Using complete WORDS instead of TXT SPK  

I actually don't like the "text talk" as sad as it sounds, it actually takes longer to read and word together than if you wrote it out properly.
Text talk is good for photos but when making a long sentence or post here, use the correct words.

This is the "new toy" effect. Even allowing for sheer illiteracy, it's virtually compulsory. Peer stuff... there really ought to be a law. It's also a selling point, like "real cool stuff you can download" used to be, years ago, something for the infants.

It's pretty damn boring, too. Who wants to do a spelling lesson while reading? There are enough people on Earth who can't write a post it note, without adding this garbage.

What really bothers me is that it's dangerous. You can't do anything right in txt in business. No contracts are written in it, and no business letters, except perhaps among those who think they'll make an impression. Imagine trying to write a CV in txt.

I hope it will go, eventually. It already feels like centuries.

This bothers me too. I do think it's a sign of the times, but it won't change. Rather it will become customary to use that sort of spelling. Many schools even teach invented spelling in the early grades to encourage kids to get their points across, rather than worry about spelling. My SD did this and not even she could read her invented spelling! I also read something a while back about high schoolers who were unable to write a basic paragraph because of all the made up spellings. At the time, texting wasn't big yet, so the words were things like "toys r us", "mac n cheese", etc. Now those people are in the workforce, and people are surprised when they can't get a decent job. I'll make sure that my DS knows how to write properly. Yet another reason that I hope to homeschool him.

i don't use txt spk on mylot only in a messenger. i think txt spk is bad for your discussions or responses because the rating will go down if someone doesn't understand what you're talking about. i always use complete words. it's much more appropriate. sometimes i don't understand some txt spk. it doesn't really bother me at all. i just don't think it's appropriate here.

I don't come across chatspeak too often, and when I chat I spell out most things.... usually only abbreviating for LOL. When I see chatspeak where it doesn't belong... it makes me question the person's intelligence a bit.

Our society is getting lazier every day and I can only imagine it will get worse.

I hate text messaging.

Well I avoid most of those discussions as I'm not here to decipher the discussions just so I can respond to them. I think that it shows a lack of respect and by that I mean that most people over the age of say 35 I imagine don't know what all the abbreviations are for, I know that I don't. The only one that I use here and see many people using it is LOL (laugh out loud) even that I have seen 2 discussions started asking what that means. :) I also do the smiley. Other than that I have no idea what most of it means. Nor do I want to. After looking at " Dnt use abbrvs b/c thr 2 diff 4 ppl 2 read." for several minutes I figured it out.

So yes it bothers me, and yes unfortunately I think it's a sign of the times.

Here in our country, at least, "text speak" is not allowed in forums. The moderators are always monitoring the forums. They would call your attention whenever they think that you violated one of the rules. And i have also observed that people who are younger than me, have their own style or version of the "text speak". The spelling of the word and even the context is kind of different from the usual. I am not bothered by it.

I do not use text speak, but then again I am not saying that I don't like it. I find that it is easy to read and that is how some people are writing. I believe it is saying that the English spelling is a bit complex and that it needs to be updated (b/c u can spel so mani words diffrently: just an example I thought up). It doesn't bother me, but it may be bother teachers if they get papers with this kind of abbreviation. Personally I wouldn't use text speak myself, but I understand because it is faster for the person to use. Have a nice day.

Pablo

It drives me nuts! I know I'm not the most eloquent person in the world, but I do at least put in the effort to write real words. I expect others to do the same. Like you, I agree that allowances must be made for non-native English speakers, but they aren't the ones generally typing this way.

It's a major pet peeve of mine, though I have been known to use smileys. They don't detract from the ability to understand what I'm saying though, so I think that's a different issue.