My old person trait is that I think 'ghosting' is completely unacceptable and you owe the other person a face-to-face conversation.
this post was submitted on 05 Jul 2023
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My actual old people trait is that there should be two spaces after a period. I will die on this stupid fucking hill. Even though computers automatically change it to one space. Like here.
I'd downvote but I've come to the understanding that I shouldn't downvote if I disagree, so... Take my upvote, truly an old people trait
It was necessary with typewriters.
Then the earliest word processing programs didn’t do layout well, so the habit made the leap to computers.
Then years later it’s seen as an old person’s habit by people who’ve only ever known systems with smart text layout.
One of the best conversations I ever had was when I had taken psilocybin mushrooms and was wandering around downtown and found my way to the local typewriter museum.
I was stoned out of my gourd, but wildly, I don't think that was evident to the historian, because he eagerly answered all my questions and showed me all manner of typewriters and early word processors.
It was wonderful. We truly do stand on the shoulders of giants, all of humanity stands on the knowledge of those who came before. The history of technology is amazing.
Or he knew and just loved getting the chance to talk to someone who was currently enraptured by facts about his passion.
He knew, he just didn't care, because...typewriters!
I'm a historian and I would gladly talk at length to anyone about my particular fascination of the moment, no matter what they took or how high they are. I think I would even enjoy it more if a person was on psychedelics because they are way more open-minded and curious than sober people.
Well before typewriters the space left after a period could be huge like 5-20 spaces (hand written or in printed books) even though we don't have typewriters dictating it it does help readibilty.
I succumbed to the single-space-after-periods madness a few years ago. I'm used to it now, but the transition was hard.
This is the only true OPT in the thread. The rest are middle aged traits at best.
I cannot stop myself from adding two spaces!
It just looks nicer and less crammed together!
Two spaces after the period vs. one space after the period is English major equivalent of "tabs vs. spaces" for computer science majors.
Just had a flashback of Silicon Valley where the girl is spacing five times instead of pressing tab 😂. But I agree the extra space just makes the sentences easier to read for me.
The worst part about Gmail is that pressing tab doesnt do anything and just highlights different elements. Unfortunately I still have to use it for school
Two spaces after a period is my eccentricity as a writer.
It's not even legitimately gained by being that old...I had a crush on this science teacher and HE was old enough to use two spaces. So I did. And 20 years later I still haven't shaken it.
The only good thing is that nothing else legitimately uses a double space, so find and replace is quite easy.
I don't know why but this is so adorable. Thanks for the cute story.
Computers automatically change it?? I see two spaces here In what you wrote. Typically phone and things like word have settings to show double space after period as single or not and some android keyboard apps auto correct spaces. But I hate single space it makes it hard to read. Punctuation and Capitalization it helps the reader.
Try highlighting what I wrote. Even when I edit it, it will show the two spaces I added, but when it posts to the website, the formatting is changed to a single space. When I go to highlight and copy any of the text I posted, only single space.
I did this. i see single space after comma and two after the period. Both visually, and character wise pasting into text editor. Must be your phone app or browser being used, and the respective settings.
It has the advantage of distinguishing abbreviations (e.g. "e.g.", "i.e.") from sentence stops, so that's why the GNU coding standards recommend using two spaces in code comments, to allow emacs to be able to properly detect sentences and correctly use commands like (
backward-sentence,forward-sentenceandkill-sentence)