Are you Amish?

And you think all old people with dementia are pedophiles. Let ye not cast the first stone.

Was it really necessary to yell?

@52: Whoever started that dumb rumor that all caps on the Internet is yelling is just dumb. I can't believe how many people are bullied into going all lowercase. They just obey blindly.

Now this is yelling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amish? Do they even have computers?

I never typed anything about old people with dementia or about pedophilia. Get a grip girl. I never typed that Mean Gene was a pedophile. That was the rest of you.

Yeah, you just said the kids shouldn't be alone with him because he was "creepy". Oh, and you said that Bobby has Fetal Alcohol System.

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/talk/2009/09/bettys-creepy-f.php

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/talk/2009/09/fetal-alcohol-s.php

"Why do YOU PEOPLE post that everything the characters on the show do is a metaphor."

Because everything on the show is a metaphor. Don't you know that?

"Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

Not if it's on MadMen.

Uh Zanadu: Creepy and pedophile are two different words. If you're going to make accusations, back them up with facts

Whatever gets you off dude.

@Zanadu: I think you're the one that is getting off on the thought of Mean Gene being a pedophile. I'm a woman by the way. I'll bet you're not.

I looked at those links you posted and I wasn't even on he bettys creepy father one.

So, again stop lying and get your facts straight.

13: I doubt that everything on the show is a metaphor. Don't YOU know that?

Bet you're wrong about that. Unlike you, when you click on my name you can go right to my website. I don't hide behind an anonymous name.

"Creepy" combined with "kids shouldn't be alone with him". Why not then?

@Zanadu: To use your own quote:

"I humbly suggest that you refrain from posting about what you don't know about."

Here is the link that shows you typed this:

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/talk/2009/09/bettys-creepy-f.php

That is how it is done if you want to be fair and honest.

So you can't explain your comment. Okay.

I stand corrected, you were not in that thread, I confused Don's cute with your comment that you were glad Gene was dead (you two sound very similar in your posts). However, you did state that about Bobby.

And as far as "you people", it is considered racist, and most likely, your teacher was one.

13: I doubt that everything on the show is a metaphor. Don't YOU know that?

Do I know that you doubt that everything on the show is a metaphor. Obviously I know that. You asked why we always talk about metaphors, and I told you. Doubt all you like, but everything is a metaphor.That's what fiction is, after all. A metaphor for life. And this is fiction. Hence, a metaphor. The whole thing. Beginning to end.

But that's really neither here nor there. The real question is: Why do you have a problem with our discussions of metaphors? Ultimately, we discuss metaphors because we enjoy it. If this annoys you, then you need to find a solution. A very simple one would be to figure out what you would enjoy talking about and start your own threads (I don't know if you've noticed, but you can do that).

Thus, you get to discuss what you want to discuss, and you never have to drop in on any of those annoying metaphor threads that seem to upset you--but make so many of us so very happy that all we want to do is keep talking about them.

2 words: It's fun.

@13: Never typed I was upset. Tsk Tsk. Such projection here. Have you met Zanadu?

@art: It's fun? That sounds logical. I just don't agree every second of the show is a metaphor. I think someone watched too much Twin Peaks.

It's not a rumor, All Caps as shouting is one of the common rules of the internet.When it is used it is the same as if you are shouting out loud in a group or a person--either out of control or just ignorant. It is one of the common rules of social convention, courtesy and it has been considered since the early '80's known as Netiquette. A long stream of ! is just annoying and taking up too much space.
"You people" is widely considered as rude, derogatory and is typically used to insult. If it is directed racially it is considered racist. Your teacher considered you as inferior.
It is basic linguistics-- our rules of clear communication; it is the basis of "description" use of words and other grammar rules, and it is the descriptive use that declares how language is commonly interpreted.
You can stand in a room shouting all you want that "you people" just don't understand, but you shout to deaf ears.

@fan: Who made up these rules? They are ridiculous. Common rules of the Internet? Who said? I can't believe you allow some so called rule to rule your life. IF I WANT TO TYPE IN ALL CAPS, I WILL. I'M NOT SHOUTING BY THE WAY. If I were shouting I would use this: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Widely considered? By whom? Typically used to insult? Insult who?

My teachers all said it and didn't consider any of us inferior. They were all great teachers and no one in my school felt inferior or took offense to the words, no matter where they were from.

I just want to know who is making up all these stupid rules that the rest of us are suppose to follow blindly.

Deaf ears? I've gotten more responses than anyone I would say.

The proper response to a comment that begins, "You people..." is "which people are you talking about?" Especially if the "you people" involved is one person, such as when Betty used it with Jimmie Barrett. I'm certain he could have had half a dozen "people" on the tip of his tongue if he'd been in his normal mood.

I've said "you people" to a lot of people over the years and they all had one thing in common: They were a group. Didn't have a specific race or ethnicity involved. I was separating that group from all other groups, such as, "I've been all over the world and you people don't realize how damn lucky you are to be born American."

Some people say "ya'll." Others say, "you people."

This topic was recently addressed in a previous topic also. You people may want to check this out:

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/talk/2009/09/gene-saying-you.php

Ritt-- Or "you guys" even to a group of females.

LMM-- I don't recall ever seeing a list of rules for the internet, but other people there will often "let you in on" the commonly held beliefs. That's all a rule is, generally.

All caps just LOOKS like shouting, and usually is used only for extreme emphasis. Like shouting.

We all have to rely on what meaning can be gleaned from the way words look when printed by a keyboard. Like a picture. We have no way to judge tone of voice or volume. So we use visual cues like punctuation, spacing, carefully chosen words and phrases and capital letters.

Your post appeared as shouting to many if not most of the folks here. If you are honest, you will admit that you deliberately used all caps to gain immediate attention. I notice you're keeping track of responses.

@13: Never typed I was upset. Tsk Tsk. Such projection here. Have you met Zanadu?

Yes. And I'll listen to her before I'll listen to you. She's proved herself courteous and intelligent. You haven't done that. You haven't done that because you've decided that in a medium where we can't tell what you're feeling (because we can't hear your tone of voice or see your body language), and we have to make up silly rules in order to get across to each other how we're feeling, that you're going to ignore the agreed upon "rule" that all caps is shouting.

You don't have to like this rule. Or follow it. But if you don't follow it, then like it or not, you will come across as "shouting." And we who commonly use such clues will assume, on seeing said clue, that you are feeling that way--no matter what you tell us otherwise. Just as we'd assume you were upset if you were shouting at us, even if you shouted: "I'M NOT UPSET!"

Really? Don't believe you. Stop shouting and maybe I'll believe it.

Such signals of what we're feeling exist in all cultures, not just on the internet. In some, a child will be taught to meet a person's eyes when they're talking, or else they're signaling that they're not listening. In other cultures it's the opposite, and a child is taught to not look in the speaker's eyes. Books are written on different cultural social rules to avoid complications. This isn't, as you seem to think, about using the wrong fork at dinner. It's a necessity, because otherwise we can't tell whether you're upset and shouting the question in frustration, or asking it out of mild curiosity.

We aren't trying to restrain your creativity when we ask you to follow these rules. We ask because we want to better understand you when you ask such questions. And if you follow such rules, then you say to us that you want us to understand you and what you're feeling. That you are willing to make an effort, in what you type and how you type it, to help us better understand you.

If you fail to do this, then you're NOT coming across to me as boldly defiant or free and independent. You're coming across as rude and inconsiderate. You're saying you'll do what you like and "to hell!" with what confusion in communication that causes us. That's a pretty clear message whether or not you use caps.

So the question on our end becomes, given that's the way you feel about communicating with us, why should we bother communicating with you?

@13: Never typed I was upset. Tsk Tsk. Such projection here. Have you met Zanadu?

Yes. And I'll listen to her before I'll listen to you. She's proved herself courteous and intelligent. You haven't done that. You haven't done that because you've decided that in a medium where we can't tell what you're feeling (because we can't hear your tone of voice or see your body language), and we have to make up silly rules in order to get across to each other how we're feeling, that you're going to ignore the agreed upon "rule" that all caps is shouting.

You don't have to like this rule. Or follow it. But if you don't follow it, then like it or not, you will come across as "shouting." And we who commonly use such clues will assume, on seeing said clue, that you are feeling that way--no matter what you tell us otherwise. Just as we'd assume you were upset if you were shouting at us, even if you shouted: "I'M NOT UPSET!"

Really? Don't believe you. Stop shouting and maybe I'll believe it.

Such signals of what we're feeling exist in all cultures, not just on the internet. In some, a child will be taught to meet a person's eyes when they're talking, or else they're signaling that they're not listening. In other cultures it's the opposite, and a child is taught to not look in the speaker's eyes. Books are written on different cultural social rules to avoid complications. This isn't, as you seem to think, about using the wrong fork at dinner. It's a necessity, because otherwise we can't tell whether you're upset and shouting the question in frustration, or asking it out of mild curiosity.

We aren't trying to restrain your creativity when we ask you to follow these rules. We ask because we want to better understand you when you ask such questions. And if you follow such rules, then you say to us that you want us to understand you and what you're feeling. That you are willing to make an effort, in what you type and how you type it, to help us better understand you.

If you fail to do this, then you're NOT coming across to me as boldly defiant or free and independent. You're coming across as rude and inconsiderate. You're saying you'll do what you like and "to hell!" with what confusion in communication that causes us. That's a pretty clear message whether or not you use caps.

So the question on our end becomes, given that's the way you feel about communicating with us, why should we bother communicating with you?

I think the generational differences are showing here. To people of a certain age, "You people" (not just "people" as in "let's go, people") is definitely a derogatory term. As in "You people think money can solve everything" or "You people are lazy."

Just a note: her name is Zabadu, not Zanadu.
(It's the little details in life that make it interesting.)

Oh good gravy, there's WAY too much caffeine floating around in a few folks' systems this morning.

Yes, communicating in ALL CAPS is commonly considered shouting. Always has been - you can look it up. For that matter it predates the internet itself. Using ALL CAPS in an old-fashioned (non-internet) letter tells the reader that the writer is either very agitated or has a broken typewriter whose lower case letters don't work. Either way, it is difficult to read, and equally difficult to take seriously. If you want to make a point, use logic and clear writing; don't "YELL!!!" with or without exclamation points, please. So many people these days mistake volume for veracity, heat for light.

equally irritating in my opinion is all lower case with no punctuation it makes it difficult to parse the sentence and gives the impression of breathlessness like the person is so anxious to get their message across that they cannot stop to punctuate/breathe how do you like it i for one find it as annoying as the all caps and simply move on when i read such posts

hope my post is not too metaphorical by the way

@Auburn Good gravy! You used one of my favorite expressions. It's a treat to 'hear' genuine frustration expressed without the use of profanity. Another one I like is knuckle-head. It's quaint but still does the trick.

MMJunkie lol... lovely and true!

Thirteen... as always when I read you posts I learn something , and you make your points so well.. clearly and completely.

Auburn, Ritt and Fanomad... loved your additions too...All so well said that I have only one thing to add..

LovesMadMen....you rail against the "Rules" and I hope you will grok what the others have to say about it. I will guess that you would benefit in more ways than one if you do. Maybe if you could substitute the idea of "conventions" instead of "rules" they might be easier to embrace.

Auburn, exactly. I was referring to the internet use of the use rules, but, yes, this knowledge has been around a long time.
And, "rules" is a way in which common, sensible people communicate (well).
Rules is not a bad thing unless you're a powerless child. It's a common ground for adults to use to their advantage.

Someone here is having a tantrum-- childish and annoying, stomping their foot, "NO, I WANT IT MY WAY, WHAAAAAA.....".
Please either go home and take a nap or behave.

@rosie: I prefer Zanadu.

@ritt: /Thank you.