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Many people use these kinds of forums in a very informal manner. I would also think that many people posting a message in a discussion group or in a live-chat window think of it differently than something more formal -- a cover letter for a resume, for instance. I think speed is the primary motivator, as people can speak faster than they can type, so they try to find ways to expedite the delivery of their message. Personally speaking, in the context of many Internet applications, I'd give such practice a free-pass and I generally don't get bothered by it -- unless, of course, it becomes so incoherent that I lose all sense of what the writer may be attempting to say. But in such cases I usually just stop trying to decipher the gibberish, and I move on to other things.
In all fairness, however, I have run across quite a few people who literally have trouble typing, perhaps because of arthritis or something similar, or because of a problem with their sight, or perhaps because they are just slow or haven't developed adequate typing skills. So I usually give a person the benefit of the doubt, and I try not to judge or criticize them for it. (Besides, as soon as I point out a person's grammatical error, someone will respond by pointing out one of mine.)
However, I tend to agree that the development of good writing skills is fast becoming a lost art. People don't write letters anymore, but instead make a phone call. Fewer people read for their information gathering, opting instead to rely on television and radio. And, I must admit, that the public school system doesn't place the same emphasis on proper writing skills as they did in the days of past. All you have to do is look at the curriculum of 1940 versus 2004, and you'll see less emphasis on such things -- much less. Moreover, holding a student back for failing to grasp a subject is almost unheard of today.
A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the public school system actually used to teach a person how to write properly. (This is one of the many reasons why I've made the decision to send my son to a private school that places its emphasis on academic excellence.) I have a sister who used to teach in the public school system, and she was literally fired from her position as a High School English teacher because she refused to give a passing grade to several students in her class because they couldn't read or write at even an elementary level. Yes, she threw down the gauntlet to make a point, and she was ready to face the consequences. But the bottom line was that the school system continually passed students who failed to comprehend the subject at hand. She left the teaching profession for good after that dismissal.
I'm in a position where I hire people for my company, and I'm amazed at the number of unprofessional written communications that come across my desk. Whether it be a resume and cover letter or an email from a client, the number of poor examples far outweighs the number of good ones. Generally speaking, is this a good thing or a bad thing? Well, on one hand I could look at it as a sad example of too many people lacking the necessary writing skills to make a good impression (or to even get their point across). On the other hand, since I try to maintain reasonably proficient writing skills myself -- regardless of the particular medium -- it becomes obvious that I have a huge advantage over most of the people against whom I may be in competition.
So do I really care about it? Well.....................
(Just kidding, of course I care about it. But on the Internet - probably not as much.)
