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I partly agree with this claim; it all depends on the reception you receive. Some people learn that they will be taken more seriously and earn respect if they express themselves well, but many people completely fail to pick up on this, either because no one bothers to tell them so, or because they receive positive feedback that is not deserved.

My sister is a high school teacher at a very prestegious and exclusive New England "academy," and told me that her students very often turn in essays for class composed entirely in IM-lingo!

Also, the more time I spend here and, to some extent, on IMDB, the more impressed I am with younger posters...I lot of times I am absolutely shocked when people reveal that they are in high school or junior high, because they express themselves in such a way that I had assumed they were at least in college. It's kind of an awful judgement to make, and I won't deny being guilty of it on more than one occasion.

Would it really be a terrible thing if a few less people fancied themselves poets, artists, etc....(was that a horrid thing to say? inside thought!)

I voted Computers, but I more blame Cell Phones. The texting came about and then the txt spk came with it. Cause they needed to speak faster and shorter when using a phone. Now while i blame Cell Phones for it in a certain way, I do see the use for it on that platform. Outside of it, like here, I don't see a point to it. Here if you use good grammar you are helping yourself type better and that can be used really well in many a job situation. Where txt'ng doesnt help anyone that is not on their Cell Phone.

My father always tells me, "Anybody can be intelligent, literate, and witty as long as they TRY."

If you study as much as you need to, if you work hard, if you pay attention during class, if you read and write constantly in a grammatically correct manner, then you are playing your part in modern-day America. Therefore, I believe literacy can be gained for a) determination to be successful b) the given desire to write/read profusely. If every kid in America at least TRIED to raise their literacy level a few units of percentage, I'm sure my tolerance for "txt talk" would decrease dramatically, and my desire to chat with others online would increase dramatically. *worships this guild*

Well...I'm 11, but I see people twice my age lost in illiteracy! It drives me crazy, the fact that the people in my generation are using 'txt tlk' and failing to write out even the simplest of words. Honestly, I don't even think that text messages on phones are all that hot. They're expensive, and it's just plain easier to, you know, TALK!

I guess I'm in the minority in that I prefer text messaging to talking on my phone. I hardly ever talk on my cell phone. I use it much more for text messaging or IMing on the go from AIM on my phone. I do however, type out my words, though it takes longer on the keypad.

What I'd like would be to have keyboards available that could be hooked up via the phone's data port.

Even though no one is currently here, I'm going to post this anyway.


Age does a lot of damage to a person. I'm only 14 years old and people will think I'm 28 years old, but as soon as they find out how old I really am, I am called ignorant, arrogant, or waaayyy too smart. The third is extremely rare. Though you do see many teens using netspeak, I've seen worse. I talk to my friend's father online occasionally. Yes, his father; don't laugh, he's a good person. It is a terrible sight to watch him write "I dnt noe wht ur tlkn bout." Vowels were made for a reason, the least you could do is use them. So when someone tells you that you're a liar and are too young to know absolutely anything because of your age, blow them off. They don't deserve to know you.

I am 14 myself. And yes, it is quite disturbing to see an adult type with the lack of vowels.