Most annoying habit in written/internet writing

[MichaelH]

I'd love to hear what others find irritating in arguments.

My single biggest pet peeve is "think about it". It's usually from someone who has made an obscure connection between two different things in their own mind. This person then thinks that connection would be obvious if everyone else just paid attention.

ex: Chat partner: "Somebody's behind all the crack in ghettoes, and I know who."
Me: "uh...who?"
Chat partner: "Think about it."
Chat partner: "The mob?"

I really shuddered mentally after that one. They couldn't really back up their "the mob" statement either; it just seemed crystal clear to them.

Another example: "What's behind the rise in violent crime at the end of the 20th century? Think about it. Air pollution!"

People who use this phrase are saying several things, intentionally or not:
1. You (the reader) are an idiot for not seeing this before. If you just stop to think, you'd get it yourself. Duh!
2. Even though you're reading this, you obviously have no intention of thinking about it, so I'd better give you instructions to make sure you do so.
3. This is the only logical conclusion that can be drawn from the facts I have presented. (This is usually not the case.)

In short, using this phrase instantly insults your reader twice and asserts something that's not true. This is not going to persuade most readers.

So before using this phrase, please...think about it!

[Kfbr]

What drives me nuts are people who can't bother to type out the whole word. For example, 'ur' and 'u' are probably the two letters in the English language that piss me off the most when put in that order.


.. think about it 8-)

[OneBadMother]

Both online and offline I dislike the word "whatever". Dismissing my opinions that easily and without a reason is a good way to make me dislike you.

[The Rose]

I'd love to hear what others find irritating in arguments.

My single biggest pet peeve is "think about it". It's usually from someone who has made an obscure connection between two different things in their own mind. This person then thinks that connection would be obvious if everyone else just paid attention.

ex: Chat partner: "Somebody's behind all the crack in ghettoes, and I know who."
Me: "uh...who?"
Chat partner: "Think about it."
Chat partner: "The mob?"

I really shuddered mentally after that one. They couldn't really back up their "the mob" statement either; it just seemed crystal clear to them.

Another example: "What's behind the rise in violent crime at the end of the 20th century? Think about it. Air pollution!"

People who use this phrase are saying several things, intentionally or not:
1. You (the reader) are an idiot for not seeing this before. If you just stop to think, you'd get it yourself. Duh!
2. Even though you're reading this, you obviously have no intention of thinking about it, so I'd better give you instructions to make sure you do so.
3. This is the only logical conclusion that can be drawn from the facts I have presented. (This is usually not the case.)

In short, using this phrase instantly insults your reader twice and asserts something that's not true. This is not going to persuade most readers.

So before using this phrase, please...think about it!I feel your pain! :thumbsup:

I dislike slang.

[thegnat]

LOL! OMG! U R SO AMZZZNG!!!!!11111!!!!1111!!!! UR X is SOOOOO COOOL!!!!111 OMGZ!

ZOMG, LOLZ, Gr8, cul8r (too many words in one short word), R U going 2...????

In general abbreviations annoy me.

cya, brb, are OK. I candle the ones like that.

And broken caps locks annoy me too.

[aelan]

LOL! OMG! U R SO AMZZZNG!!!!!11111!!!!1111!!!! *UR X is SOOOOO COOOL!!!!111 OMGZ!

ZOMG, LOLZ, *Gr8, cul8r (too many words in one short word), R U going 2...????

In general abbreviations annoy me.

cya, brb, are OK. *I candle the ones like that.

And broken caps locks annoy me too.
I don't mind abbreviations like brb either, but every single word- I won't even read it; it just makes the person sound so unintelligent and tween. *And caps lock- I can't help but picture the all-caps person as some kind of ranting lunatic who isn't capable of not yelling, which is actually kind of a funny image, but still..it's annoying- if caps lock gets turned on, turn it off, and then type.

[qwerty]

Instant messaging is driving me nuts (not the one or two people I've msged from here but the people I know in real life).

I visit forums and use email and I do not expect instant replies as the idea is that people from around the world can log in at their leisure and make posts (I'm sure there are one or two messages I haven't replied to here).
However with instant messaging, it is supposed to be instant. The idea that you can modify your status and add personal messages enforces this concept. Yet time and time again I find myself messaging a person who shows up as being [online + available] and the message just sits there for 30-40 until the person comes back to their computer. Then you get the idiots who think that because they didn't reply instantly that they should just ignore the message completely because obviously I wasn't looking for a reply and my time isn't as valuable as there's. Newsflash if I didn't care about a reply then I would have emailed you or added a tag line [do not reply].

If you use instant messaging and you're walking away from the computer, then push the [away] button and if you can't even do that then why not use the handy set away when idle option. And if in the event that you do forget these little tips then don't throw the message away, at least reply or if you're busy say 'sorry, I'm busy'. And if in the event that I actually make you aware of this then seriously don't try to see if I'm kidding around.

So times I wonder what happens in peoples brains that makes them stupid like that. It's like a good friend of mine, I used to catch up with him for lunch each day, I'd call and organise a time. Then one day I stopped organising it because his schedule changed. A week later he asked me why I was angry at him. I shouldn't need to tell you that communication and organisation works 2 ways.

[cielo market]

LOL! OMG! U R SO AMZZZNG!!!!!11111!!!!1111!!!! *UR X is SOOOOO COOOL!!!!111 OMGZ!

ZOMG, LOLZ, *Gr8, cul8r (too many words in one short word), R U going 2...????

In general abbreviations annoy me.

cya, brb, are OK. *I candle the ones like that.

And broken caps locks annoy me too.
I don't mind abbreviations like brb either, but every single word- I won't even read it; it just makes the person sound so unintelligent and tween. *And caps lock- I can't help but picture the all-caps person as some kind of ranting lunatic who isn't capable of not yelling, which is actually kind of a funny image, but still..it's annoying- if caps lock gets turned on, turn it off, and then type.

What I don't get is tweens who randomly capitalize letters.
hEy! R u cOmiNg 2 the gAme?

[thegnat]

LOL! OMG! U R SO AMZZZNG!!!!!11111!!!!1111!!!! UR X is SOOOOO COOOL!!!!111 OMGZ!

ZOMG, LOLZ, Gr8, cul8r (too many words in one short word), R U going 2...????

In general abbreviations annoy me.

cya, brb, are OK. I candle the ones like that.

And broken caps locks annoy me too.
I don't mind abbreviations like brb either, but every single word- I won't even read it; it just makes the person sound so unintelligent and tween. And caps lock- I can't help but picture the all-caps person as some kind of ranting lunatic who isn't capable of not yelling, which is actually kind of a funny image, but still..it's annoying- if caps lock gets turned on, turn it off, and then type.

What I don't get is tweens who randomly capitalize letters.
hEy! R u cOmiNg 2 the gAme?


Yeah I don't get that either. That takes effort and time and thought.

[qwerty]

Instant messaging is driving me nuts (not the one or two people I've msged from here but the people I know in real life).

I visit forums and use email and I do not expect instant replies as the idea is that people from around the world can log in at their leisure and make posts (I'm sure there are one or two messages I haven't replied to here).
However with instant messaging, it is supposed to be instant. The idea that you can modify your status and add personal messages enforces this concept. Yet time and time again I find myself messaging a person who shows up as being [online + available] and the message just sits there for 30-40 until the person comes back to their computer. Then you get the idiots who think that because they didn't reply instantly that they should just ignore the message completely because obviously I wasn't looking for a reply and my time isn't as valuable as there's. Newsflash if I didn't care about a reply then I would have emailed you or added a tag line [do not reply].

If you use instant messaging and you're walking away from the computer, then push the [away] button and if you can't even do that then why not use the handy set away when idle option. And if in the event that you do forget these little tips then don't throw the message away, at least reply or if you're busy say 'sorry, I'm busy'. And if in the event that I actually make you aware of this then seriously don't try to see if I'm kidding around.

So times I wonder what happens in peoples brains that makes them stupid like that. It's like a good friend of mine, I used to catch up with him for lunch each day, I'd call and organise a time. Then one day I stopped organising it because his schedule changed. A week later he asked me why I was angry at him. I shouldn't need to tell you that communication and organisation works 2 ways.

lol I did this today :( I suck

[MichaelH]

Both online and offline I dislike the word "whatever". Dismissing my opinions that easily and without a reason is a good way to make me dislike you.

WHOA yeah. (Baby, baby, whoa...) I'd guess this is the quickest way to get ranked as "not worth my time" by an INTJ. You're not going to consider my ideas, you're just going to dismiss them out of hand...why am I talking to you, again?

[Jennywocky]

Both online and offline I dislike the word "whatever". Dismissing my opinions that easily and without a reason is a good way to make me dislike you.

I've used it... but only when I felt it was futile to argue with someone because THEY were the ones who were not open to conversation and/or supporting their views, and it's frustrating to deal with.

I think "u" and "ur" are acceptable in text messaging, but not in actual written communication (like posts and e-mail and papers and essays and the like).

[rwyatt365]

Both online and offline I dislike the word "whatever". Dismissing my opinions that easily and without a reason is a good way to make me dislike you.

I've used it... but only when I felt it was futile to argue with someone because THEY were the ones who were not open to conversation and/or supporting their views, and it's frustrating to deal with.

I think "u" and "ur" are acceptable in text messaging, but not in actual written communication (like posts and e-mail and papers and essays and the like).
I never use "whatever" while online, but (perversely) I use it quite often in person – so much so that I have a hat that says just that!

It's just that so many people say such asinine things that it was easier to keep that response "at the ready" in public. Of course, it has backfired because no one notices, or they just think it's funny.

Online my complaint is against all of the abbreviations. When a posting doesn't contain any recognizable English words, I just skip it. And that goes for IM or text messages.

Sorry, if you message me I insist that you SPEAK ENGLISH!

[logan235711]

i can't think of anything ATM that annoys me particularly in internet writing--i'm pretty easy going and open to people enjoying their speech flexibility. lol language evolves and this is exactly how it happens :p

[Wolfie]

I don't think that using abbreviations in text are such a bad thing as long as both of the people talking..err... typing understand what they mean, but when you are using a keyboard and it doesn't take as much time to spell the words it is much more... convenient to simply spell out the whole word. I use the word whatever when no matter what I say the other person won't consider my point. Honestly, if you don't want me to give you my opinion why did you ask me for it in the first place? Did you really just want me to confirm what you believed. Seriously people! If you want someone's opinion, really want it. Don't have the answer you want already in your mind.

[TruorTupnm]

Eh. I am not a large fan of all of the abbreviations, but I don't make a large deal about it. They are usually easy to translate. I treasure the few who I have had one of those creepy I. M. type conversations with who can still employ capitalization and punctuation, but I don't despise those who drop such things. "Whatever," is usually bleeped out of conversations by way of my, "Urk. Just pretend that they didn't say that. Wait! They still have a brain! Or, at the least, they could still be useful."

An annoyance for myself ---> "Notice! :) To whoever stole my microwaveable din-din out of the communal type fridge ---> I would appreciate it ;) if you would buy me a new one. Check it out! :idea: I entirely set you upwards with a sticker with my name on it for you to add to your replacement! Thanks! :thumbsup: " Ugh. Quite painful. Adding smiling faces turns my stomach, especially when they are used with a note like that. As a matter of course, they are the norm in places such as this, so I gots no large deal with them. But in actual writing with pens as well as pieces of paper? Argh, yo. This is the only guy I use, because it is oftimes useful towards pointing out sarcasm. ---> :rolleyes: This guy's fun, too. ---> ;D

[Solaris]

I can't tolerate websites that are trying to come across all impressive, but have glaring (to me anyway) typos or misused words. I just leave the site and make a mental note to not work there, nor give them my business. Grammar and spelling in general must be correct for me. I do expect a more relaxed style and more abbreviations on the internet, so that's fine, but still use the right word. Typing in alternating caps and lowercase makes my skin crawl, along with excessive punctuation.

[cielo market]

Can somebody please tell me what the heck the "Z" in ZOMG stands for?

*baffled*

[justmeiguess]

Can somebody please tell me what the heck the "Z" in ZOMG stands for?

*baffled*

According to Urban Dictionary:

"zOMG is a varient of the all-too-popular acronym "OMG", meaning "Oh My God".

The "z" was originally a mistake while attempting to hit the shift key with the left hand, and type "OMG"

Also used in all-caps, 'ZOMG' is generally used in a sarcastic manner, more often than not a humiliating fasion. It is also used as a device for stating the obvious. "

* * *

I'm not a big fan of text language on the Internet, either. On a phone it's fine as you don't have a keyboard but on the computer there really is no excuse.

Another thing that annoys me is when you're having a "debate" with someone on a messageboard and they say "You are entitled to your opinion." It's just so patronising and annoys me so much.

Also, when someone asks a perfectly valid question and they get a snide reply like: "Wikipedia is your friend." Some people, fair enough, ask stupid questions without doing basic research. However, sometimes it's just quicker to ask the question of the people you're 'talking' to.

[cielo market]

According to Urban Dictionary:

"zOMG is a varient of the all-too-popular acronym "OMG", meaning "Oh My God".

The "z" was originally a mistake while attempting to hit the shift key with the left hand, and type "OMG"

Also used in all-caps, 'ZOMG' is generally used in a sarcastic manner, more often than not a humiliating fasion. It is also used as a device for stating the obvious.

hahaha thanks justmeiguess :)
wasn't "pwn" an accident, too?

[deicruxified]

stuff that annoys me... basically the whole net attitude:

1. prolly - what the fuck does that mean?

2. people who type in sentences when they can just exceed the character limit and type whatever thoughts the next... i don't like people spamming the chat box

3. and to continue, spams like this one i got yesterday:

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.. . ad infinitum

4. r u ok? c ya 2m. cn u juz snd 8 2 me l8er. lol. ok

5. people who can't read the word, "busy" in your status message

6. people spamming your chatboxes with all possible smileys they can find in their messengers

7. people who often ask: "do you have a webcam?" and diss you when you don't. most people i encountered like them are those who are cheesing for web-cam sex. i call them desperate and haggard masturbators

8. people asking for asl. here's one, he's name on skype is SMART:

SMART: what's your asl?
me: what for?
SMART: i just want to know?
me: why?
SMART: i just to know more information about you?
me: when i don't at first?
SMART: ok i'm from Sri Lanka 21 M
me: ok
SMART: so what's yours? i give mine.
me: no i won't give you coz it's not appropriate
SMART: why?
me: who would be SMART enough to give their asl's over the net. it's not a safe place. ig you're what your nick says, it's not that hard to understand.
SMART: ok. you're mean.

[cielo market]

stuff that annoy me... basically the whole net attitude:

1. prolly - what the fuck does that mean?


prolly = probably
An attempt at shorthand. "prob." would read more as "problem" than "probably"
my theory. *shrugs*

[justmeiguess]

hahaha thanks justmeiguess :)
wasn't "pwn" an accident, too?

Yeah, it's a typo of "own". Honestly, the weird and wonderful world of Text/Internet abbreviations! I still keep reading "lol" as "lots of love", lol.

[apex.predator]

"Loose" when it's obvious lose is meant.

"It's" when its is meant, as in "the dog wagged it's tail."

I've learned to overlook these so that now I don't think twice, but they used to really irritate me.

[niffer]

I don't like it when people

a) Ask me out over the internet.
b) Speak in entirely chatspeak and broken sentences, and MISSPELL the few words that they *don't* put into chatspeak form.

My biggest peeve is when people combine the two. I am highly offended by the fact that they would even CONSIDER the possibility of me not flat out rejecting them when they do this. And it certainly doesn't help that I generally don't have a very high opinion of the people that are liable to do this in the first place.

[Gabrielle]

I hate complete sentences written in chat speak (hello, is there a Nazi trying to decipher our conversation? I don't think so), and TyPiNg lIke tHiS. This, to me, just screams "moron". Oh, and excessive exclamation marks like "OMG!!!!!!!!". Okay, we get your point. Two would suffice.

Another thing that annoys me: text decorations with @ replacing a, ~~~~'s, ****s. They literally make it look like some weird code.

[ShaiGar]

:( My entire damn town talks that way. This is what I wrote in to the newspaper:

I am appalled beyond my initial comprehension with the flagrant vulgarity of Darwin’s denizens and first citizens. The language abilities of the majority in this town are backward, seeming retarded at an adolescent level and stymied by a lack of any encouragement towards further development.

I work in the public transport industry and I am constantly accosted by literary desecration in the form of graffiti. Graffiti in itself does not bother me, rather the apparent inability [of most in this town] to communicate beyond a basic level is frustrating. When the graffiti is removed weekly, what matter that the person tags the buses with their name or gang sign and the statement that they “woz ere”? The graffiti would probably be left there if it was either entertaining or thought provoking. The acceptance of Text Message Spelling (AOLisms) in our schools will do nothing to improve the already meagre grasp of English that Territorians have.

Most conversations appear to take place using only the most degenerate and explicit of words in our language. Insults such as “F**k youse c**tstains” are often hurled without thought at passersby, when it is quite possible to use words of a superior [and less offensive] nature to inflict a more damaging response, such as; “You are the intellectually attenuated product of your mothers inebriated dalliance with a randy goat, it is little wonder that you cannot cogitate beyond a third grade level. “.

The Libraries are only open during normal working hours, so anyone with a full time job is unable to improve their mind. On Saturdays they are open only until noon, which is when most bibliophiles awaken. The blame for mental denigration is the fault of our current governments disregard for education.

Richard W.
Darwin


They removed many of the "harder words" and dumbed down a few sentences when they posted it. It still got so many damn "sms's to the editor" insulting it without correct spelling or grammar. Really depresses me.

[PhotoJim]

Oh, don't get me started...

1. I really hate it when people don't use the right contractions. "I don't know what your talking about!!" GAK!
2. Punctuation! Please use punctuation. I hate stuff like this: "I am going to the store after work you know im going to get some coke its really good oh yeah and then were gonna watch the football game do you think the riders will win i sure hope so." OK, I added some of #1 in there, too, but you get the idea. Punctuation is really not that difficult.
3. Capitalization. I don't mind horribly if people use all lowercase, but if they use capitalization incorrectly (e.g. "All employees must be careful to only use Paper Towel to clean up Spills!") or exclusively (e.g. "YOU SURE ARE AN IDIOT!"), I get annoyed. Occasionally uppercase is appropriately used to make a point, but it needs to be used sparingly.
4. People who use i.e. when they mean e.g. i.e. means, essentially, "in other words". e.g. means, essentially, "for example".
5. Imperfect resumes. I have this opinion (one that I believe to be quite justified) that a resume should be perfect. It should contain no errors - formatting, spelling, grammar, fonts... none at all. Everything should look good. Grammar should be in a consistent style (e.g. points should use the same structure). A resume is your first impression on a potential employer; why would you want him to think you couldn't bother to have a friend or relative help you make it perfect?

I may have some fussy opinions since I'm a very verbal person (and I know I'm a good writer and that I'm good at English)... I don't expect perfection in everyone (except in resumes :) )but it would sure be nice to get some reasonableness out of people. :)

(OK, I admit that the perfectionist in me did want to go up and change "resumes" to "resumés"...)

[RoqueBear]

I vomit and feel the urge to cry after reading someone's myspace sometimes..

[LSB]

Apart from the obvious ones, one that has been getting to me lately is 'soz'. For some reason, some people type 'soz' instead of 'sorry'. 'Soz for that' (or, more frequently, 'soz 4 dat', obviously). What's the deal with that? How do they come up with these? I mean, it's not faster to type and I can't see any connections to slang or shorthand at all in this example.

[justmeiguess]

Apart from the obvious ones, one that has been getting to me lately is 'soz'. For some reason, some people type 'soz' instead of 'sorry'. 'Soz for that' (or, more frequently, 'soz 4 dat', obviously). What's the deal with that? How do they come up with these? I mean, it's not faster to type and I can't see any connections to slang or shorthand at all in this example.

Soz is verbal slang, at least where I'm from...it's still quite annoying.

[Aoiluna]

i have a friend that texts "cum on over" instead of using 'come'. what is one letter? and i hate seeing that word out of context, it creeps me out. a lot. sounds kind of suggestive, even though I know its not supposed to be.

TypINg LiKe ThiS is probably the most annoying though.

oh and the misuse of your and you're

[LSB]

Soz is verbal slang, at least where I'm from...it's still quite annoying.

People actually SAY it? Out loud? I'm really glad I don't live where you live, I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to resist the urge to punch said people in the face after a while..

[Myrak]

People actually SAY it? Out loud? I'm really glad I don't live where you live, I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to resist the urge to punch said people in the face after a while..

Mmm... it's quite a common occurrence at my school. People have even taken to literally saying the acronyms 'LOL', 'ROFL' and 'LMAO', among others. It really is something of an epidemic.

[justmeiguess]

People actually SAY it? Out loud? I'm really glad I don't live where you live, I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to resist the urge to punch said people in the face after a while..

Yeah, I get that urge too. Especially considering it tends to be the really 'false' people who say it. For example, they nearly knock you over when they walk past, turn, say "soz" with a painfully insincere smile on their face (a smile that, incidentally, only I seem to find false and which everyone else seems to think is them being nice! :angry:).

Mmm... it's quite a common occurrence at my school. People have even taken to literally saying the acronyms 'LOL', 'ROFL' and 'LMAO', among others. It really is something of an epidemic.

How do you actually pronounce those? I mean "lo" I can understand (though I've only ever heard it said ironically) but the other two... :huh:

[athenian200]

1. Improper use of punctuation, and incorrect spelling.

2. People who type out the same signature at the end of every post/e-mail instead of simply attaching it via the feature that provides automatic signatures. It just seems pointless. I mean, you're not writing a letter, and the computer can insert it for you if you must have it there. Why bother?

3. Incorrect grammar.

[Puffi]

Here's mine:
"To" in stead of "too"!
"There" in stead of "their"
"Your" in stead of "you're"
"Definately" in stead of "definitely"

These appear in professional texts nowadays! What the beep??

And another thing:
"Lol" should only be used when you're actually laughing out loud!

[ScottH]

My #1 pet peeve in an argument is: "People who do not know, do not care to know; or cannot understand their fallacies."

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