"Vivien" <viric@bigpond.com> wrote in message news:192c12b1-e8e6-4a49-9e8d-09e1188915f2@t11g2000prh.googlegroups.com... On Nov 15, 5:19 pm, "Hayley" <ha...@e-wire.net.au> wrote: > My parents and grandparents always told me - if you can't say > something > nice then don't say anything at all........ Well, we could have a discussion about all the bad things which have happened because people were being "nice" instead of being honest, but that would be off topic. > Sorry just think this was an unnecessary reply I disagree. After 12 years of trawling through these messages I think it could be the most helpful reply the original poster receives. Because, if people have to read a message 5 or 6 times to work out what the poster is trying to say, they just give up - they're too busy. Punctuation and spelling and grammar aren't optional extras - they are necessary to make your meaning clear. It's just a matter of good manners: if you ask for help, please >assist the helpers to help! Hi Vivien I agree with your comments. Any text should be typed properly with punctuation, using caps were normal to do so and to please type surnames only in all cap . Typed thus makes for easier reading off a computer screen I scanned that first message and couldnt be bothered to try to read it ,so didnt . Punctuation wasnt throw in as an after thought when the language was evolving Its also good manners to sign off any message e.g Regards Jen from beautiful down town where ever Any one replying can do so to Hi Jen from beautiful down town where ever Bye -- MargM Beautiful NSW Central Coast NSW