Capitalizations in Discussions
By Morgan
@OneOfMany (12150)
United States
January 25, 2016 11:50am CST
I see them from time to time, when people feel the need to add capitalization of their points in a discussion, especially when you are emotionally attached to their perspective or point of view. Yet I think it renders the whole conversation pointless from that point on. If you can't discuss things without yelling it, you haven't got the necessary case for your argument in the first place.
Sorry if it offends people, but if you reply in a discussion with certain words in all caps, I feel you have already admitted you aren't seriously invested in it to begin with. I will read it, but from that point on you might as well be responding with gibberish. Words in caps to me is like admitting logic has no place in the conversation.
Does anyone else feel a similar way?
14 people like this
15 responses
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
25 Jan 16
Even though I didn't have any you left that for me? I guess I made you unhappy about something? 
2 people like this
@BethieAnnie (818)
• Dayton, Ohio
26 Jan 16
I know that you do M.L. and some of the reactions you get are priceless. Never the less, you never give up. I respect that.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
27 Jan 16
@OneOfMany You think you made me unhappy? Why or with what?
Four people liked my comment. Obviously they understood that I was being funny.
2 people like this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
25 Jan 16
I rarely respond in capitals and normally use proper words, spelling and grammar are also important. We all make mistakes, but some people seem to develop proof reading blindness as well - leaving basic errors in their posts, some are fun but most are very sad.
2 people like this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
25 Jan 16
@OneOfMany We all do, but some people type-publish-move on and could not care less about their work. I also feel errors reflect badly on me.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
25 Jan 16
@pgiblett Well some of us are trying to keep mindful for the other types of writing we do. If we let ourselves slip here, it's certain in other applications as well.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
25 Jan 16
Sometimes I'm guilty of leaving a typo or two, but if I re-read what I wrote and see it, I will return to correct it. I really don't like leaving them, as I feel it reflects badly on me.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 Jan 16
I don't capitalize when I am posting a discussion, response or comment. I have never thought about doing it either. I believe it is easier to read when it is not in all caps. It is like others have said, is that it looks like they are shouting, and no one has to do that to get their point across. Anyone can get their point across without using all caps, but then this is just my opinion, and others might feel differently, and that is okay too.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
26 Jan 16
@OneOfMany I am not positive, but I don't think that we are allowed to make our discussions in all caps anyway. I have to check, but I think I have read that we aren't supposed to, as it is considered shouting, and like I said, anyone can get their point across without shouting it out.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
Well I'm sure both of us see a flow in our writing. And when there's flow it's easy to go through the concept. Hitting a few words in caps is like having a rock in a stream, disrupting that flow. The rocks need to go!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
@rosekiss Talking to make a POINT by using CAPS is annoying and I don't UNDERSTAND why people do it. Just now that took actual thought to type that example. :P Perhaps I even did it wrong? I just like using the normal form.
Now when it gets to punctuation. Then that's another whole can of worms! I had a girlfriend once that didn't capitalize anything, and wrote without punctuation and no paragraph spaces. That was beyond complicated to read.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
26 Jan 16
@OneOfMany I can't say that I agree with you - I think the bold is fine to use occasionally.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
@jaboUK Well either way neither of us have felt the need to add bold or italics in this conversation and we're doing fine. I guess the thing that started it is I know the person was using annoyed speech, and seeing them using accents just because of it got to me.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
Bold is better, but I think italics would be the best. Frankly I'm fine with neutral speech. If you feel you need to emphasis words you must not have a good argument. That's how I feel. It's almost like spitting words out when you speak, or raising your voice and contorting your face. I kind of imagine that when reading it and want to walk away.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Jan 16
lol I do that now and then because I am too lazy to bold or something.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
25 Jan 16
Laziness is part of the problem I imagine, but you lost me at that point because you will sound angry!
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
29 Jan 16
I would dislike a discussion that had the whole title in capitals or large portions of the text in capitals, but do not object to a reasonable use. By reasonable I am referring to a word or couple of words being capitalised, which I would interpret as stressing the words.
We do use stress and inflection regularly in our speech to enhance the meaning, so I find it acceptable in type. Normally italics would be used for such, but that does not appear as an option here.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
29 Jan 16
@OneOfMany For me it would depend solely on the how prolific the use was.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
29 Jan 16
I just think that the majority of conversations requires that kind of stress on words. Especially when it sounds like it's being accented because of the wrong reason. I guess I'm in the majority for not liking it.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
29 Jan 16
@Asylum Well I guess normally it doesn't bother me, but this time was enough for me to write a post about it, so it must have hit a nerve for whatever reason!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157665)
• United States
26 Jan 16
I agree with you that it does not appeal to me. I try to imagine talking to that person in real life. It may sound snobbish, but I often feel like excessive capitalization or other emphasis reveals excessive ignorance.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
It does make you think of how they talk when you see it, and what I visualize isn't good. I'm not a fan. I know it doesn't bother others, but the post I tried to respond to this morning made me feel like it wasn't worth my time. Especially when the counter points didn't even take my points into consideration. You get to a point where people only respond to what they want to.
@vandana7 (98956)
• India
4 Feb 16
@OneOfMany ..I will try to remember that...not that I have ever needed to do that. I think it becomes necessary when the other person is not open to reason and is not reading what we want to convey at least not the way we want it read and so we are forced into that situation. But with you that is unlikely because so far from our interactions I have realized you are both knowledgeable and reasonable. So I am never going to need them. :)
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Feb 16
@vandana7 It's good to approach things with knowledge and reason, and I try to avoid emotions when I can help it. Not knowing the tone of a conversation helps to keep it civil!
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
4 Feb 16
Well, just don't do it when chatting with me and you'll remain on my good side! ;)
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
Yes and no. I think overuse of anything defeats the purpose so i agree it defeats the purpose. That being said the idea to highlight something in attempt to clarify what the main theme is could work if used correctly. It is frustrating when people miss the point so the use of bold, underlining, title case or all capitals might help do that nicely. Whoever coined the phrase capitalizing is "yelling" must have changed their medication?
However in practice when I see it specially too much of it I don't think the person is highlighting some important point but that they might be a nutter.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
Some people live with their caps lock on. But some annoy me with how they use it to spit their points.
1 person likes this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
@OneOfMany I don't think it helps them make their points stronger. Most people might think that also which means their loss.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
@Bluedoll If someone tries it against me I have trouble taking their points in after that. I feel like they bowed out.
1 person likes this
@Morleyhunt (21736)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
If the entire post is in capitals maybe. But one or two words for emphasis, not a problem. Suit yourself if you disregard the response or the discussion.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
26 Jan 16
I am suiting myself, hence this discussion. Emphasizing what is easily read as emphasis in a discussion isn't really needed, is it?
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
25 Jan 16
Sometimes I use capitals instead of italics.
Can't say it bothers me much.
If someone over uses caps that may become grating but not to the extent that it'd ruin a discussion.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
25 Jan 16
It's slowly becoming a pet peeve of mine. I guess I've just had too many conversations where people over use it.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
Oopsies!! 
Hope you aren't talking about me since I recently had my discussion titled all in caps....*sheepish*
It was the only one mind you just to emphasize the importance of the topic.....After all it was a letter to the Admin and I wanted support from my fellow myLotters friends.....
Hope you aren't talking about me since I recently had my discussion titled all in caps....*sheepish*
It was the only one mind you just to emphasize the importance of the topic.....After all it was a letter to the Admin and I wanted support from my fellow myLotters friends.....1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
1 Feb 16
No, it wasn't about you, it was about a conversation I was having with someone where they used caps a lot.
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
1 Feb 16
@Daljinder However, if I see one of your titles in all caps I'll likely not stop by to read it. I think many would feel the same, so be mindful of not doing it too often. :)
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
1 Feb 16
@OneOfMany Whew!! That's a relief...
1 person likes this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
1 Mar 16
I'm sure they are aware of it. I just think it's unnecessary.
@TheHorse (206469)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Feb 16
If I see something ALL in caps, I'll probably ignore it (the comment, that is). But if I see someone use it as I did in my first sentence, it just means that they're emphasizing something. That doesn't bother me. I'd italicize it, but i can't figure out how.
