Is it just me or is it highly annoying to other people as well? I mean why not take the time and type properly? I always find myself reading posts in "text speak" ten times before I understand them. Or am I simply too old ;)?

> Or am I simply too old ;-)?

I think you are just too old ;)  TBH I don't notice most of the time that people are writing in text speak as I suppose I must process it in whatever way my mind makes sense of it and it becomes as fluent as the Queen's own.  It is unfamiliar abbreviations and abbreviated dog names that get me as I spend ages trying to work out what the poster is saying from the context of the rest of their post (or their avatar). 

Have to admit that I hate it, and find it just plain lazy.  And I know that you aren't old Otterhound!

I am far less likely to finish reading someones post when they text speak.

I think I get myself off to the vet for a quick PTS ;).

> Have to admit that I hate it, and find it just plain lazy.  And I know that you aren't old Otterhound!
>
> I am far less likely to finish reading someones post when they text speak.

I am glad I am not alone !!

You are far from alone.  My daughter says it must take me ages when I text, all messages are long hand with all the correct punctuation.  :-)  I think I've gotten quite quick at it now.  Can't quite get to grips with the "m80" thing.

I'm not a big fan of it either but I think if I were of the 'texting teen generation' I might not care so much.

Sometimes you can see how typing in text speak is genuinely shorter or easier (L8 = late) but most of the time it doesn't look as if it's worth it.  Quite a few words look like spelling errors and coupled with no punctuation or sentence structure it's often difficult to interpret meaning.

My kids will text speak with their friends but I ask them not to do it to me as there's a danger for misunderstanding.  One day I may go to collect them from completely the wrong place...

It'll be interesting to see how language develops over the next few years.  The speed of change has accelerated to a point that in only a few years time kids will need interpreters to read Jane Austen in the way that I needed one for Shakespeare.  :)

> Can't quite get to grips with the "m80" thing

OK, I get m8 (mate) what's the 0 bit?  Billy no mates?

This list of jargon and acronyms helps a bit but if I had to keep coming here to check things - I'd never text at all!!

> all messages are long hand with all the correct punctuation.

Mine too!  I cannot sanction wilful misspelling...

M 80 - "Matey" ..... I guess ?

I abhor text speak!   I know that English is a live language and as such is always evolving - but to me, text speak is just plain lazy and slovenly!

And there speaks the grumpy old woman :o)

Using a tiny keypad on a mobile phone may justify textspeak but not when a full sized keyboard is available.

Unfortunately when used here it just says 'something' about that person.

I hate it, hate it, hate!!! I too think it is lazy and really don't understand why folk can't just text in plain English. I can't understand text speak, it takes too long to work it out whether typing or reading. I have an iphone now so have the full keyboard to use when typing messages.

Using a tiny keypad on a mobile phone may justify textspeak but not when a full sized keyboard is available.

Unfortunately when used here it just says 'something' about that person.

Ditto Tooolz , I find myself being tougher though, I think there is no need for it at all. Predict a text is super fast once you get the hang of it.

If my daughter sends me any text with text speak in it whatsoever I reply and say sorry send in English and I will answer :-D . I am keeping a close eye on my daughter with it, I see it creeping into the online messenger also and I don't like it one bit :-D :-D  

Hey mate....how are you?

Been a bit quiet recently, haven't you?

I am fine Tooolz just a busy bee , hope you and yours are well also... PS.. What are you trying to say about me ;-)  I am not a chatterbox :-D

I agree with Tooolz too.  When someone 'speaks' like that on here, I always think that they're lazy and chavvy and have to try hard to get past that when thinking about what they're saying.

I always find myself reading posts in "text speak" ten times before I understand them. Or am I simply too old

I must admit we don't get much text talk on the forum but I too have to do double takes and double thinks to sometimes work things out, it slows down a post for me instead of speeding up the reading, it can be annoying, text talk should IMO just be on texts. 

I've learnt to do the odd text talk on my mobile, but still do a lot of longhand or English as it used to be known. :-D

I'm quite happy to recieve text and read it..........but cant bring myself to use it, just seems so wrong for a 50 something to use it!
I dont know how my offspring would react if I did and will, therefore, ask them.
The pre emptive text is tricky enough for me.

Karen

> The pre emptive text is tricky enough for me.
>

Oh I am totally lost with the pre emptive text can never finish a word never mind a sentence. :-) 

Though I don't use it I suppose it's the new "pitman shorthand" .

as well as txt spk i also hate no capitals no punctuation & the whole point of the reply is lost as u r trying 2 fathom out wots been said!

I've got no issue with receiving text messages in text speak but online I find it rather irritating and sloppy. If you want people to take the time it to read your post then please take the time to type it properly.

OMG I no wat u mean :-)

I agree I think it is very lazy and seems to be the norm nowadays on Facebook.  I would expect younger people to probably use it as this is what they have grown up with but when people in their mid 30s to mid 40s... start to say "wiv" instead of with is disgraceful.

Something like Facebook has a limit on post length so I can understand that sort of Text/abbreviation being used, but not on other forums.

No excuse for laziness :-)  It is breeding a nation of people who cannot write English.

Facebook can do huge paragraphs - it's Twitter (so I understand) that limits the number of characters.

I get confused on Facebook, I put something up in one of their boxes (about getting Inka hip scored and hoping the panel agree with the vet) and it told me it was too long, don't bother with ti much as can't see most of it because of my disability backgrounds. 

If find I run the cursor over what looks like a blank spot and there is a clicky button, silly thing.

> all messages are long hand with all the correct punctuation :-)

I do the same ! 

I don't use text speak even when texting either. It takes me way too long to read it when people send it to me. I'm a predictive text sort of gal too. I think the only text language i use is "lol" (which i have just noticed i use far too frequently ) and sometimes i abbreviate "though" to "tho"

I don't like text speak either. I refuse to use it when sending texts, which is a rare occurance anyway, as I find it quicker just to 'phone a person being that I'm so slow at texting.

I do wonder if the text speak that appears here, on the forum (and on other sites, such as facebook), is from people using thier mobile 'phones to get online?

Thinking about it, I learned to touch type so 50+ years ago, and although I'm not typing every day, my typing speed is still around 65 wpm (did a test the other week!).   I passed RSA advanced typing (60wpm) at the age of 17on an old Imperial 66 manual typewriter!

It is just as quick for me to type things out correctly than to try to use abbrieviations!  I think that is why I don't text very much - find it hard to use the silly ickle buttons!

My son complains about the keyboard I'm using just now ...... I've worn most of the lettering away - but hey I know which key is which!

The keys that are worn away are wert, uiop, asdf, l,c, nm....:)

I 've seemed to developed my own version of txt speak partly from reading my kids txt and partly due to my dyslexic fingers ! Funny but when txting my friends I tend to use full words but not with my kids. Does that only make me partly old ? Lokis mum I wish I could type like you it is my great regrte that I never learned It would be so useful. My posts might be more under standable then.
I do find that when looking at students work it is often peppered with txt speak  and some really do not get that it is not acceptable in a gcse essay at least not yet lol

nope--I AM too old (53) and also too impatient perhaps with this, but several of my young colleagues at work do this all the time in work email/texts and it comes across as (to me, anyway) unprofessional. I try to be as relaxed as a I can about it and am also not above making up acronyms which really winds my children up. 53 with a childish sense of humour!

Hi Lokis mum, I have invisible keys too...largely thanks to a typing action that can be compared to that of a psychologically disturbed woodpecker. I was wondering where I can get a replacement Vaio keyboard so I can do exactly the same in another six months. 

cant stand it on posts on this website ..to be honest I begin to read the posts but dont finish them because I get so wound up ...awful I know but I begin to get a picture in my head of the poster  which isnt always favourable which is awful of me I do know.... but then I am a bit of a misery and dont text I am of the age where i would rather speak to the person!!!!

I can't stand text speak either and I'm fairly young at 21. I admit I do use some abbreviations when texing/chatting, such as LOL (can't get out of the habit of that one) but I would never use 2 for to, u for you, no for know, wot for what etc. Even when texting I tend to write in full sentances with full words, even if it means I spill over into 2 messages.
And so many people seem to mix up their/there/they're that it's affecting me and I find myself typing the wrong one now and again!

I can understand most text speak but often it takes a few reads before I get it! I have to get used to it as last year I went back to college with mostly 16-18 year olds. When I see a college mate writing properly in texts/on Facebook it makes me happy :)

oh dear starryeyes I know my typing isn't brilliant and I get some interesting words when I re read mine  not intended but I have same problem as you when I read posts with txt speak all over them.
I do find working with 11-16 and having two that is two not 2 teenagers I fall into allsorts of bad habits when I txt  and come to that occasionally when I talk !