Does anyone else hate 'text speak'?

Question

Dus any1 else h8 txt speek, etc, etc.
Is it just me, or is the use of abbreviations and stupid text speak causing a dumbing down of society? It must be contributing to poor spelling performance, and a serious drop in grammatical correctness (those that use it seem to find real problems with there, their, they're). It's also really tricky to read! I can nearly see the point when writing a text message as you may want to limit the number of letters to avoid paying for and extra message to be sent, but there is no need for it on the internet. lol is really annoying me, primarily because of over use. lol!!! Arrrgghhh!!!!

Answer 1

I have to agree, I too can understand the need to use it on a mobile phone when trying to limit the length of a message, but now you see it everyday in emails, faxes even business messages.

The worrying thing is that some better or worse examples seem to be making it into the dictionary whch gives out the signal that it is acceptable.

How will our kids make it into good jobs or careers if they think that this is acceptable. I recently saw examples of it on several cv's which my husband was checking and that is a scary future.

I find it annoying on answers where it really does not take to long to write an answer in full, altho I have to admit even I fall into using the famous 'LOL' when answering, purely because it seems to be a universal way to express amusement when answering questions that may not been asked by a UK user.

so ttfn,

(I think that is probably the first text speak because it has been around for as long as I can remember... I used to receive telex messages 30 years ago from a Russian Company and the lady always signed off with that.... what a strange world..)

Answer 2

Yes, I do. It makes sense to use contractions and abbreviations when you have a limited keyboard or are being charged per word, but there is no excuse otherwise! I am a lecturer at an FE college, and some of my younger students even hand in course work written in txt speak!

Answer 3

Yes its annoying.... I think its dumbing down our society and no wonder teens go around not speaking properly but then again they do it to annoy us!

Keep speaking and using proper English to keep the English language alive before it becomes a dead language like the dead sea!!

Answer 4

I just cannot abide it, my niece even talks in text speak at times, I wouldn't mind but she went to a really good grammar school too, such a shame her education seems to be wasted on text.

Answer 5

I so agree with you. We've been discussing this in several online groups - and the answer I hate from some people is that proper communication doesn't matter.

OK- if that's how they wish to see it. I hope they still enjoy saying "do you want fries with that" when they're in their 40s.

Leet speak/text speak/lazy buttedness - whatever you call it, I despise it.

Answer 6

I'm a dit dyslexic with numbers and it makes things so difficult for me to read, so I usually don't bother. Perhaps it's a 'yoof' thing, but I wonder about the future of our written language.

Answer 7

Since Yahoo is free, I usually see text speak as insulting. People can't bother to spend the time to type English (or probably they don't know how). I agree with you, I find it disgusting and even with my friends on IM I don't use it.

Answer 8

God, Yes!!

The teens in my family over use it. I don't think they know how to spell anymore. One of them spelt 'Father' as 'Farther' and another 'Actor' as 'Acter'. I can't even understand what they're trying to say at times.

Answer 9

Me too.