pointedears

When I am talking to language purists, I comprehend their comments based on the fact that they are purists. If you meant something and wrote something else, well ok. And umm..actually the topic of the thread says just that. Literacy and Grad students. What else does literacy mean here?

Exactly my point. If this argument is based on nothing except impressing people, say that outright. Don't imply that people on the other side are illiterate. But then, I don't come from a field where impressing people with anything except your work does any good, so this is difficult for me to understand. A job applicant in my field will not be turned down regardless of how torn his jeans are. As long as his smell is not making me throw up(which is basic courtesy, not professional courtesy), he has the job(if his work is any good).

Umm..ok!

Also, let me know when you find an instance of me using textspeak here or anywhere else on this forum. Or any of the other forums I am a part of.

I didn't call people on the other side either. I meant it is superficial and snobby to take this point of view without a reason. And I think most of you will agree with that. Assuming anything for no reason is snobby. Not saying you don't have reasons. Please see the difference. Honestly? if you are asking for help, I doubt you will not take it seriously because of a simple 'u'. The reply was meant for someone who was desperately seeking help. The only downside I see to let people use chatspeak on forums? You can't draw a line anywhere. How do you tell people to what extent chatspeak is ok? Like I said previously, everyone has different levels of familiarity when it comes to chatspeak. Heavy chatspeak will obviously not be understood by most of us. So it is a good idea to just restrict chatspeak. But then, don't tell me that anyone had a problem in understanding that sentence because of the 'u'. I agree that textspeak should NOT be allowed in forums. I do not however agree that it says anything about the person's 'literacy'. Come on, who are we kidding here? What is the topic called? Literacy and grad students! Will you really call any grad student 'illiterate' because they used chatspeak? Immature, fangirlish maybe, not illiterate for sure. I mean, look the word up before you answer this. The topic and this thread was started to insult people, not to discuss if chatspeak is ok. Personal opinion? Same as the first thing I said. Chatspeak is ok till I can understand what's being said. But then, various people have various degrees of familiarity with it, so it is just better to not allow it on a public forum. This whole thing is like atheists speaking against religion. Weird analogy, but hear me out. Religion in itself is not evil, the fanatics who do the evil things make it seem evil to associate with an organized religion. Textspeak is not any more immature than shorthand typing. Just because rabid fangirls use it like their first language and abuse it to hell, it doesn't make everyone who uses textspeak immature. I know that is the general opinion. However I am aware enough to not fall to stereotypes and look beyond things like that.

\ Oh, now I think I got it. Your argument is that something is right because it is the 'general feeling'? p.s. - Was Suzie doing this on an informal forum? I wonder why she wasn't mailing the professor directly. And if she was, she is dumb to use textspeak there. But then, that's not what we're discussing here.

Umm...you have mentioned nothing except the topic of this thread here. Why is it so is what we're discussing here. So basically your argument is, you are right because people on the other side are wrong? Do you see something missing here? Also, if your idea of feeling superior is by belittling others, I don't know who the disdainful one is here. What is your point anyways? Something that can stand on it's own.

"We got mixed up and shredded your documents by mistake. Send them again?" When I hadn't even sent the documents. I had sent in the application fee online but then later decided not to apply to the school.

Alright, probably I haven't been clear with this till now. But except the part about the snobbery associated with being a grad student, why shouldn't netspeak be used on an online forum when it is perfectly comprehensible and doesn't interfere with the main function and purpose behind the existence of this forum? Some people find it completely easy to know how they are supposed to talk in different situations. Just because someone used a 'u' here does not mean they'll be using it anywhere where their students might see it and feel dishonored. And if someone who knows them in a professional setup does chance upon this board and forms opinions about them irrespective of what they are like on the professional front in REAL LIFE, I say screw the snobs.

They should be penalized in some way for shit like that.

As long as it is not my butt, or she is not forcing me to wear it, I won't bother. Not my business what people choose to do with their lives. Not my business either to judge them based on their choices.

That there explains a lot. Personally, don't think it is an increase in one's status. It just means you want a more in-depth study of your chosen topic. The rest is just shiny jargon which I would rather ignore. Again, it comes down to different point of views. I choose to ignore anything and everything that is not related to the core topic. I know a lot of people will disagree, but being a grad student is not a life changing event. Yes, a career changing event which does change your life, but not a milestone which means you need to 'grow up.' Like I said, being a grad student doesn't make anyone elite. But then I come from a country where no one drops out of school/college and you need a undergrad degree for even minimum pay jobs. So obviously, grad students are not as obsolete as in the US. No you don't. Textspeak is used for ease of typing/writing. It has got nothing to with one's age. Again, not talking about the extreme cases here.

Congrats.

Boy, the humanities stream MUST be overcrowded with loads of competition! Guys, if I were you, I would go on a holiday before I join grad school. You know, just to cool down a bit. Anyways, since everyone is so eager on a debate. Here goes - I think it s a bit superficial to assume that someone who is using netspeak on (gasp, I know) the net is not serious enough about academics. One, using textspeak has got nothing to do with literacy. The basic use of chatspeak/textspeak is to shorten words to make typing/texting faster. And I don't think any online forum is as serious as a report or even an email to your mentor that you absolutely have to write with proper grammar and spelling rules. What is the point of this forum? Applicants communicating with each other. I can understand people getting weirded out at "i lYk 2 pLay GhUrl" but a simple 'u' is not that difficult to understand. As long as you get the meaning, how does it matter? Read it, wince if you don't like it, move on. See? Everyone's happy. The main point being, grad school doesn't suddenly make you SPESHUL. To say, grad school students are highly intelligent and should not behave like the rest of the civilization appears to me as being stuck up. Wake up, there is nothing special about you only because you are a (wannabe) grad student. Likewise, it should not dictate how you behave in day to day life(refer to stories of parents saying how their children have started talking different). Snobbery doesn't necessarily have to go with grad school. If the way someone writes(when their field is far removed from English and they are writing this on an unofficial platform) makes you form quick opinions about them, get real and lose the silicon. People are much more than this. An intellectual person is much more than this. In my field, no one would be judged based on what they wear and how they behave, all that matters is their work. Maybe in your field they will be. I just want to say, all the best. You're stepping into a fake world my friend. I hope you cope with it fine.

There's a difference I think. I would be ok with someone making fun of what I am wearing. I will not however be fine with someone calling me illiterate. I guess everyone has various degrees of self respect and what they will be ok with. Anyways, by that definition I would be a jerk. I am just happy that I will be a jerk who's content with life and nice to others.

I realize you weren't. I meant a general 'I' and a general 'you', there and all along this thread. Also, I think the problem is having different philosophies in life. Someone does this in real life, they get it back. I don't laugh at anyone's expense, and I prefer if nobody does so at mine. I really think it is about your inner self. Not trying to put anyone down here, but you are less tempted to get kicks from laughing AT others when you're a happy person and less bitter with life overall.

I really don't know what the fuss is about. Point one, if you are opposed to the idea of chatspeak, say so and move on. The thread is for discussing the same. It is not called 'attack the text speakers'. Point two, I am just saying that a point can be made without being rude. If you really think I need to man up because I need to accept the fact that people WILL throw insults at you for no reason at all, I disagree. I am ok with opinion, I am ok with open criticism, even name calling, but I hate passive aggressive behavior like nothing else. That's it. I guess everyone here realizes what they've been doing. If the mod here really thinks that they were not being rude without a reason, more power to them. Anyways, my apologies to anyone I might have offended(I know how passive aggressive this sounds, it's not meant to be). Peace.

I just got an email from FedEx saying a package (international priority) is on it's way from a college. I have not received any sort of communication about this admit(I'll be damned if they send rejections by priority mail) from the college. None at all. So yeah, don't lose hope yet.

I agree. It's about time anyways. Call them if you haven't done that already.

That sucks. Which school would that be?

These people get paid to be 'offending'. They earn a living out of it. Now this might just be a matter of opinion, but if there are two ways of reacting to something, I generally choose the civilized way. As long as something is not affecting me personally, I prefer being 'nice'. I am not proving anything by putting anyone down. And if I am getting bothered enough about something to not being able to put my POV forward without offending someone, I generally step away to get things back in perspective. No one expects anyone to be all sunshine and daisies all the time, but general courtesy is what people do expect. But like I said, just a matter of opinion. If you just don't see how it is wrong to attempt humor by laughing at somebody, I guess you won't see it ever.

As far as I know, the i-20 is ALWAYS sent by priority mail(mostly FedEx). It is because they need confirmation on receipt of the form.

Also, I respect that you refrained from being snarky in the last post there. This tone would have been better for a discussion from the very start. All said and done, you are a mod. If you say "Use pink text only", I will follow it. Because hey, this is YOUR space and ofcourse you have put in a lot of work into building it and making it what it is today. Say you don't like text speak, ban whoever uses it, and move on. However this passive aggressive theme going on is so not cool.

Nobody is talking about this discussion in particular. If you think it's ok to let people insult you to stay in gradschool, thats your point of view. I however believe in self respect no matter where I go. The point was to refute the 'professionalism' concept going on. No matter how adult one is, that language is not professional. So one should be a vegetarian because killing animals is bad. Or maybe one can kill animals only if they want to eat it, not otherwise. Actually, one can kill animals they want to eat only if they promise to serve it tastefully. And so on...See what I mean? Yes. But how hard is to understand that if more than one person is getting offended at your jokes, they are not exactly funny?

Not really. This forum is far from any formal setting where academics interact. A lot of things are spoken which wouldn't be elsewhere. If one can use the 'f' word here, I see no reason why a 'u' should be a problem. If people can bitch about professors and schools, I don't see why a simple chatspeak case should be considered unprofessional. You* can't have it both ways. Either this is a formal forum where 'highly educated people'(who incidentally use a language they won't even think about using in letters to their mentors) interact or this is a discussion board, take your pick. *general you ofcourse