Summary: Typing email using all upper case characters is the email form of shouting and considered quite rude. Don't be surprised if you get a grumpy response.
WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE EVERYONE I EMAIL OR INSTANT MESSAGE GETS ANGRY OR CURT WITH ME? DOES THE INTERNET JUST MAKE PEOPLE GRUMPY?
Well, computers and the internet certainly make people upset from time to time but in this case I'll bet it's something much more specific.
In this case it might just be you.
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The "problem" might be that you're typing your message in all upper-case characters. That is typically read by others on the internet as shouting. Imagine you're having a conversation in a quiet room with someone who for no apparent reason is shouting loudly instead of talking normally. You'd get grumpy too.
All-caps as shouting has become deeply ingrained in net etiquette, or "netiquette". Many people when reading text in all caps internalize that as shouting without even thinking about it and react accordingly.
You may not be doing it on purpose but I definitely suggest using all-caps only for emphasis or when you're really trying to convey that you are, in fact, shouting.
RFC 1855 - Netiquette Guidelines has a good summary that includes this and many other things to keep in mind as you communicate on the internet.
Article C1858 - November 6, 2003
Hello,
Posted by: Allan at December 11, 2007 10:18 PMI was surfing and looking for some reference to show a person that is writing in all caps, well he doesn't write in all caps all the time, he does write like most people do some times. Well anyways he does write alot in caps and it bugs me. He does have a whacked out eye but the guy rides bikes with me and doesn't seem to have a problem. Your page is not really a good one to show him cause it perpetuates the problem. Instead of tolerating the all caps writing, why not have the person increase their font size on their computer? There's even a simple program that magnifies where you want to magnify. Just like a magnifying glass. This would be a far better option than tolerating it.
I have read the posted comments, some I agree with, most I think are just trying to prove their point of view as the best, even if it is a minority. I do agree that as one poster said, it is easier for GRANDMA TO READ, but pardon me, Do I look like your Grandma? If you are no longer typing to her, your caps lock will unlock without even having the key, try it sometime. When we speak in verbal conversation, we have many ways of placing empathasis on our words, softer, louder, high pitched, low pitched, spaced wording. If we are to have a conversation on the net by typing, why take the limited amount of expression from us if you dislike the tediousness of releasing your caps lock key and using the shift+letter combo for begining setences. I know we have a very lazy soceity, but why make it that much worse, just to save you some tedious keystrokes, yet spend an hour defending your laziness
Posted by: MtCajun at May 5, 2008 5:49 PM(Shouting voice) ENOUGH SAID (regular voice) learn that etiquette is for everybody, and not changed for you just because you are (Shouting Voice) too lazy. See how mch more trouble it is to define your intentions using only one type of letter?
Next time you write to Grandma, try using Caps lock, Bold lock and a font size of 24, I a sure she could probably read that, and hopefully she will reply to you in the same fashion and you will see how irratating it can get.
Caps or No Caps...To be or not to be! What a kerfuffle about what ought to be a trivial matter. I'd hazard a guess if Rodney Dangerfield were still here he might add his two cents: "I don't care if you write me a check for $200 or $2,000 -- uh, oh, bad example -- Just spell my name right, upper or lower case!"
Sorry for my wretched atttempt at humor; just couldn't resist. We take ourselves too seriously as it is.
Posted by: Helene at September 10, 2009 2:59 PMAs an apprentice draughtsperson, I was taught to write everything in CAPS on drawings for clarity. Considering the state of my handwriting, I adopted this method for everything else, and still do (though in writing, I use large and small capitals much like upper and lower case).
If people get grumpy over reading all-caps messages, I'd love to see what mental state they get in reading something written in LolCat...
14-Jan-2010
Posted by: Bob at January 13, 2010 1:33 AM
What about persons who never capitalize anything? I take that to mean the person is possibly illiterate, or at least under-educated.
Posted by: Julian Adams at January 19, 2010 2:45 PM