When people use text shorthand (like UR or 4U, etc.) in profiles, headlines or their initial contact messages with you on dating sites, does it turn you on, turn you off, or have no real effect on your opinion of the person using it?

Personally, it turns me right off, except for the occasional instance of 'LOL' or something similar. I want a guy with some respect for the language. Then again, I'm the kind of person who generally uses complete English sentences, including proper punctuation, when sending actual text messages... unless I'm enormously pressed for time or know I'm up against a character limitation on the receiver's phone. But I'm a writer and editor, and a language geek in general -- c'mon, I chose a Latin username! -- so I may well be an outlier.

How do the rest of you feel?

Humm, I personaly may not be the best speller nor do I use all the correct punctuation. But....if one wants to text me then do it in long form for I don't understand all the text short hand and not willing to learn it... A few I have learned due to my daughter like otw.... for on the way..... Other then that give me something I can read...

I am very tolerant of people who speak a different first language but make the effort to communicate with me in English.

I suppose I have come to treat acronym usage quite the same way. I look up everything I don’t understand and consider it an education.

My first week here, I received a message that was 50% acronyms. I had to Google up a list of online/texting acronyms just to decipher the thing. After that, I added an acronym statement in my profile just to make sure my message will reach the acronym speakers on this site.

Sidebar: I will only warn you once...if you even think of taking your red pen to my postings, I will show you how easily I can end a sentence in a preposition. Don't think I won't do it!

I'm with you 100%. People that use that kind of stuff to me, shows a lack of intelligence.

ditto


EDIT: But I think we are showing our age.

Shhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Most text short hand does not bother me much unless I have no clue to what it means then I have to google it. I do understand that sometimes that the short hand comes in handy when you are in a hurry or have limited characters you can use.

dis here is one of dem der international sites, so for some folks english ain't der first way of tawkin'. in texas, we folks learnded more better sos y'all can understand what we say when we tawk

Eh, it may have a little to do with age, but not everything. I'm not your age and I'd prefer people use real words as well. If the message is full of text speak, I will probably ignore it.

I think it's more about what's current than about lack of intelligence, disrespect for language, laziness, etc...My grandson is 19...He is very intelligent, respectful, works and attends school full time (he's not lazy), and is a texting shortcut genius...As are his peers!...I am learning it because I liken it to the early days of computers and I remember how those who resisted the changes associated with technical progress all too often got left behind...I do not use text shorthand and will never give up the beauty I find in the use of eloquent language and grammatically correct writing....BUT!..... I have no problem with those who do and in some cases even envy their ability to abbreviate communication so effortlessly and so effectively...

Like I said, we're showing our age. I don't want to learn another language, I know enough.

But I see where text-speak will become commonplace as it is the rage amongst younger people, imo.

Not necessarily. Many older people use it on this site as well. I've often received messages from older men who abbreviate more words than not.

I can't abbreviate worth a dang.

Doesn't mean it's only young people doing so.

Personally, it turns me right off.

I don't understand the text shorthand, and prefer to read and write clearly, instead of having to take time to interpret meanings... it also looks tacky and turns me off to even want to try and learn it...

I can deal with it in a text message, hell, I even use acronyms there.

But when you're writing for the public it is bad form and looks terrible, public appeal I've found is just as much how coherent and intelligent you come across.

Not necessarily how intelligent you are...So; just fake it, a lot of people do it, it seems fairly easy.

Oh, I completely understand that it's what's current, and I've used my share of it in situations that I deem appropriate... such as lightning-fast exchanges on chat with a good friend where we're both typing at breakneck speed as it is.

But I don't think it's appropriate when you're trying to make a good first impression on a potential date or mate, and either of you is over the age of 20.

See, if you want to impress me, you are NOT going to do it by implying that you have only five seconds of time to give me. I'm worth the time it takes to sit down and compose a thoughtful, interesting and intriguing message. I'm worth the time it takes to put a little bit of work into our first contact.

For that matter I'd like to think that any potential mate is worth the effort of putting some actual work into crafting your profile as well. This is why I ignore profiles without photos, and with textspeak in place of actual words. That's the sort of thing that shows laziness or a lack of attention... and if you can't be bothered to pay attention long enough to write something out properly, then what kind of attention could I possibly expect from you on a date???

And those are the ones that annoy me the most! If you're using textspeak because you're young enough to be my son, you're too young for me. If you're my age or older and using it in a pathetic attempt to seem youthful and in touch with the times, you're just going to seem really lame.

I got stuck at "I'm worth the time it takes to put a bit of work into our "first" contact"....How are the men making "first" contact supposed to know this?