"I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes..."
Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch Ouch
(wait a minute... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (that's one foot) 6, 7... uh... 10 minus 7 is... uh... 3 more...)
Ouch Ouch Ouch
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Wow... rough crowd here today.
We could go on about the writing styles of every person in this forum, so, I am not going to address anyone specifically. Let me say that I enjoy reading posts on this forum, and by and large everyone has something good, if not informative to say. I have a real problem trying to read something that is written in all lower case, or has a ton of misspellings. Especially, misspellings of simple words.
We use the written word to communicate, when the spoken word won't suffice, or can't be used. People judge us (as evidenced by this thread) by not only the words we use, but the way we write those words, or, use the words. I know my writing is neither perfect, nor above criticism. All I am asking is that we all take a moment, before we post and make sure our message is clear to those who read it.
I for one get tired of the masked obscenities. Honestly,no matter how hard you try to mask it, it still comes off as boorish, and totally unnecessary. Also, word usage; trying to cram a bunch of sixty-four dollar words into your sentences do not necessarily make them sound better.
e.g. "We have subjected our product to a full range of computer modelled, and real world scenarios. The scenarios, as put forth, were rigorous, and designed to push the envelope of the product's performance. We have determined, through this comprehensive battery of tests, that our product will produce desirable results as set forth by the product's operational parameters".
In other words: "We tested it and it works. You'll be happy with it."
See the difference? The top paragraph says less the more you read it. If anything it could be confusing to read, after all, what is it trying to say? The second example, puts it perfectly. If there is one thing I dislike, it's a simple word or phrase being replaced by a convoluted clause masquerading as creative writing. Here's another one:
"The building, while optimally located to serve it's clientele, is not necessarily unattractive"
or.
"The building is ugly, but it's in a good location."
I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes, I am just pointing out a few things, and it's advice I could use too.
Most interesting discussion here. Totally aside from the original post subject.
I have a lot of trouble reading MANY posts here, due to the regular misuse of certain words (by many more than just one individual) and the ever present misspellings, errors in grammar and lack of capitalization and punctuation. I sometimes actually start to write a complaint about some or other error in a message, but then I calm down, realizing that I make LOTS of mistakes myself, even though I "Preview>", re-read, edit and re-edit my missives. Also, I am king of the "run-on" sentence! And I am told that I use way too many commas.
I sometimes debilerately squirrel-up spellings just out of a sense of mischief. And I sometimes use "country-isms" like "Yer" for "Your" or "You're", "Gonna" for "Going to", "Ta" for "To" and "Fer" for "For". But I figger that some folk just thimk I doan know how to speil and miss the "flavour" I am attempting to convey.
In retrospect, I have reread the original post and find it quite charming in a sense. It does reveal the angst and torment of the thwarted railfan. Been there, done that, wore out the "T- shirt" twice over. I FEEL FOR YA!
At least he didn't misuse either of the words "Then" or "Than". "Then" implies "sequence" and "Than" implies "alternative". Such as, "I like Mikados, th*n Northerns". If the "*" is an "e" the meaning is that I like Northerns just a little less than Mikados, but if the "*" is an "a" the meaning is that I like Mikados instead of Northerns.
Whilst I is on the soap box... why, oh WHY! do people insist in including an obscenity in their posts, but substitute an asterisk for some letters? If the reader can figure out what the obscenity is, then isn't the obscenity actually present, even though it is "hidden"? Isn't that just as bad as putting the obscenity there in full plain text?
Then, there seems to be some sort of after-the-fact wordprocessor that apparently looks for attempts to hide obscenities and substitutes asterisks for all the letters in the obscenity. I mean the preponderance of "wi** *o" in place of the words "wish" followed by "to", or "pu** *he" for "push" followed by "the". When the one word ends with the letters "SH" and the first letter of the next word is a "T", the wordprocessor decides that the writer was attempting to insert the obscenity that begins with "SH" and ends with a "T" and the writer substituted a space for the vowel inbetween. In these instances, there is no obscenity at all, but the wordprocessor has brought it to the mind of the reader in spite of the "purpose" of the after-the-fact wordprocessor to spare the reader of seeing obscenities.
Regardless, what "we" write here is NOT to be compared to what should be acceptable in a magazine article (and way too much gets the past editors and proofreaders there ,too!). Still, what is written here needs to be understandable by the English speaking (even if as a second language) world that has access to it.
It also needs to be at a "moral level" that would be used if one were speaking to someone you don't know and tailored to not insult nor debase the unknown reader.
rogruth wrote:ROTFLOL!!!!!
That was uncalled for! Grow up!
My Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/JR7582 My Flickr Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wcfan/
B.Erdmann - I know it seems like we're the grammar police here sometimes, but if you want us to read what you write, take a few minutes to review and edit your posts. You may be able to type 120 words a minute, but until you click on the "Post" button, you have total control of what you have written. Make it a habit to re-read your entire post (especially a long one) at least once, and even twice, before you actually post it.
I try to do that and still miss stuff - which, by the way, I can always go back and fix after the fact.
By the looks of it, your grammar and punctuation aren't too far off. Next you need to remember that the shift key and white space are your friends.
Notice that by including blank lines in my post, you're able to separate my different thoughts and better digest what I've written. That's what I'm talking about with white space.
You've written a good story about a personal chasing experience. Taking the time to proofread and format it will ensure that more of us will read it, and perhaps share our similar experiences.
As an example, here's your first post, with WCFans interpretation plus some white space.
Today I was out railfanning in Waupaca on the CN Neenah Sub. I stayed for an hour and I found a spot by the Waupaca Countryclub. It was great for pictures because I took some pictures and they turned out well. Fifteen minutes earlier I heard the dispatcher call one that was leaving Neenah. So I thought I would see one. Well later I find out it was going to park in Weyauwega. Weyawega is only 8 miles away so it should take long to drive there. Well I heard the dispatcher say again that one had just left Stevens Point to go to Fon du Lac. I knew I would get it because it was 45 minutes away from meeting the one in Weyauwega. Well, I had use the restroom reallly bad. SO I went to the nearest gas station. I got a soda and use the restroom there then I went back to my spot. When I got there I found out a Cement Truck had parked there. So I said *** I'm screwed. So I go down a bit farther down to the Bridge. All of a sudden I missed it. I went God D*amet, I didn't make it to the crossing. Well then i just left. I said it happened to me before but I was in Duplainville. Once I got stopped by the crossing. I got out of the truck and looked and saw one farther down. Well then The gates go up and I didn't know what was going on. So then I go down the road and see it go up the line. I missed it. And it was a WC GP38-2 number 2001. That really sucked. Then I missed a CP train heading west. I was checking up in that area.
Fifteen minutes earlier I heard the dispatcher call one that was leaving Neenah. So I thought I would see one. Well later I find out it was going to park in Weyauwega. Weyawega is only 8 miles away so it should take long to drive there. Well I heard the dispatcher say again that one had just left Stevens Point to go to Fon du Lac. I knew I would get it because it was 45 minutes away from meeting the one in Weyauwega.
Well, I had use the restroom reallly bad. SO I went to the nearest gas station. I got a soda and use the restroom there then I went back to my spot. When I got there I found out a Cement Truck had parked there. So I said *** I'm screwed. So I go down a bit farther down to the Bridge. All of a sudden I missed it. I went God D*amet, I didn't make it to the crossing.
Well then i just left. I said it happened to me before but I was in Duplainville. Once I got stopped by the crossing. I got out of the truck and looked and saw one farther down. Well then The gates go up and I didn't know what was going on. So then I go down the road and see it go up the line. I missed it. And it was a WC GP38-2 number 2001. That really sucked.
Then I missed a CP train heading west. I was checking up in that area.
Facetiously or not, someone mentioned sending this to Trains. I would suggest that you spend some time reading Trains and other such magazines and looking at how the writer conveys his message. They are telling a story, just as you did. Look carefully at how they did so.
Feel free to share your adventures with us in the future.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Man you guys are mean. ya know that. Any way here's the second one.
Anyway about 312. I thought I saw somthing down by the foundry. It looked like a WC locomotive. I wasn't sure what it was doing, probably just sitting there wait for the other train to go by that i mentioned earler. Well i come to know not that i should of went down to another crossing to get it. Now I'm even more mad.
Hey brent sorry if re-typing this insulted you or somthing like that. I just wanted the people to stop that's all.
CShaveRR wrote: Thank Goodness you're bilingual, WCFan!(When daughter was going to school in Appleton we encountered a spoken version of the northern Wisconsin dialect--had never seen it in writing before!)
Thank Goodness you're bilingual, WCFan!
(When daughter was going to school in Appleton we encountered a spoken version of the northern Wisconsin dialect--had never seen it in writing before!)
Even with help it still has a number of issues. At least now it isn't as though it was written in hieroglyphs on an ancient bathroom wall...lol...
LC
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
OK, this is to the people who can't seem to read what Brent is trying to say.
Today i was out railfanning in Waupaca on the CN Neenah Sub. I stayed for an hour and I foun a Spot by the Waupaca Countryclub. It was great for pictures because I took some pictures and they turned out well. 15 minutes earlier I heard the dispatcher call one that was leaving Neenah. So I thought I would see one. Well later I find out it was going to park in Weyauwega. Weyawega is only 8 miles away so it should take long to drive there. Well I heard the dispatcher say again that one had just left Stevens Point to go to Fon du Lac. I knew I would get it because it was 45 minutes away from meeting the one in Weyauwega. Well I had use the restroom reallly bad. SO I went to the nearest gas station. I got a soda and use the restroom there. Then I went back to my spot. When I got there I found out a Cement Truck had parked there. So I said *** I'm screwed. So I go down a bit farther down ton the Bridge. All of a sudden I missed it. I went God D*amet, I didn't make it to the crossing. Well then i jst left. Well I said it happened to me before but I was in Duplainville. Once I got stoped by the crossing. I got out of the truck and looked and saw one farther down. Well then The gates go up and I didn't know what was going on. So then I go down the road and see it go up the line. I meesed it. And it was a WC GP38-2 number 2001. That really sucked. Then I missed a CP train heading west. I was checkin up in that area.
I once had a dog that could...
well, you get the rest of the story.
Brian(KY)
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
What did he say??
Plain english does work real well
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
sorry,
i was in hurry when typing this
i also tend to type to fast..... i also fixed the errors.
anyway about 3012. i thought i saw something down by the foundry & it looked like a wc locomotive. it was still. i wasnt sure what it was doing but it was just sitting their. probably waiting for the one that went by that i mentioned about. well come to know of that now i should of went down to another crossing to get it. now im even more mad.
English. Please.
(Upper and lower case helps, too.)
Poppa_Zit wrote: well just thought i would share an exoitc story of mine"Exotic" fails to describe your story.I think your account should be submitted to Trains magazine to be considered for publication.
well just thought i would share an exoitc story of mine
"Exotic" fails to describe your story.
I think your account should be submitted to Trains magazine to be considered for publication.
...but not before using "spell check" I hope.
WOW.
Really WOW....
Still pondering that one......
23 17 46 11
hey,
today i was out railfanning in waupaca on the CN neenah sub. & i stayed for an hour. i found a spot by the waupaca country club & it was great for pic cause i took some pics & seen how they turned out & then i knew it would be good. 15 minutes earlier i heard the dispatcher call one that was leaving neenah. so it thought i would see one well later i find out it was gonna park on weyauwega so then well weyauwega thats only 8 miles so it shouldnt be their that long. well i heard the dispatcher say agin one has just left point to go to fond du lac. well i knew i would get it & it said abt 45 minutes to meet the one at weyauwega. well i had to use the restroom really bad & i went to the nearest gas station so i got a soda & used the facilites & then i head back to my spot well come to find out a cement truck as their so i said *** im screwed so i go down a bit farther & i see a bridge & all of a sudden their it goes & i missed it. i went God D*mn well i didnt make it to the next crossing. well then i said lets leave. so i did. well as i said it happened to me before but this was in duplainville. once i got stopped by the crossing & then i got out of the truck & looked & saw one down farther well then the gates go up & i didnt know what was goin on so then i go down the rd & then i see it go up & i missed it it was a wc GP38-2 2001. that sucked that day. then thre other i missed a cp train heading west. i was checkin up the area by weyer rd at the time.
well just thought i would share a story of mine
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