do you, when out in public, openly correct a stranger's grammar or vocabulary which may be severely lacking? i wouldn't do that to a stranger because it is rude. if they got their point across and it was not offensive, i'd leave it be. obviously, if they were foul in getting their point across, i might find it necessary to speak up.
i've been reading FR for a while now and only recently found the time and courage to post. i've been familiar with your screen name and found you to be one of the more intelligent & reasonable posters that i'd come to admire. however, my feelings are beginning to change. i've plenty of manners, thank you, and i use them quite often. i've admitted when & why i do & don't use the shift key. you are not my english professor and neither is anyone else on FR. you have the option of NOT reading my ill-mannered typing style. that's your choice. i'd hate to think what kind of wrath would come my way if i were the queen of typos.
If you were the queen of typos, I wouldn't have commented at all. There is a big difference between being a poor typist and one who is capable but indifferent to good communication.
Look at your original statement
the fact that i don't use the shift key while i TYPE shouldn't make a difference, imho. when i WRITE, i do, of course, use capital letters. and my spoken english far outshines many i come across, even if i speak it with a strong n. texas twang. furthermore, i'm not writing a college thesis or anything that would require me to use proper typing etiquette.
You are stating that you can use proper punctuation if there is something in it for you (like a grade) or if not using it would negatively affect you. The logical inference is that you don't think potential readers are important enough to bother with punctuation, but this shouldn't make a difference to how those potential readers read and respond to your posts.
I'm merely pointing out that your desire that your deliberate lack of "style" not effect the substance of your posts is not reality based. Some will judge you, others will simply ignore you.
The reality is that refusal to use standard punctuation is bad manners and will be perceived as bad manners.
No one doubts you have manners, the question is, "Are they good ones?"
I couldn't resist the temptation, sorry. I really don't intend to aggravate you. I just find your desire to treat FR readers as unimportant or less important than an English professor (hypothetically or real) as barbaric and uncivilized, just another chink in the mortar of society.
If you regard good manners as only for what's important to you, then you don't really have good manners, do you? You only pretend to have them as a ploy to aid you in material success.
I truly just wanted to point out the contradiction of it as a feature of what's wrong with our culture today (a common topic on FR). You illustrate it admirably.
The purpose of language usage, including punctuation, grammar, capitalization, etc., etc. is to communicate.
If you expect people to communicate with you, you should expect complaints when you ignore the rules of English Grammar.
It really is not difficult to press the shift key.
I have not read your entire post because it is illegible, and I won't read it, either.
Grow up!