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Everest -> RE: Correct Grammar (11/21/2010 1:41:26)
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I've moved this to Forum Suggestions, as a thread on this matter is not a simple question and answer thread about the forums. You're suggesting a policy be enforced, even if phrased as a question, and Forum Suggestions is the place to do so.
As to the actual suggestion, while I sympathize, I can't say I would be in favor of enforcing a policy of "correct" English. And it's not primarily because it would create more work for the forum staff. Though we do have some language restrictions, the extent of enforcement is to guarantee all members will be able to understand one another. I'm sure sometimes it may seem as though shorthand is unintelligible, but it's really not in the same league as speaking in a completely different language. We usually disallow longer instances of leet speak as well, for the above reason, but if the member is using English, and you can phonetically make out what the person says, it's quite different from writing in an entirely separate language.
About your more specific points, while it is always nice to have a member thank you for helping him when you answer his question, requiring that of members is too extreme, in my opinion. We enforce minimum standards of interaction, but expecting all forum members to have perfect manners is unreasonable, considering both the age of some of the forum members and the actual domain of interaction. These forums are, for the most part, an informal sphere of communication.
It may help you to look at a thank you as an unexpected positive instance, rather than seeing a lack of one as an unexpected negative instance. It's all in the perception. I can tell you that if I expected a thank you for everything I did, I wouldn't still be here. :P
To put it simply, while we enforce minimum standards of behavior, compelling standards of etiquette and writing ability goes a bit beyond that. Not to mention, standards of writing are always relative. Nobody uses perfectly correct grammar every time he or she speaks. This may be worth keeping in mind.
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