Proffesionalisim on captalk

[Major Carrales]

Those of you correcting in PM should be commended... :clap:

...however those making it their duty to make "slips of the keys" and "genuine ignorance of grammar" (likely due to not having completed the 7th grade) out to be FEDERAL PUBLIC CASES and shattering someone over the virtual rocks because, likely, they themselves want to somehow look "authoritarian" or "arrogant" or "egotistical" or the like...you are a pitiful creature in need of some other diversion.

Take this thread for example...the question was about professionalism, instead of providing the types of feedback related to the content of posts and how we interact on the forum...instead we got several post focusing on sarcasm related to poor spelling.  And more than one to boot.  An ironic twist just as unprofessional as the misspellings.

Scolding people on-line in such a forum as this to keep them civil, or coming to the defense of a Cadet who is being dog-piled by those that should know better is ingrained in a certain nobility. 

That having been said, we all don't need to see an e-public scolding of someone's grammar or spelling.  So it was misspelled...we all saw it. One can make the decision to tell/instruct them in the sheltered privacy of PM, where one can teach to the audience that needs to hear the lesson. 

By the way, I suspect I will not be seeing any of the usual internet shorthand from the incredulous guardians of COMMUNICATION in the forum.  No more "BTW," "WIWAC" and "LOL."  After all, if we are going to profess to be schmucks to some for poor grammar, we might as WELL be HITTING EVERYONE!!!

[lordmonar]

Take this thread for example...the question was about professionalism, instead of providing the types of feedback related to the content of posts and how we interact on the forum...instead we got several post focusing on sarcasm related to poor spelling.  And more than one to boot.  An ironic twist just as unprofessional as the misspellings.

Sorry no....the orginal post may have been posed as a question about professionalism, it was really a rant about betting yelled at my older members of the forum.

The op is a low time poster, low time cadet and his first 10-20 posts were just awful.

Reviving old posts, creating new threads on old subjects, asking quations that a quick regs search would have answered, asking quesitons that should have been asked of the cadet's chain of command.  All of these posts were filled with mis-spelling and almost no punctionation.

When he was brought to task on this...he did not improved his behavior.

Said poster has been warned, has been shown the right way of doing it and now has started a thread that basically say "you guys are all mean!"

Why are we giving him any air time at all?

[Major Carrales]

Why are we giving him any air time at all?

Harris, I suspect (just realized) that he, or some other force, basically did a "rope a dope" and many of you (and I) fell for it. 

My true feelings on the "dog-piling" of cadets or newbies to the forum are well known and documented.  Those old "funny uniform" threads were what did it for me.  Since then I have seen all manner of unprofessional and downright unbecoming talk about fellow officers and cadets.  I would like to see the "public floggings" stopped. If one has something to teach it can best be done in PM with out any of the theatrics visible in posts such as these.

By the way, to illustrate the insipid nature of what I am talking about, BEHOLD...

When he was brought to task on this...he did not improved his behavior.

Tisk, tisk, tisk!!!

[flyerthom]

Of course our profesionlsm woud be hlpt if the spill chker progmam wrkt on this system.....

I use the one from Google tool bar when I'm using Internet explorer (with the caveat that it likes to click off way to rapidly). At home I use Firefox which does it automatically.

[SDF_Specialist]

In my post to him, I wanted to reassure him that no one wanted to discourage him from posting, or joining in on any CAPTalk topic, but to use discretion when he posts. That being said, I've seen countless times on countless forums younger folks get a new one chewed due to their spelling/grammar. Yes, both are important in a situation such as this where the only communication that takes place is typed out. At the same time though, I'm a firm believer that there is a way to approach the subject, and a place to approach the subject. The cadet posted this thread in the open because that's where he's being called on a lot of the time. We can't all blame ourselves for calling him out on his grammar. It was brought to his attention that he needs to work on his grammar, and proof read what he has written before clicking post. The blame can go 50/50. Us for calling him out in a way that could be perceived as humiliating, and him for taking no steps to stop giving people reasons for calling him out.

[SarDragon]

I, for one, have sent several PMs to the OP, with responses to more than half. I usually handle my writing skills commentary in that manner until such time as it becomes obvious that my advice is being ignored, or public commentary is made by someone else. Then it's open season.

[Gunner C]

Tips on Professionalism:

1.  Use the spell checker.  A storm is probably coming your way if you misspell the subject.

2.  Use complete sentences - Subject, Verb, Predicate.

3.  Don't pluralize using " 's ".  Just drop the apostrophe, add "s" or "es" as appropriate.  YMMV with Latin derivatives.

4.  Know your audience.

5.  Know your subject.

6.  Don't dog pile on cadets.  They're learning by definition.  Kindly, gently help them along - be a mentor.  Yes, they're sometimes frustrating, but they grow into the people who teach them.  What that is may be your achievement or fault.

7.  Don't use a forward slash in your signature block (for example) Lt Col,/CAP.  How weird is that?  You won't find that anywhere in a CAP book - there may be a branch that uses that, but we don't.

8. Relax.  (That's the hardest thing for me.)

[Mustang]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.   

[IceNine]

Cadets going to Cadetstuff for answers that are likely cadet related. 

What makes you believe that's a good idea?

[Майор Хаткевич]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.

Great idea! That way the CS SuperChiefs can tell the cadets how to be good cadets!

[SarDragon]

Isn't that what we're here for? 

[Eclipse]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.

YES!  By all means lets encourage our cadets to continue poor spelling and grammar in hiding instead of fixing the problem.

No point in learning to fish...

[Eclipse]

By the way, I suspect I will not be seeing any of the usual internet shorthand from the incredulous guardians of COMMUNICATION in the forum.  No more "BTW," "WIWAC" and "LOL."  After all, if we are going to profess to be schmucks to some for poor grammar, we might as WELL be HITTING EVERYONE!!!

There's a bit of a difference between using recognized acronyms, and simply ignoring the rules of grammar and spelling, or using 3l33t3 speak or text-speak because you can't be bothered to type a whole word.

Without acronyms most of the Federal Government would shut down.

[notaNCO forever]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.

YES!  By all means lets encourage our cadets to continue poor spelling and grammar in hiding instead of fixing the problem.

No point in learning to fish...

I'z think me spelling and grammer is the bestest.

Honestly, what is wrong with being corrected on grammar and spelling? When I started out on Cap Talk it was pointed out a few times to me by PM my grammar needed work, so I fixed it. I still make the occasional mistake, but I try not to. I believe Cap Talk should be a professional environment. I try to present rational arguments behind my views backed by proper grammar/ spelling. Occasionally I let out the snide sarcastic remark but I try to control myself. I believe good spelling is only part of professionalism; we also need to present respectful reasonable arguments. 

[SarDragon]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.

Oh, I provide commentary on substance, too. The bothersome part of all this is that there is frequently great substance hidden behind the messy writing. Form enhances substance.

[flyerthom]

No point in learning to fish...

Give a man to fish feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll sit in boat, drink beer and tell lies all day! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmaRwjMrUq8

[flyerthom]

By the way, I suspect I will not be seeing any of the usual internet shorthand from the incredulous guardians of COMMUNICATION in the forum.  No more "BTW," "WIWAC" and "LOL."  After all, if we are going to profess to be schmucks to some for poor grammar, we might as WELL be HITTING EVERYONE!!!

There's a bit of a difference between using recognized acronyms, and simply ignoring the rules of grammar and spelling, or using 3l33t3 speak or text-speak because you can't be bothered to type a whole word.

Without acronyms most of the Federal Government would shut down.

http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/10/17/129003134248516959.jpg

[PHall]

I'm really thinking that there needs to be a "cadets only" zone--probably on CadetStuff rather than here--that is completely off limits to Eclipse, SarDragon, PHall, MajorCarrales...hell, pretty much all senior members.  "Form versus substance", guys.

So you'll stay out of it too? This I have to see.