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two reasons: 1. writing in lowercase is freeing. it reminds me that grammatical rules are arbitrary, and by extension other rules. "you can just do things." 2

two reasons: 1. writing in lowercase is freeing. it reminds me that grammatical rules are arbitrary, and by extension other rules. "you can just do things." 2. people who are pedantic about this when it's clearly intentional are probably not people i want to interact with anyway, so it's a good anti-asshole filter (https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1209794.html https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1209794.html)

bayindirh 3y ago
That's interesting take, thanks. I'd love to chat with you further on this issue, but this is neither the place, nor the time. Maybe I'll mail you about this in the soon-ish future if that's OK for you. Cheers!
- jynelson 3y ago
  sure, i'm happy to chat more :) my email is on my website
prmph 3y ago
Then wouldn't dispensing with other rules of grammar be even more "freeing"? This is both a genuine and rhetorical question. I guess it's like user interface design, where a cardinal rule is to be conservative, and not break user expectations unduly. Of course UI patterns and language evolves, but the evolution of changes should probably be gradual, and done for a justifiable purpose. In this case, I'm not sure the stylistic choice actually adds anything to the clarity or beauty of the writing.
coldpie 3y ago
You're going to get some strong/rude reactions from "the other side," which is unfortunate. FWIW, as a reader I do find it genuinely more difficult to read. Capitalization serves a purpose for me, it's not arbitrary. It more clearly separates each sentence. I have to put in more work to read your thoughts without it. Anyway regardless, the rudeness sucks. Sorry on behalf of others who feel as I do.
- jynelson 3y ago
  this is very kindly written, thank you :) frankly i don't want a larger audience, i didn't expect this to hit HN. i hadn't thought about it being harder to read for people in the project though, i'll do a poll on whether they find it distracting.
  - AlexAndScripts 3y ago
    Perhaps you could have a little button to programmatically insert capital letters?
WuxiFingerHold 3y ago
>> so it's a good anti-asshole filter Oh, that is really a screwed thought. You think all people that don't agree with your writing format are assholes?

bayindirh 3y ago

That's interesting take, thanks. I'd love to chat with you further on this issue, but this is neither the place, nor the time. Maybe I'll mail you about this in the soon-ish future if that's OK for you. Cheers!

jynelson 3y ago
sure, i'm happy to chat more :) my email is on my website

prmph 3y ago

Then wouldn't dispensing with other rules of grammar be even more "freeing"? This is both a genuine and rhetorical question. I guess it's like user interface design, where a cardinal rule is to be conservative, and not break user expectations unduly. Of course UI patterns and language evolves, but the evolution of changes should probably be gradual, and done for a justifiable purpose. In this case, I'm not sure the stylistic choice actually adds anything to the clarity or beauty of the writing.

coldpie 3y ago

You're going to get some strong/rude reactions from "the other side," which is unfortunate. FWIW, as a reader I do find it genuinely more difficult to read. Capitalization serves a purpose for me, it's not arbitrary. It more clearly separates each sentence. I have to put in more work to read your thoughts without it. Anyway regardless, the rudeness sucks. Sorry on behalf of others who feel as I do.

jynelson 3y ago
this is very kindly written, thank you :) frankly i don't want a larger audience, i didn't expect this to hit HN. i hadn't thought about it being harder to read for people in the project though, i'll do a poll on whether they find it distracting.
- AlexAndScripts 3y ago
  Perhaps you could have a little button to programmatically insert capital letters?

WuxiFingerHold 3y ago

>> so it's a good anti-asshole filter Oh, that is really a screwed thought. You think all people that don't agree with your writing format are assholes?