to such genius i bow my head and declare in words my generation maims only too readily, "truth yo".

Goddamb teenagers!!! With their hoodies and bad posture! They need to bring back capitol punishment! Like I never had!

Ya Dokta:)

So some appear to believe.

haha, no sarcasm. Write how you want and wat you want. I don't care:)

Ya Dokta:)

I do. And I will. Freedom of speech is for all.

I'm a big believer in freedom of expression, read one of my posts you'll see I practise "write what you want"! Lol

All in all it's just another brick in the wall - we don't need no education - we don't need no thought control - no dark sarcasm in the classroom - teachers leave em kids alone...

I think the problem in that the elders forget they were once young as well and feel that they have rights because of that - they also forget at a stage they were young as well and their parents and elders feel the same way they do...

And i'm beginning to feel that freedom of speech is not so much a given here anymore sigh...

Oh, let them say whatever they like. We should just remember that freedom of speech applies to us as well.

My comment on Manasseh's blog was just my opinion, I am definitely not middle aged! But its just hard to miss it when people use it in texts addressed to me and on Facebook where its right there. You are correct in that it's their right to use the language however they want and I also use slang etc all the time. But its also my right to be annoyed by the abbreviations and mis-spellings, not because I think I am better than them, just because I don't like it.

Actually I did not have you in mind (or indeed anyone for a simple comment). I was thinking of a number of bloggers who have posted on this issue.

I think the language and grammar you should use depends upon the nature of what you're writing. Blogs are for the most part a more casual form of writing. I for one let the southerner in me come out in my wore relaxed post.(Ya'll know what I mean?) And often I use numbers instead of writing them out, but I picked that up from Kurt Vonnegut's Hocus Pocus. It's all about context and tone. If you write something serious you should watch your grammar. Bad grammar is unclear and it can really muddle your point.

Of course all of this assumes these kids know good grammar and are choosing to use bad grammar on purpose. As one teacher said you have to understand the rules of grammar before you know when break them. So if it's a question of style I'm okay with that, if ignorance then I hope they learn more as they grow.

Of course I have no idea which blogs you're talking about, but there's my general opinion on the subject. And I'm not middle aged and I never had to struggle with grammar I just have a deep and abiding love of the written word.

Me: I am all in favour of freedom of speech. I am also well aware that English is a historical language; it is constantly changing and developing: I even wrote a series of posts about the development of English. The language is not set in stone.

I agree. There was a time when contractions were considered major no-no's, now they are an accepted part of our language. The only languages set in stone are dead languages.

Steve..I must pay closer attention...I missed the war..nice post!

peace :) shemelts

we should be glad they're here.. but remind them what excellence is. a great teacher taught me that.. he didn't try to change my style but introduced me to greatness..

We should ignore their behaviours that we disprove of and lavish praise on their behaviours that we approve of: that would be the moral and effective approach.

I knew you were a closet Christian, pissed at the hypocrites that make it painful to admit being associated with them by those who can't see the difference. Not to say you worship anyone or anything (I know better) but, just to note you share the philosophy I attribute to him, now we just need a catchy name for it, some stories, and a holiday or 3.

Are you suggesting that we create a religion?

Steve..Accentuate the positive...Eliminate the negative..Words I live by everyday in my work with children. I like your ideas.

peace :) shemelts

And peace unto you.

Hmmmmm, language as a dynamic object! Interesting proposal. Nice post.

Again, we agree. If we can't be tolerant of our young how do we expect them to be tolerant of us. Our mistakes are made, for the most part, and the record can be judged from it's merits or lack. They are just making theirs and who knows they like so many innovators might just stumble on something better. A common language is essential to rapport and as such I only ask that they learn the standard as well as the vernacular so that we can communicate from generation to generation. I'm not reading a 3 paragraph blog completely written in "1337 5P34K" but I'll damned long before they lose their right to write it.

I am middle aged and i do not think that i have any problems with the younger generation. With their language grammar or choice in music. Well maybe i have some problem with their choice in music but thats only because i like mellow stuff not the boom boom bouncy stuff but i do like some of the older happy hardcore stuff.
Anyway what i am trying to say is i have more of a problem with politicians making decisions on my behalf that i do not agree with.Like going to war. Or changing the law to suite law enforcement.
But i am middle aged and i have noticed that i have become a right moaning faced B*?/%$"*d.
I do not know were this came from. I am just taking it for granted that this is what happens at middle age.
But i do think this is productive as i am pacifist and need to get rid of my anger someway so i think that it is why i have became a right moaning git. As my family do not take it to heart and just say to me that i am moaning again. Then i know that i am not hurting anybody.
I can not speak for every one but i do think that once you get to a certain age then you do start to turn into a old fuddy duddy.
Of course some will never admit to getting older but still but right moaning faced git's.
I was young once. And when i was i seen the older generation as being out of touch with my generation. And i know that i am out of touch with the younger generation. Not because i am ignorant but because thinks have changed so much over a short space of time that it takes time to adjust but if you are younger and are with other people the same age then you get the chance to exchange idea's with others an get their opinion at your level. The young of today are at the very top level of learning and understanding. Most people over 40 find it hard to cope with most modern technology. But for most youngsters it comes naturally because you are brought up with it.
Anyway i have gave my ten pence worth(as my mother used to say)so i will leave it at that.
Except to say i am a right moaning faced git sometimes.

I%20am%20middle%20aged%20and%20i%20do%20not%20think%20t hat%20i%20have%20any%20problems%20with%20the%20younger% 20generation.%20With%20their%20language%20grammar%20or% 20choice%20in%20music.%20Well%20maybe%20i%20have%20some %20problem%20with%20their%20choice%20in%20music%20but%2 0thats%20only%20because%20i%20like%20mellow%20stuff%20n ot%20the%20boom%20boom%20bouncy%20stuff%20but%20i%20do% 20like%20some%20of%20the%20older%20happy%20hardcore%20s tuff.%0AAnyway%20what%20i%20am%20trying%20to%20say%20is %20i%20have%20more%20of%20a%20problem%20with%20politici ans%20making%20decisions%20on%20my%20behalf%20that%20i% 20do%20not%20agree%20with.Like%20going%20to%20war.%20Or %20changing%20the%20law%20to%20suite%20law%20enforcemen t.%0ABut%20i%20am%20middle%20aged%20and%20i%20have%20no ticed%20that%20i%20have%20become%20a%20right%20moaning% 20faced%20B*%3F/%25%24%22*d.%0AI%20do%20not%20know%20we re%20this%20came%20from.%20I%20am%20just%20taking%20it% 20for%20granted%20that%20this%20is%20what%20happens%20a t%20middle%20age.%0ABut%20i%20do%20think%20this%20is%20 productive%20as%20i%20am%20pacifist%20and%20need%20to%2 0get%20rid%20of%20my%20anger%20someway%20so%20i%20think %20that%20it%20is%20why%20i%20have%20became%20a%20right %20moaning%20git.%20As%20my%20family%20do%20not%20take% 20it%20to%20heart%20and%20just%20say%20to%20me%20that%2 0i%20am%20moaning%20again.%20Then%20i%20know%20that%20i %20am%20not%20hurting%20anybody.%0AI%20can%20not%20spea k%20for%20every%20one%20but%20i%20do%20think%20that%20o nce%20you%20get%20to%20a%20certain%20age%20then%20you%2 0do%20start%20to%20turn%20into%20a%20old%20fuddy%20dudd y.%0AOf%20course%20some%20will%20never%20admit%20to%20g etting%20older%20but%20still%20but%20right%20moaning%20 faced%20git%27s.%0AI%20was%20young%20once.%20And%20when %20i%20was%20i%20seen%20the%20older%20generation%20as%2 0being%20out%20of%20touch%20with%20my%20generation.%20A nd%20i%20know%20that%20i%20am%20out%20of%20touch%20with %20the%20younger%20generation.%20Not%20because%20i%20am %20ignorant%20but%20because%20thinks%20have%20changed%2 0so%20much%20over%20a%20short%20space%20of%20time%20tha t%20it%20takes%20time%20to%20adjust%20but%20if%20you%20 are%20younger%20and%20are%20with%20other%20people%20the %20same%20age%20then%20you%20get%20the%20chance%20to%20 exchange%20idea%27s%20with%20others%20an%20get%20their% 20opinion%20at%20your%20level.%20The%20young%20of%20tod ay%20are%20at%20the%20very%20top%20level%20of%20learnin g%20and%20understanding.%20Most%20people%20over%2040%20 find%20it%20hard%20to%20cope%20with%20most%20modern%20t echnology.%20But%20for%20most%20youngsters%20it%20comes %20naturally%20because%20you%20are%20brought%20up%20wit h%20it.%0AAnyway%20i%20have%20gave%20my%20ten%20pence%2 0worth%28as%20my%20mother%20used%20to%20say%29so%20i%20 will%20leave%20it%20at%20that.%0AExcept%20to%20say%20i% 20am%20a%20right%20moaning%20faced%20git%20sometimes.%2 0%20%20%0A%20

wtf?

You can read it if you ignorge the per cent signs and the digits.

sorry was responding to Firewater

it's a double post it's the same as the comment above it.

I know. I can read it.

I like the different usage of language here. And the creative spelling. Makes me feel free to mess up myself. I am middle-aged, I guess (how can you tell if you plan to live forever?), and I'm not a big fan of abbreviations or acronyms ala text messages in blogs. But, who cares what I think? TTFN

What does TTFN mean?

ta-ta for now. Stupid text abbreviation.

Thanks. But it was easy, I just asked and you told me and now I know.

I have never attacked any of the young on Thoughts.com.

Its no fun picking on the ones that are not skilled enough yet to enter battle. LoL!

Its just a joke, kind of.

Look at the words we have had in the past. It was enjoyable because you can debate.

Actually, I agree with you: in a debate one wants to argue with someone who has knowledge, experience and skill.

So true it's neither profitable or fun.

Sure, why not we couldn't screw it up any worse than other's have. After all if L. Ron could do it how hard can it be and I bet we could blow his religion out of the water, I know we could come up with better Lore... we could recruit Mel Gibson, Woody Allen & Seal for our patron celebrities. Is it obvious I'm kidding yet? I knew I should have stopped at the lore.

ooooo Heidi Klume could be our "Holy Mother", man it'd suck if I rot in Hell for having a sense of humor. Nah God has to have a sense of humor look at us.

BBC Radio 4 has a Prayer of the Day slot and this morning on the slot the same idea was expressed, only with more reverence.

WoW, it's not that I'm not respectful of the topic, it's just that I think that what our major religions lack with the exception of Buddhism is some self reflective humor.

...and I have a major crush on Heidi, if they ever perfect cloning I'm buying her hair brush on eBay.

Now Chaucer had a sense of humor when it came to human nature.

wow! a war! I did not noticed it, really. great post! thanks!

I've been reading the posts here on thoughts for a couple of weeks now, am totally unable to see any wars here, do people have virtual guns that kill without anyone noticing, is this a funny blog and have I missed the point or did this all just pass over my head

Thank you Steve for your email directed to someone else, I scanned through 20 pages of recent blogs to find that person. Sorry but i could not find anything to support your arguement and I still did not see any evidence of starting a war.

Other than is. Duuuh are we stupid? Or is this blog

If you disagree, you only have to say so.

I wrote a post a loooong time ago attacking a teacher for teaching 'text speak' in a highschool. I wondered then, as I do now, how our young (hello, the future of our planet) will ever learn to communicate properly when this is how we choose to mold them. If we're going to take the time to teach them, why not teach them proper skills? The English language is an amazing tool and once you learn it, I see nothing wrong with employing a Fudge Factor in creative (hence the name) writing. I'm with Hammy-guy up there - learn the rules before you break them. Otherwise, what's the point in being a rebel (if you don't know you are one)?

One more point before I wander off in search of rules to break: I've seen kids attacking each other for this very thing. They're much more ruthless than us old farts are!

Great post, Steve.

In all honesty I have not noticed a blog war that is built on intolerance of youth's spelling and grammar. The only thing that has come to my notice is the escalating snarkiness between bloggers; young, old, middle-aged and Jurassic period...

However, to the subject at hand--like, Boots, I also wrote a blog long ago about the usage of AOLSpeak and L33T in the realm of communication; whether it be in blogs, letters, IMs, texts, school writings etc. I wondered at whether the ability to form complete words, sentences, paragraphs and subsequently an entire readable block of text was a dying art, as I felt like at times I needed to break out a Kurzsignalheft code book to help decrypt what was there in front of me.

I don't pretend to be the epitome of perfection when it comes to grammar and punctuation nor do I consider myself a Grammar Nazi, but by heck there have been times when I have had to almost literally stand on my fingers to stop myself typing a comment rebuking someone for their butchering of correct grammar and punctuation...Thankfully my parent's influence took sway and that age old maxim of "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all", took root in my mind's uppermost thoughts. Seriously though, if I happen upon something written in AOLSpeak or L33T I pass on by...if I wish not to take the time to decipher then I have no right to leave a comment complaining about the way something was written. Simple.

The positive side of 'youth' using AOLSPeak or L33T is that they ARE communicating. Given the growing number of teenagers suffering severe depression and the incidence of teenage suicide, continual communication is a must.

Yes, I'm anal, I use full spelling and grammar in my IMs and texts. ;p

And for the record, I'm a teenager...18 year old. =)

Amen, although I use some L337 speak for the sheer joy of saving key strokes being a very poor typist.

WOW Love blossoms comment I could not have said it better myself and I am In complete agreement with her statement, what a bright young lady she is :).x.

Blossom is awesome and so is this post. Even though I have been known to rant from time to time (mostly for my own amusement or stress relief) I do not think it is my job to 'fix' everyone else on this site. There are so many good posts with lousy spelling or other errors, but I still manage to understand what they have to say. Why throw out the baby with the bath water. No one is perfect. We must remind ourselves to lighten up! Thanks for sharing.

Like Crimson_Read and vestigesofhermind I think Blossom's reply is awesome, she's an extremely bright you thing. I'm in complete agreement with what she had to say and don't think I could add anything substantial.

"I really do wonder why middle-aged people should feel this need to attack the younger generation. It does not speak well of the middle-aged."
----Some 'teens' act more civil then they do at times. I couldn't agree more with you.

Love the post,
*Miss nightmare*