kthxbye

[Agent-X]

I'm sorry, but I'm starting to laugh at some of the posts people make on this forum now. I know various forums where people act like fools / complete jerks who curse like sailors but get work done; I go to those whenever I don't feel like being academic. However, this forum always appeared to be somewhat serious.

Lately, I've been seeing people who've just signed up, posting for the first time, and using plzzzzz thanx, and the like.
I sometimes think, "I know the answer, but why should I help you? Are you even serious?"

As of late, I've determined the reason some people might type in all lower-case or caps-lock may be due to some kind of VNC issue, as I've noticed VNC issues can have this effect.

Are these people serious?
What is up with these kind of people?

[techieMoe]

I haven't noticed any rash of people speaking like this. We do get them from time to time, but they're generally few and far between.

[ryokimball]

Sorry if I discourage anyone, but I for one am virtually incapable of being serious. I'm not deathly allergic to being serious, like I am to studying and falling off very tall buildings, but I have been known to break out in hives and delusional lapses accompanied by a fever.

I try to contribute, but I'm little if at all better than a complete novice. I'm learning, though. As for these people that show up just to ask questions (I'm assuming this is what you are complaining about), I don't really see a problem with it. I'd much rather ask someone a question than have to pay for a book and read the entire thing to figure one or two problems out. Even if I normally would like to read such a book, it's like a switch is thrown when I'm "supposed" to read it, making it more like a chore and inherently seeming a less desirable thing to do. I don't encourage people to just hop in and ask a silly question that could be answered with a handful of keystrokes and Google, or even the search bar to this website, but sometimes the answers, however abundant, might still be allusive due to bad luck or a missing keyword (like "swcursor"). On the rare case I can answer a question, however mundane or low-level (or non-English) it might be, I'll still try to answer it.
Most likely, at least.

[Cabhan]

As techieMoe says, I haven't seen a huge number of such people.

I don't necessarily consider this forum "serious" as much as I do helpful. I mean, we're not exactly 4chan, but there is definitely a community here, and jokes have been told and amusing things laughed at.

As for the people you mention, assuming that their typing doesn't obscure the meaning of the question (and assuming it's not a question meant to piss people off), why would you not answer it? I personally don't like typing 1337speak, but I can read what other people type, and the reason I'm here is to teach and learn. It can be annoying, but once you're not answering questions because the spelling and grammar is bad, it's a slippery slope to not answering questions from non-native English speakers (the difference can be hard to tell), and then you're definitely doing harm.

I see the annoyance in people who can't be bothered to type properly, but I don't see it as a huge problem.

[fingal]

You'll always get a few people who use daft words, can't spell etc. They don't stay around on this Forum.

I've been a member for a few years now and I can tell who will stick it out. I don't mind typos so much; just as long as people make themselves understood... As Cabhan suggests, you don't want to exclude people who aren't native English speakers.

As for being serious; it has its place.

[devils casper]

English is not my native language and I make a lot of mistakes. The only thing that matters to me is, are my suggestions helping others? Are members understanding what I am trying to suggest?

I always try my best to write grammatically correct english but even then, I miss a lot of things now n then.

[Ogion]

I too agree, spelling and language is not the factor, upon which one should depend to answer or not to.
I think my English is understandable (as i am no native speaker myself, i come from Germany), and i try as well to write it correct and much more like to see clear and reasonable language.
But i think, the aspect on which to decide wether or not to help, should be, if the person seems to be cooperative and willing to learn (at least a bit).What i dond't like are the people who just post some panic-post, without any hint on whats wrong, and doesn't react, when shown to some solution, or when it is necessary, that they serve with some information (like fdisk -l output...). And when they get rude, when noone answers to them in a few minutes.

Ogion

[fingal]

I too agree, spelling and language is not the factor, upon which one should depend to answer or not to.

I agree Ogion. I answer Forum posts based on the same criteria as you.

[bigtomrodney]

I agree Ogion. I answer Forum posts based on the same criteria as you.

I largely agree, but experience has shown me time and time again that if someone can't be bothered writing full sentences, using punctuation or describing their problem beyond 'it's broke' then chances are they won't follow the advice you give either. Often times not even coming back for the reply...

But with that said that type of post is common for new users but any that last past the first few posts generally get out of that habit.

[fingal]

I largely agree, but experience has shown me time and time again that if someone can't be bothered writing full sentences, using punctuation or describing their problem beyond 'it's broke' then chances are they won't follow the advice you give either. Often times not even coming back for the reply...

That's 'cos you're pragmatic Tom. Me? Less so.