Yeah I am sure it does, and that is why all this coming to light is good. It helps us understand each other better.

Thanks for your input about my Dad and thanks for sharing that concern. I will check with him first. I am pretty sure he will be all about it though. As it is now, he speaks at schools about his experiences. They invite him in an effort to educate kids about the horrors of that war. 

Why kind of photos would you like to see in particular? 

Update... WHAT

.

I'm concerned that part of this thread has gone off in the direction of criticizing one individual. TB is a valuable member of the "Ships" section. He has lots of experiences that can benefit the rest of us. I'm willing to fight my way through his typing problems - and I do think his posts are clearer now than they were a few years ago. If the criticism drives him out of the Forum, we'll all lose something valuable.

This thread has gotten a remarkable number of responses - an average of more than one per hour since the initial post. And it's gone off in several interesting directions simultaneously.

Regarding Bakster's most recent topic - this is a crucial time for recording the recollections of World War II vets. In my modern military history course I give the students an oral history assignment. Each student has to go out and interview two "individuals who lived through some important event in American military history." I started giving that assignment in 1984, and the first batch of papers included an interview with a lady who had served as an army nurse on the Western Front in World War I. Now, the students have trouble finding World War II vets. (I feel old. Some students interview their grandparents about Vietnam. And most of our undergraduates were born after Operation Desert Storm.)

I'll always regret that I never taped an interview with my father about his WWII service in the Navy. (He never came close to getting into combat, but his stories about life on board an attack transport in the Pacific aren't the sorts of things that normally make it into the history books.) Now it's too late.

A few years ago, WWII vets were passing away at a rate of 2,000 or 3,000 per day. That's no longer the case - because so few are left.

So my answer to Bakster's query is a loud YES. Any first-hand accounts directly or indirectly from WWII vets are worth preserving and reading. There's a real danger that our own grandchildren, unless they get into some sort of computer simulation games, won't know what WWII was. I can see it happening already.

Don't regret it too much, John. I'm sorry you lost him, I'm getting near that now. They often get funny in front of a tape recorder. I tried to write them down. One important thing I've found with the WW2 vets I've talked to is that you need to listen to what they want to tell, not what you want to hear.

We all are interested in "I got right in behind him and the tail was filling my windshield."

They usually want to talk about the Italian family that they brought soup to outside the gate.

John, what an excellent assignment that you task your students with. It serves to the greater good in more ways than one. These are memories that should be preserved for sure, and it is a shame that so many stories have never been heard. I am sure that your father had interesting ones to tell and I would sure love to hear about them.

I am humbled by your enthusiasm to my query. As fate would have it I have plans to see him this weekend. I say fate because I have not seen him in almost a year, and then this comes up. All thanks to TB. [:) If this project moves forward I think that you guys will find it interesting, and maybe even entertaining at times.

I see no reason, on a forum, to be a grammar-nazi.  As long as you can:

-- Use the full word (don't shorten it)

-- Use a comma

-- Break long post into a few paragraphs 

You're good with me

     It's no use making fun of somone who is not great gramatically; it's in poor taste.  Despite ones education, or lack of, were not all good at everything. 

oh i might as well drop a few lines here. 

Arthur Haley AIRPORT, the airport manager's secretary had a maintenance guy file all the caps of her typewriter keys. it's become a schtick for me in non formal correspondence. probably annoys some folks but i suspect e. e. cummings did too.

i do try to use correct spelling and correct punctuation but i also fat finger type. i am a bit of a stickler for its/it's, your/you're and the like but i overlook the spelled hte and similar miss typos. i also remember some folks here have english as a second lanquage, like those guys from great britain , and i know i have enough trouble with english as a first language.

so, as has been previously stated, it's not a big deal for me anymore when the correspondence is informal. OTOH, on an essay or paper turned in for a class or any formal correspondence, i am much less forgiving.

I DU MIS SPEL CHECK HEER.

waynec

oh i might as well drop a few lines here. 

Arthur Haley AIRPORT, the airport manager's secretary had a maintenance guy file all the caps of her typewriter keys. it's become a schtick for me in non formal correspondence. probably annoys some folks but i suspect e. e. cummings did too.

i do try to use correct spelling and correct punctuation but i also fat finger type. i am a bit of a stickler for its/it's, your/you're and the like but i overlook the spelled hte and similar miss typos. i also remember some folks here have english as a second lanquage, like those guys from great britain , and i know i have enough trouble with english as a first language.

so, as has been previously stated, it's not a big deal for me anymore when the correspondence is informal. OTOH, on an essay or paper turned in for a class or any formal correspondence, i am much less forgiving.

I DU MIS SPEL CHECK HEER.

 

Now awaiting Bish, and proper Queen's English.  LOL

I try to get to the point quickly, and keep on track.  Sometimes the fingers get faster than the brain and hit keys out of order, and I miss it and have to go back and edit/correct.

As to getting down the history of our vets, and other countries as well, the time is almost past for WWII and Korea.  Now our veterans home here is getting in the Vietnam vets.  These will be stories lost for all time, and GM is right, you have to let them tell what they want.

Typos are easy to catch- read your message after you type it, but before you hit the "submit your reply" button.  Grammar errors are harder to catch. 

When I type messages to the FSM forum there is a spelling checker, but I don't know where it is based. Is it in my web browser (Firefox) or is it a feature of the forum software?

Don Stauffer

Typos are easy to catch- read your message after you type it, but before you hit the "submit your reply" button.  Grammar errors are harder to catch. 

When I type messages to the FSM forum there is a spelling checker, but I don't know where it is based. Is it in my web browser (Firefox) or is it a feature of the forum software?

 

feature of the forum software.  We used to have it -- now we don't.   Aaron Skinner assured me they are working on bringing it back. 

Oh merciful God, Aaron or anyone else from the magazine reading this- PLEASE BRING BACK THE SPELL CHECK!!! 

I kan't speel worh a darrn! 

PS: And don't expect good grammer from me, I was a science major 

Don Stauffer

Typos are easy to catch- read your message after you type it, but before you hit the "submit your reply" button.  Grammar errors are harder to catch. 

When I type messages to the FSM forum there is a spelling checker, but I don't know where it is based. Is it in my web browser (Firefox) or is it a feature of the forum software?

Not only read your text before posting, but read it backwards.  That was a tip one of my English teachers gave me in high school.  It works--it forces you to look more closely at each word, and catch things that you still might overlook, reading left-to-right, and which your brain thinks are correct but aren't.  It's easy to fool the eye, if it expects to see something.

SubarooMike

 

Don Stauffer

Typos are easy to catch- read your message after you type it, but before you hit the "submit your reply" button.  Grammar errors are harder to catch. 

When I type messages to the FSM forum there is a spelling checker, but I don't know where it is based. Is it in my web browser (Firefox) or is it a feature of the forum software?

 

 

 

 

 

feature of the forum software.  We used to have it -- now we don't.   Aaron Skinner assured me they are working on bringing it back. 

 

I think the same folks are working on JSF software

Ooops !

  Well, it seems I started something here.Didn't mean to. When I said I read the thread I was thinking and not looking at what I wrote and didn't get it even on edit or re-read . G.M. I am sorry you find my threads unreadable .Is there some other point you wish to make ?

   I do the best I can as well. Now the post was intended to be a critique of the magazine and sales brochure media. It was NOT intended to criticise anyone here. Because of age and other stuff I probably don't use perfect grammar or punctuation .Guess what ? My 88 year old grandfather didn't either!

      Yes , I am in my early seventies and believe it or not , I was a tutor (licensed) of language and spelling for over ten years . I haven't gotten any complaints from those folks either! I use weird spacing so I know when I reach the end of a sentence .I don't normally see the period , comma or other small punctuation .I just can't see them tucked next to the words . So I bent the rules .

    Speaking of bent rules. I don't believe I would find fault with the posters in public .I wasn't brought up that way . I would take someone aside and just be honest ." Hey " you write so weird I don't understand what you are getting at.That's why we have a message section .

   Until then be advised , I have very thick skin and most comments don't bother me too much .If they do, I just don't let it worry me , unless it's a real big problem

     There you have it .Thanks for reading the thread though , even you G.M.  T.B.

modelcrazy

 I have been asking about spell check since the change. I finally quit saying anything because no one answered me or apparently gave a cr$%. Now I use Word and copy/paste into the post window. Even then Word will miss things as well as I.

 I'm an idiot with a High School education and some college only. I couldn’t afford or had the time to become one of the privileged with a degree.

 

 

I inquired about spell check the other day and this is what Aaron had to say:

"Mike,

We at FSM DO care and have been doing our best to address member concerns since the redesign went live last year. Spellcheck is something we'd all like to have back, but there are several hurdles with the updated software the Fourm runs on that we have not been able to overcome as yet. I appreciate your patience.

Cheers, Aaron"

I hope we get it back soon!

jtilley

Patrick206, your comments are on target. I wouldn't be a part of any forum that rejected posts because of grammatical or mechanical errors.

I feel obliged to note, though, that you've shot yourself in the foot. This certified Olde Phogey read your post pretty carefully and couldn't find a single mistake in it. I'd go so far as to call it the best-written post in this thread so far (certainly better than mine).

I hope most of us can agree with Don Stauffer: well-written posts are easier to read, and proofreading is a courtesy to the reader. But I'm sure Don will agree that grammar isn't the most important thing in a Forum post.

 

Jtilley 

Thanks for the compliment, nice to read that. For the most part I can write and speak OK, but sometimes the words I want to use just cannot be found, then I fumble and mistakes get compounded.

Once in a while if I struggle, a two or three minute step back will get it sorted. More than anything, if I allow frustration to set in it will just make the problem get worse. Thankfully Karon, (wife/editor,) is always there to bail me out.

Again, thanks and best to all here at FSM, I enjoy it every day.

Patrick 

Tanker - Builder

Ooops !

  Well, it seems I started something here.Didn't mean to. When I said I read the thread I was thinking and not looking at what I wrote and didn't get it even on edit or re-read . G.M. I am sorry you find my threads unreadable .Is there some other point you wish to make ?

What I was trying to point out was that it seemed "weird" to me that you were calling out bad spelling and grammar from others, when your own is pretty unique. Just that, nothing personal and certainly I'm not advocating any stricter standards here.

I don't care much for the fact that you think people laugh at America, but that is your opinion.

I wouldn't even have commented, except that the following number of posts then started to crit lazy students, and Common Core (politics).

Your original post, in my opinion, is one of the ones that tosses out red meat and then waits for the action.

Group hug.

I do apologise, Proff ;

   The thread I read was the one about mis-identification by our Media .  T.B.

Re;RedMeat ;

   Yup , and quite unintentional too ! As you know , I am an opinionated old Phogy . So , I surmised , let's have some fun . No really " G " I have had foreign visitors to our Museum laugh at the way Americans write and speak .One said ,and I quote, " You  Americans , You always talk too fast , and change spelling to suit you ".

    I enjoy word games a lot. Crosswords etc. so ,Yes , I cringe when I see the way we speak or write, murdered or otherwise maimed . As I explained yesterday the whole thing actually comes down to laziness. At least if I didn't say it, the intention was there.

    Have you noticed in your years around, how some words have subtly changed spelling or just dropped letters?

   Texting is it's own worst enemy .I actually know folks so wrapped up in that , when you speak to them they look at you like you are from Mars. Anyway, if you have a question about something I wrote , just blurt out " what the heck did you mean by that"? " I'll take the time to clarify the point .

 I value all my forum friends and strive ,for the most part, Not to be obnoxous.  T.B.      P.S Yes, I am pretty much the perpatetic proffessional ( retired ) that shows in print .

I second that ! T.B.

Hey;

 Mike , do they make a "Turbo" version of spell and punctuation check ? I know I need one !  T.B.

Gamera;

Youse zound lyke me boy .He's juss a mess wid dem woids . T.B.

Hi, Proff;

 I could write a whole post about those who finally talk about their battle experience . My step - grandpa always told me when I wore the uniform, he  "Might" tell me.When he did ,I had two whole days of the hair on my backbone standing straight up .

    Yup ! He was one of the very mentally challenged after Chosin Resevoir in Korea ! Turns out his buddie's remains kept him warm .I know I would have nightmares about that too!

     When I came home from Boot - Camp , he sat me down and told me all .Grandma said that was the first time he had told anyone the whole story .Gees , I wish I had thought to tape it ! I do know it was two days of heart-wrenching horror to re-live .He did it though tears and all ( that's the first time I ever saw him cry ). Grandma said afterwards he was kinder and gentler as a person and husband. I guess the timing was right .They had fourteen happy more years together, laughing like I never heard in that house before ! So there , see ! These memories and stories are important.

    I always tried to get my model building vets to tell me their stories ,with a ringer(Shrink) in the group .I know that wasn't right ,but , it helped them return to civilian life . Who'd a Thunk ? A model building teacher as an outlet for mental stress and fear ?

     I felt a bond like you wouldn't believe. Then Of course I told my story of returning and what transpired after. It definitely seemed to weld us into a "Band of Brothers" ( Women included)    T.B.

Tanker - Builder

Hey;

 Mike , do they make a "Turbo" version of spell and punctuation check ? I know I need one !  T.B.

 

If they did I would be be their best customer!!

Tanker - Builder

Gamera;

Youse zound lyke me boy .He's juss a mess wid dem woids . T.B.

 

Lol, I've had people from up North tell me I talk funny too... 

So far no one's ever told me I talk too fast though... 

I have tried to write the best I can on the forums. Since my last two years of college (when I switched majors where most of my classes were Political Science or History classes) I had many professors emphasize the importance of writing. One graded more on content and let most grammatical errors go (as long as the paper wasn't riddled with them). One of them was the typical grammarphile. One was a reference style monster, penalizing you if the period wasn't in the right spot in a bibliography, or the page numbers were in the lower left corner instead of the right.

But there were two professors who engaged me enough to make me WANT to excel in writing. So JT, thank you, although I did not attend your university or be taught by you, by your posts, passion, and knowledge it is easy to figure out that you're one of those professors to some students.

While, in my opinion, communication on forums is informal and needs to be well enough just to get the point across--I find practicing here keeps my thinking and writing skills from becoming dull. The same goes with emails...it drives me nuts the way people write emails at work. When I write emails I will proofread them one or two times, striving for proper spelling and grammar.

Squadron catalogs remind me of classified posts in newspapers; space is critical when listing a product. As I said before, I view the forums as a form of informal communication. I've met many people who cannot even read or write (they're all older, so no, common core has nothing to do with it), so typos or less than stellar grammar doesn't bother me too much on here. Nevertheless, I usually proofread when I post--except when I'm on my phone, sorry, not worrying about apostrophes then JT! ;)

That's very well put, Josiah. Your writing is impressive, I'm envious.

There's a funny blurb in the current Squadron catalogue, under the description of the Revell 1/144 Gato.

Something on the order of "The large Gato had interiors that were luxurious for the time". I can't say I had ever heard THAT before.