

Just a little bit of fun... Thought this was the best place to post it.

Work-safe video.

I love it Mar. Fantastic.