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WRITING IN ALL CAPS EQUALS YELLING
Nirvana
aka BUBBA ` ` South Carolina, USA Veteran
Just tonight I deleted a post I made that had already been quoted (Not like you couldn't make all that up, though.)
The reason I did so really was due to a response using a line with ALL CAPS.
Don't people realize that when they do that it is perceived as hollering or as being irrational or angry or intolerant or dramatic?
Don't they realize that this can and usually does give offense, if it is any kind of response to anything anyone else said or wrote?
I'm sure most of you already know this, but unfortunately it's not clear that you care.
You know what that means?
You're not Bodhisattvas! (Notice that I was kind enough not to put this in ALL CAPS.)
The reason I did so really was due to a response using a line with ALL CAPS.
Don't people realize that when they do that it is perceived as hollering or as being irrational or angry or intolerant or dramatic?
Don't they realize that this can and usually does give offense, if it is any kind of response to anything anyone else said or wrote?
I'm sure most of you already know this, but unfortunately it's not clear that you care.
You know what that means?
You're not Bodhisattvas! (Notice that I was kind enough not to put this in ALL CAPS.)
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Comments
GRR WHY AM I ALWAYS SO ANGRY?
Why choose to give offense to anyone, unless you're an antiBodhisattva?
The website of many colleges and junior colleges make the very statement I made above, namely that writing in ALL CAPS is perceived as shouting or yelling and posts should not be made employing them.
The point is, why turn off your audience or even take the risk of being completely misunderstood?
I hope that the traditional pattern of posts made in good faith will continue here. I know others have found fault with me before for objecting to needless chatter about others, but I hope the unfriendliness I seem to note on this site is more a figment of my imagination than a reflection of the intentions of others.
If not, I think there's a way I can find just not to visit here anymore. NewBuddhist used to be a smaller, more intimate space and is now turning into something more resembling a rather busy train station. I guess with all its traffic, some bumps are to be expected, but they need not be rude bumps.
CAPS is an irregular way to look at something and takes up loads of space. The letters are irregular shapes; it's offensive in the same way as wearing jam jars over your eyes is (makes reading more annoying for some unknown reason).
Besides I can think of other things like overquoting. OP makes a long post, seconds later the whole thing is quoted with 'i agree' stapled to the bottom. I've already read the first post and now have to use my mouse wheel wasted ten seconds of my life to scroll past to the punchline: LOL
It's not a perfect world, and so far everyone has done really well to NOT use caps.
I'm not referring to mere inconveniences or niceties here.
I am talking about unfortunate events, sorry communications, and propensities for misunderstanding, confusion, and perhaps even some grief, no matter how little it might be.
Further clarification:
I'm referring to form here: in this case bad art. Yes, just bad art.
It is simply not artful expression to be sabotaging your message simply by employing unskillful means.
As for your thin-skinned (or soft) remark, I don't think so. In my field you have to have pretty tough skin to survive.
Speaking of thin skin, though, I see a lot of people here manifesting knee-jerk reactions over mild trifles. Rather than waiting and reflecting, they jump right in with ad-hominem attacks and such —sometimes quite bitter and scolding, even making up lists of faults that their "opponent" must surely have. Now, where does that come from, but hurt feelings or feeling insulted. In most cases, I'll bet you'll find no offense was even contemplated, let alone intended.
I'd even write that in ALL CAPS if someone disparaged it.
OTHER TIMES IT IS USEFUL FOR ADMINS TO TROLL MEMBERS WHO ARE SENSITIVE ABOUT IT.
Caps on.
I think Caps Lock was once described as cruise control for lazy people.
HA! SORRY FOR OPINING!
Seriously, I do heartily appreciate all the good humor here!
And of course I KNOW that ALL YOU BODHISATTVAS OUT THERE recognize that I was referring to the need for people to bear in mind that LINES IN ALL CAPS given in response to another post should not be stereotype-making, in much the same way that portraying cartoons or other images to lampoon another are not skillful ways of true communication.
I know that silly notions making light of another's sentiments expressed in a previous post will GENERALLY NOT BE EXPRESSED IN ALL CAPS!
All this said in order that channels of communication between people using this board will not be narrowed by misunderstanding. Keeping the channels of communication open is perhaps the best chance we have for peace on this blue-green earth.