Does anyone else find it annoying when someone addresses a remark to a specific person using the @ symbol? It means "at"' not "to", so saying "@ Mary" is like throwing something AT that person, not TO them.
I have seen this take hold here and on other travel forums, and it just bugs me. It is not cute or clever, it is just as lame as using "u" for "you". We aren't teens sending text messages here ( I hope).
Aha! Someone with the same opinion as I have. It is too trendy for words, this "@" habit. Plus it makes no sense at all.
I never gave this any thought , only thought it was acceptable internet protocol . Thanks for the heads up - You're right . that ends my use of it . Thanks !
In my opinion, it does seem mildly annoying. Not the biggest issue on the forum. But on those rare times when it seems appropriate to draw a previous poster's attention to a specific post, what I started doing earlier this year is stop using the @ and instead, put the person's username as the first word of the post, hoping to draw that person's attention to the post.
I too find it somewhat annoying although I have been using it, as the other poster said, because it seemed to be accepted usage here. I also plan to quit using it. At the same time I also find most other text-speak annoying, such as LOL, OMG, YMMV, FWIW, IMHO, etc etc etc. However, I do understand the need some people have to shorten what they say and avoid repeating themselves on each and every post with the same trite phrases. Since I don't own a smart phone and don't do much texting, I guess I'm just another old fogey and am sadly behind the times when it comes to tech stuff.
I never really liked it but like some others, I thought it was common practice. Now, IMHO...
Good one Zoe - dare I say it: LOL.
@ first world problems
I completely agree. Symbols and shortcuts like that belong in the texting/Twitter etc. (etcetera) world. In polite company and discussion here, I don't care for it and I think there's always time to address someone or something "properly". Or at least what I interpret as proper ;-). I also see it as yet another degradation in language skills within our society, and I think that eventually it'll all catch up with the species.
Yes, agreed that it is not a proper way to address someone, and will cease and decease immediately (cannot recall if I have ever used it, but may have). However, also agree that if that is the most egregious thing going on this forum, then things are still pretty okay!
Edit: Yes, I guess deceasing would be a bit over dramatic. I will now desist. Also, I found the @ a good way to get my attention and was not annoyed by it. Hmmm, I am now a bit conflicted as well.
Actually, I like it. It seems a good way to call attention to someone other than the OP.
@ Maryam , OMG ! Certainly you can cease , but to decease ? No one here wants that . How about desist ? LOL ! ;- ))
No, it does not annoy me and I also thought it was common practice...certainly not rude...
I think it took hold because as a form of shorthand it makes it easy for people typing on ipads, etc.
Not sure if I will stop using it as I don't know what will replace it as efficiently:)
It irritates me, but not as much as calling # a hashtag.
I know that these shortcuts can be annoying. They don't bother me much in this context as the posts are often done on iPads and other mobile devices. But there are times when they are completely inappropriate. Writing your first email to your professor about missing the first week of class is probably one of those inappropriate times....
@ Doesn't bother me and never took offense at it. It is common on all forums.
Overuse of LOL can be a bit annoying, especially when used 5 times in a paragraph. Other shortcuts are commonplace too and occasionally find themselves in my posts. I also use spell check to avoid typos as much as possible and if I find a mistake in one of my posts, will go back and correct later.
I do text a lot, (SMS in Germany) and am not a teen by a long shot, a really long shot, but still avoid using U, etc.
When people first started using it here, it was annoying to me. As time went on, I thought maybe it was me that needed to catch up, and I got used to seeing it. I always thought it started with Twitter - not aware of it on other forums I have participated in before that (and I don't do Twitter). I don't know that it draws any more attention than just starting with a person's name.
I don't understand why it's considered a shortcut. Why not just use the person's name and leave off the @? That's actually shorter (although in a very minor way).
No problem with @ -- as long as the post doesn't require me to do translations of "shortcuts" like 'd' for 'the'. Hurts my brain.
Well, this will make some laugh and make Michael comment on first world problems, but I love the English language and all the abbreviations and acronyms are not only unnecessary on a forum such as this, but downright inelegant. And they even look ugly.
@sahsa.....u r right. LOL #internetspeechsucksbringbackenglish
+1 4 Frank II
Well, Phil some people have speech problems (see King George VI) so I won't cwiticize.
Annoying? That's in the eye of the beholder. I have no problem with it. For years, when people sent a letter to a specific person in a company, they used the company's address and added Attn: person's name. So, @ is symbolic for at, short for Attn. Nothing new.
Anyway, how will discontinuing the use of @ help with world hunger, Ebola, and police brutality?
But really, why are you making much of a big deal over this? It's @empest in @eapot.
I'm one of those annoying persons that uses the @ symbol. It actually is standard protocol for identifying a particular poster in the thread and used for years on the internet.
^^^ Is the shortcut for identifying the post directly above in case anyone wondered. I use that too.
;-) is the winky emoticon that tells people you are being cute or sarcastic - something that would be helpful if more people used it.
And thank you for making me feel not so old ;-)
Dear Lee and Sasha (if "@" is offensive and we're being civil here, a nice salutaion like "Dear" should be used, right?),
I suspect the "@" is also short for "I'm directing this at (name)," and while it would be awkward in formal correspondence, it's a handy device to call attention when needed, and can quickly call attention to something that can be avoided, too.
If we stopped using "@" here, there would be more "@" left for everybody else. And as for throwing things, whether to or at someone, how about just handing it over? ;-)
@Phil . . . I tink tat "oh my goodness gwacious" ist Tweety Bird! ;-)
@ is not short for "attention"; that would be "Attn:". I truly doubt that any memos in the company were addressed @ Lee. It would be Attn: Lee.
Until it came into use in email addresses (where it does mean "at"), the @ symbol was used in pricing and counting things, in sales. I would order 25 widgets @ $1.25 each, and that is how it would be written on the order form and invoice. So it is more like a mathmatical symbol. that is why it is one the keyboard with numbers and symbols.
Maybe it started with Twitter, as someone suggested above. I have never used Twitter. If I want a short expression of a thought, I prefer haiku.
I am not necessarily saying it is rude, but it just looks and sounds juvenile. It is not English. Nor any other language I know of. I like what Norma said about our native language.
If you want to direct a comment to someone, why not just say their name? Or if you want an intro, "hi" or even "hey" would be preferable. ("Dear" is way too formal and sounds almost sarcastic in this context. Or how about "Thanks, x, for your comments".
Anything but that stinkin' @!!!!
@ Colette...my compliments on your using German with the word "ist" Certainly no typo in this usage.
No real problem for me in using @, but only in informal conversation and discourse, otherwise I would avoid this sign too.
@Herr Fred . . . "my compliments on your using German with the word "ist" . . ."
Ich danke Ihnen!
Blame it on FB. For those not on FB, to address anything to a person (and have their name/username/handle pop up), one needs to start with the "@" sign. So, if I need to make a comment addressed to Mary thus "Mary: xyz" then I type "@M" and FB automatically brings down choices of all my friends whose names start with the letter M.
For whatever that is worth ...
Porcupyn
what's FB?
FB = Facebook
I use Facebook all the time and have never used the @ symbol for anything at all. I do use it on other forums, both travel and all other types of forums. It is very common. This forum is the first time I have seen anyone find it odd or unusual.
Have never used Twitter either, but I do believe that the use of @ pre-dates Twitter and Facebook.
Okay, I'm sorry, I know Keith's response was a bit rude and belittling but I just busted my gut laughing - made my day! And Phil's response with definition, just left me in stitches.
I missed your comment, Keith-unfortunately. Perhaps it was reported ;-). No worries though, I am always on the lookout for new British slang-there was a brilliant thread of it here a while back-and always looking for new ways to discreetly identify stupid and ineffectual persons. Glad Phil pointed it up. Cheers, here's to us numpties everywhere.
^^^ The British have such charming words for insults, it is almost a pleasure to be a recipient ;-)
@Mrs Jo - I am with you. Never used @ in Twitter or FB but have seen it used a lot in forums.
JG, you've pointed out before how we're all a bunch of sixty year old's here, does it really surprise you that someone here would not know FB? And what's the big deal if they don't?
As for Facebook, I don't personally care about it, other than to lament the damage to human interaction it has brought.
@JG . . . FB has been open to the general public only since 2006, give or take a year. No, I do not "tag" people in my photos as I know who they are. Alzheimer's has not set in . . . Yet. ;-)
The @ symbol has been used in forums & chat rooms since the early days of the general use of home computers (late 1980's). As in this forum the @ was used to gain the attn of a specific person.
@ those who think the symbol is rude . . . C'est la vie!
@everybody...life is too short. Go travel and who cares about this stuff. Whatsamatta? you got too much time on your hands? Get to planning for your next trip and forgettaboutitall. (;-)
When Italians say "@" they call it "chiocciola" (=snail).
might as well be anti-glacier.
@ does not make me cringe. It serves a purpose.
However, the word 'awesome' does make me cringe. It was a descriptive word 30 years ago, but is so overused it has become diluted, a filler word of little meaning.
But I digress...
'
Same opinion as Kent; annoying, but as he said, not the biggest issue on the forum. Far more annoying is the insulting of others on the forum, or even a veiled insult to another person. To come on here and suggest that someone is a troll, or lying about their travel experiences (yes, it's been done before-the guy is gone now from this forum) shows a complete lack of class on the part of the poster. This is the Webmaster's business. The Webmaster will banish those who don't belong here. It's not our business to hurl insults at someone.
Thanks to all who post here and DON'T hurl insults! It makes it a nicer forum for all of us, and for the newbies who come here and read our posts. If they are coming here because they've seen a Rick Steves program on PBS and they want more information about Rick's tours and travel in general, they don't care to read about our petty squabbles between one another. How infantile for one of the posters who should know better, to slip in a veiled (or blatant) insult to someone. Not classy. Bravo, to those of you who don't do it. That shows class.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/for-everyone-follow-the-golden-rule
Kat, You are right. "Awesome" is, and has been, the most overused word on the planet. Followed closely by "amazing". Another phrase which is used way too much is "reaching out". The news media will say "We reached out to the woman for a comment on her divorce." Some words or phrases or symbols become way too popular.
Hey Rebecca. I used @ at you in another posting...no offense I just don't consider it an issue. Awesome...yes overused.
Hey Alex, I don't mind at all. I've already answered you on the other thread. Happy Holidays!
From Roberto When Italians say "@" they call it "chiocciola" (=snail).
In Israel they call it a shtrudel, using the German pronunciation (think of a cross-section of the pastry)
Isn't it funny how little bits and pieces of the English language can be so annoying? Don't mind the @ so much as #this and #that. I am also made crazy by the overuse of awesome and amazing and "reaching out". The one that really makes me nuts is "very unique or "most unique". I thought something was either unique or it wasn't. Can something be more one-of-a-kind than another? Anyway, I do enjoy folks using their winky appropriately, as long as they don't abuse it ;-). Plus, I have a new word to add to my vocabulary! If I use the word numpty 10 times today, I can add it to my list. That shouldn't be a problem since I'm at work today.
"Anyway, I do enjoy folks using their winky appropriately, as long as they don't abuse it ;-)"
Amen to that.
This!!! Now what were we upset about? The "@" sign ... ;-)
Has there been less usage of the @ on this site, other than this thread, since this topic was posted??
;-)
Who knows? Who's keeping track?
Uh Oh Rebecca, I say "amazing" a lot... kat can attest to that... hmm, what can I replace it with? : )
Susan - instead of using "amazing" so much, maybe you could bring back "groovy?" Or "gnarly," or "cool," or "radical" . . . or perhaps "stupendous." :-)) Many magicians will probably still need to use "Amazing" in their names, though.
Cyn, ok... "stupendous" it is!
Oh, Susan I'm sorry. I meant those who use amazing in every sentence or twice in one sentence and seem to know no other words to take its place. Other people, not you! :)
. . . and if someone or something is especially amazing, how about "phenominal"? I can see that getting overused quickly, so the idea of using more descriptive adjectives (like ornate) is helpful.
But, like, what about the, like, use of, like, "like," in, you know, like the last, like, decade or so, which is just, like, amazing that, like, people would actually, like, speak that way? I'm not hearing that as much lately, but maybe I'm hearing fewer teenagers these days.
Rebecca.... : )
Cyn, I believe you are hearing fewer teenagers/young adults. The ones, like, who are in N. Idaho, like, are still misusing the term. Of course, N. Idaho is not, like, the epicenter of, like, new slang.
Pam, I like it!
Susan: Any time you find the urge to use the word 'amazing', just substitute with something more refined like "How 'bout I buy you a glass of pinot gris, Kat?" That will work! ; )
Honestly I never think about the shortcuts one way or another,, as long as I can read and understand what the poster is trying to say.. I don't freak out about spelling mistakes either, but will offer correction if its a place name and having the spelling correct would make it easier for the poster to google for information on it.. or find it on a map etc.
I find run on paragraphs can be harder to read sometimes.. but it doesn't annoy me.
I think people worry to much sometimes about how something is written then concentrating on the content or intent of post.
And.. since I sometimes post on a tablet I do take shortcuts on it.. its a PITA to type on that tiny thing,, don't know how folks can do it.. my fingers are too fat.. lol
Hi Pat - I actually hadn't seen the PITA shortcut before (Pita bread yes, PITA acronym no), but it seems to be handy in the right circumstances. :-)
Kat, what a clever substitution. But I think I owe you a whole bottle.
You're on, Susan. Clink! Just enough room for one more bottle under the bed!
Yes, Kat, pinot gris! Can I send you an e-mail of pinot gris? Do you have one of those printers with a spigot on the side?
The main problem with @ is finding it on a foreign keyboard when you want to do online check-in and/or print boarding-passes from a foreign country on the hotel's computer.
