Long, Long Ago ... back when telexes were the norm for intercontinental communications ... I remember being taught that telegraphese was OK for use in telexes because longer and more 'words' cost more to send. But you should not use telegraphese in an ordinary letter.

Then when e-mail became more common, most of the style columns for such things said you should use the same language in an e-mail as in an ordinary letter, as it was simply the same sort of communication but sent electronically. And this is something I've (usually) endeavoured to do.

Alas, text messages on phones have spoilt all that. Many people now communicate by text (sorry, should that be txt?) and a lot of them think that that is the *correct* way to write! They're far too fond of saving time/space/bandwidth/whatever to even think of how to express themselves in full. Txtspk in text messages - fine. In other communications? No, thank you.

I don't feel particularly insulted by it, but I do feel aggrieved. That's my tax money, dammit, that's being spent (or not) on teaching people the basic principles of the English language. And if I ever felt particularly aggrieved/insulted by such things being addressed to me, I'd probably have no hesitation in answering: "Sorry, I don't think I understand that. What do you mean?"