NAVY NO LONGER COMMUNICATE IN ALL CAPS

[Earth_First]

NOW HEAR THIS: THE U.S. NAVY WILL NO LONGER COMMUNICATE EXCLUSIVELY IN ALL CAPS.

THE TRADITION OF USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IS A LEGACY OF TELETYPE MACHINES OF 1850S THAT LACK LOWERCASE LETTERS. OFFICIAL NAVY COMMUNICATIONS AND ORDERS HAVE BEEN TYPED OUT IN ALL-CAPS SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY, BUT YOUNGER SAILORS SEE IT AS RUDE.

“WHILE THIS DECISION WAS MADE TO SAVE MONEY AND GAIN EFFICIENCIES, IF AN ANCILLARY BENEFIT IS THAT SAILORS READING MESSAGE TRAFFIC NO LONGER FEEL THEY’RE BEING SCREAMED AT…THAT’S A GOOD THING TOO,” SAID A NAVY OFFICIAL.

IRONICALLY, THE ORDER WAS - YOU GUESSED IT - WRITTEN OUT IN ALL CAPS.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324049504578541813637044462.html

[TheMadMonk]

1. I had to check 3 times, to see if that were an Onion piece. /nt

[pinboy3niner]

2. After all these years of upper case, it will take extra effort to get through...

"ATTENTION ALL HANDS: THE NAVY HAS JUST ISSUED THE FOLLOWING LOWER CASE DIRECTIVE..."

[Locut0s]

3. It's ironic how the military is sometimes far behind the tech curve...

In many areas they are of course the leaders in developing new technologies, at least where killing is involved But when it comes to data communications, computers and the like they can be startlingly out of date.