Just how representative are we?

[Ray T]

I don't think we need a sticker to be recognised!

 

Going at your average speed blink and you've gone.

[Naughty Cal]

 

Going at your average speed blink and you've gone.

I think pretty much every time we have met a forum member we have been moored up having a beer!

[RLWP]

When I read Jenlyn's original comment my immediate reaction was absolute rubbish, the number of "active" members must

be into three figures surely.

 

Out of interest, by my reckoning 30 members have contributed to this thread so far.

 

I'm wondering is there a way the forum can be interrogated to reveal how many members post say daily, weekly, etc?

 

There may be something in here: http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=59683&hl=

 

Richard

[mayalld]

926 posts in 5 months makes you pretty regular Paul and there is no "inner circle" (although I haven't been here a decade so it may not have been revealed to me yet).

 

If you ask nicely, I'll propose you for membership of the inner circle.

 

I beg to differ.

Of course there are always exceptions, but that does not invalidate my broader assertion.

It seems self evident to me that folk who live on the cut 365 days a year are likely to have more knowledge and experience than those like myself who can only manage, say 20 - 30 days a year.

 

I would dispute that.

 

There are a significant number of people who live aboard on permanent moorings and seldom if ever go out. Do they have more knowledge and experience?

 

There are also a lot of boater who CC up and down very short lengths of canal. They may well be experts on that short length, but do they have any breadth of knowledge?

[MtB]

Which, as I'm typing makes me wonder about how we should view criticism of spelling, grammar and post style. Before you come back with the idea that I condone any criticism of these things, I don't, but I would appreciate comments to help me to hone my own views.

 

I struggle with this too. I used to point out 'howlers' regularly because I hate to see our language debased and mis-use uncommented on simply helps propagate the errors as readers assume it is correct. No-one seems to agree with me though, so mostly I've stopped. I couldn't resist pointing out the correct spelling of 'gunwales' on a post a couple of days ago though.

 

I appreciate language is a tool for communication which develops and changes, so it's a hard one to call but I find 'gunnels' a clumsy and graceless spelling, and a step too far. No doubt it will appear in the OED next edition!

 

MtB

[mayalld]

I feel many boaters don't use the internet and therefore aren't represented at all.

 

You miss the distinction between representative and ubiquitous.

 

If 1% of boaters use a forum, but the range of views that they hold is broadly similar to the whole, it is representative.

[David Schweizer]

 

I struggle with this too. I used to point out 'howlers' regularly because I hate to see our language debased and mis-use uncommented on simply helps propagate the errors as readers assume it is correct. No-one seems to agree with me though, so mostly I've stopped. I couldn't resist pointing out the correct spelling of 'gunwales' on a post a couple of days ago though.

 

I appreciate language is a tool for communication which develops and changes, so it's a hard one to call but I find 'gunnels' a clumsy and graceless spelling, and a step too far. No doubt it will appear in the OED next edition!

 

MtB

 

I agree with you Mike, and whilst I would be the first to admit sometimes typing a howler, poor spelling, and even worse, poor grammar really grates with me. One of the worst examples is the current trend of using me instead of I, that really irritates me.

 

 

Feel free to correct any errors that I might post in the future.

[Athy]

. Which, as I'm typing makes me wonder about how we should view criticism of spelling, grammar and post style. Before you come back with the idea that I condone any criticism of these things, I don't,

Y not? And u a teecher innit?

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

 

I agree with you Mike, and whilst I would be the first to admit sometimes typing a howler, poor spelling, and even worse, poor grammar really grates with me. One of the worst examples is the current trend of using me instead of I, that really irritates me.

 

 

Feel free to correct any errors that I might post in the future.

Me agree !, it grates on I to.

Edited March 5, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[Athy]

I hate to see our language debased and mis-use uncommented on simply helps propagate the errors as readers assume it is correct. No-one seems to agree with me though

MtB

I agree entirely. No one should spell no one as no-one.

[Wanted]

I am more than happy for people to tell me when I have made a spelling mistake or correct my grammar, as long as they realise that it won't make a blind bit of difference.

 

I have yet to find anyone who can teach dyslexia out of people and infact seldom have I met a teacher who even understands it.

[Athy]

I don't profess fully to understand it - but there are some fabulous specialist dyslexia teachers out there and I have seen the results which some of them have achieved.

 

I once taught a quite able dyslexic boy who would surprise me by regularly winning sort-out-the-anagrams games which we sometimes had at the end of lessons. When I asked him about this prowess he replied "Well Sir, they all look right to me in the first place".

No, I don't fully understand dyslexia.

[Catrin]

I struggle with this too. I used to point out 'howlers' regularly because I hate to see our language debased and mis-use uncommented on simply helps propagate the errors as readers assume it is correct. No-one seems to agree with me though, so mostly I've stopped. I couldn't resist pointing out the correct spelling of 'gunwales' on a post a couple of days ago though.

 

I appreciate language is a tool for communication which develops and changes, so it's a hard one to call but I find 'gunnels' a clumsy and graceless spelling, and a step too far. No doubt it will appear in the OED next edition!

 

MtB

I do find it difficult. As a teacher my job was to help students express themselves, and to get their ideas over - how to persuade others.

 

The forum is not a classroom, and I am very aware that 'corrections' of others' grammar, spelling and style have often left a lot to be desired. I note that many of those who think that these things should be corrected are among the older members of the forum. I would've also say that IMO some of the things that are being corrected are nitpicking. It also depends on what is being said, but if you want to get an idea over, and you are expecting others to give up their time to read what you have said, then you stand a much better chance if you make your posts clear and easy to read.

 

My point being (and now completely off topic), how are posters to know that they are not expressing themselves to their own advantage, if they are not told so, or have some other way of finding out? We are quick enough to correct misconceptions of knowledge.

(Trying to do this on a stupid tablet again)

 

I do think dyslexia is a special case, but I have known students who can learn tricks to help to make their writing easier for others to read.

[Starcoaster]

If I make a daft typo I am quite happy for people to take the mick, but I find correcting the spelling and grammar of another adult without invitation to be the absolute height of rudeness. Anyone who did it to me would likely get told so without any mincing of words, and placed on my ignore list.

 

However, there is on the other hand the issue of people deliberately typing in a certain style that the majority of us find hard to read such as, say, text-speak or baby talk. I think it is reasonable to point out that it is hard to read, and suggest that the poster posts in standard English, but accept that they're probably not going to change it if the effectation is part of their "forum image" or personal style.

[Paul's Nulife4-2]

Well as a relative 'Newcomer' I have to say,

I Love this Forum

 

 

Edit Snip

 

One of the only other observations I would say I've picked up on in my short time here is Most members Assume a lot about other members, & most posts always seam to decline into arguments about Spelling,Grammer or CCr , CMr. Ect rather than concentrateing on the thread it'self, but I think that's just human nature.

I'm sure that when I've been here a decade or so,I may assent into the 'inner circle' of poster's,even if I still talk crap.

My post 15

Edited March 5, 2014 by Paul's Nulife4-2

[Guest]

However, there is on the other hand the issue of people deliberately typing in a certain style that the majority of us find hard to read such as, say, text-speak or baby talk. I think it is reasonable to point out that it is hard to read, and suggest that the poster posts in standard English, but accept that they're probably not going to change it if the effectation is part of their "forum image" or personal style.

 

I agree 100% - in fact to me it would appear to be more difficult to deliberately construct a post in anything other than easy to understand standard 'readable' English, so much so that I do wonder why some go to the lengths of doing it, particularly when it's then also harder work for the recipient to understand it.

 

Not posting in a clearly understandable way because you don't have a good command of the language or because you suffer from dyslexia is a completely different issue.

 

(My most common gaff is missing a word out in a post - it's there when I 'proof read' it but some how it magically disappears when I press 'POST')

[Naughty Cal]

Who's in the inner circle anyway?

[Guest]

Who's in the inner circle anyway?

 

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you......

[Athy]

If I make a daft typo I am quite happy for people to take the mick, but I find correcting the spelling and grammar of another adult without invitation to be the absolute height of rudeness..

I would partially agree. This was mentioned in a different thread a few days ago. To me it depends on the person who makes the initial post. If it's somebody who obviously struggles to write coherent English, then I would not think that correcting them was appropriate. If, however, it was a regular here and was well known to be articulate and literate (and who in all probability would make such corrections himself to other people's posts) then I would think it fair game. But "game" it is: these are not vindictive attacks in the main, they are generally nothing more than banter.

 

As for writing in text language or baby language, well, Starry, no one would ever do that on here so the question would not arise.

 

 

Oh, hang on....

[Rod a mod from Tod]

If I make a daft typo I am quite happy for people to take the mick, but I find correcting the spelling and grammar of another adult without invitation to be the absolute height of rudeness. Anyone who did it to me would likely get told so without any mincing of words, and placed on my ignore list.

 

However, there is on the other hand the issue of people deliberately typing in a certain style that the majority of us find hard to read such as, say, text-speak or baby talk. I think it is reasonable to point out that it is hard to read, and suggest that the poster posts in standard English, but accept that they're probably not going to change it if the effectation is part of their "forum image" or personal style.

 

Got to agree with that. Some posters on this forum do it no favours with pulling others up on poor spelling and grammar. Some of us just were not that interested or capable in English at school and turned our attentions elsewhere. Bit snobby in my opinion.

[Athy]

(My most common gaff is missing a word out in a post - it's there when I 'proof read' it but some how it magically disappears when I press 'POST')

This happens me too.

[David Schweizer]

If I make a daft typo I am quite happy for people to take the mick, but I find correcting the spelling and grammar of another adult without invitation to be the absolute height of rudeness. Anyone who did it to me would likely get told so without any mincing of words, and placed on my ignore list.

 

However, there is on the other hand the issue of people deliberately typing in a certain style that the majority of us find hard to read such as, say, text-speak or baby talk. I think it is reasonable to point out that it is hard to read, and suggest that the poster posts in standard English, but accept that they're probably not going to change it if the effectation is part of their "forum image" or personal style.

 

First of all Starry, I have never noticed anything wrong with your spelling or grammar, not withstanding the odd rouge typing finger, so any criticism would be unwarranted,

 

With regard to your second point, there is one regular poster who insists upon writing is some odd Patwa (SP?) which makes his posts almost incoherent, to the point that I no longer read them. In his case it is not poor understanding of spelling or grammar, but writing in a format which he clearly believes makes him look cool. It doesn't!

[Athy]

not withstanding the odd rouge typing finger,

What a delightfully tactful phrase! Greeno for you Herr S.

[Dharl]

I don't profess fully to understand it - but there are some fabulous specialist dyslexia teachers out there and I have seen the results which some of them have achieved.

 

I once taught a quite able dyslexic boy who would surprise me by regularly winning sort-out-the-anagrams games which we sometimes had at the end of lessons. When I asked him about this prowess he replied "Well Sir, they all look right to me in the first place".

No, I don't fully understand dyslexia.

As someone who is Dyslexic themselves, not even someone who suffers from it understands it as it effects different people in different ways! For example I don't have a problem with reading or numbers but my spelling on the other hand is hard work! My wife is also Dyslexic and her spelling is first class however she has a reading and number blindness. Together we make a team!

 

In my case I often find that in my writing, especially now on a computer, I miss off lots of the little words such as I, it, me etc and normally only pick these up when I proof read. I don't do that enough! Most frustrating is when attempting to spell some words, I know they are incorrect however don't know how to correct them!

 

 

I was lucky to have a very good teacher when I was younger who taught me several tricks to make life a little bit easier.

[Athy]

With regard to your second point, there is one regular poster who insists upon writing is some odd Patwa (SP?) which makes his posts almost incoherent,

Patois perhaps? Are you sure it's s he?

Most frustrating is when attempting to spell some words, I know they are incorrect however don't know how to correct them!

Don't worry about it, Hardl.