Insider Column 8
An insider's look at Townsend...Chapter Eight
June 29, 2001
I have some good news and I have some bad news. The bad news is that Nick and I didn’t have a chance to finish his interview. It’s his fault. Really, it is! Honest! The good news is that were going to have another contest. I’ll get to that later.
Ya know, I’ve been thinking. This T Rex thing is a little silly. I know that many of you would rather not call me Bob and I rather not be called Mr. Dolci. So, I was thinking. How about if you all just me Uncle Bob? This whole relation think that seems to be developing between me and many of the Townsend fans has me a little bewildered. I truly do not know what to make of it. Doesn’t it trouble you that I’m an old fart? You should be focusing all your energies on the guys.
I’ll never understand how the mind of a teenager works.
Why do young folks feel compelled to develop their own language? I’ve just recently started getting used to the way teenagers and young adults communicate via the electronic media. The electronic media has spawned a whole new genre for adolescent communication. At first, my attempts to comprehend messages were wrought with difficulty. Not that I am currently able to fully ascertain the actual content of the messages being posted; but at least now I can establish a reasonably accurate meaning for the hieroglyphic-like writing commonly used in the Townsend chat room.
What is the rationale that you young folks used to justify the need for manufacturing a newer, less comprehensible method for communicating the written word? Is it intended to be some kind of code that would prove meaningless to most adults? Is it an attempt to minimize the time that it takes to converse with your peers? Is it a built in excuse for the writer’s inability to spell?
I would have to assume that at least part of the justification for the electronic condensation of the written word is to save time. This I can understand. I receive 50 to 75 (work-related) emails per day. I have to respond to at least 30% of them. I strongly distain the effort involved with responding to these boring emails. On many occasions I’ve found myself writing in "emailese". It most assuredly saves time for me. But, what of the recipient? Is he or she able to adequately divine the meaning of the message that I’m attempting to convey?
Still with me? The above is an exaggerated version of how I normally write. I love it; I’m sure that you hate it. I have the feeling that you find it just as difficult to read what I write as I do to read the Townsend chat room and many of the emails that I receive from the Townsend fans. It brings to mind being stuck in a traffic jam and trying to figure out the meaning of the vanity license plates.
The following is a copy of a message that was sent to the Townsend 5 that I pulled from the chat room:
Whats up guys? omg u guys were totally sweet and nice and down to earth we loved u before but now we love u even more , do u remember us? we were the girls after the girl who asked u t sign her butt *~*lol*~* u prolly dont but n e who , we just wanted to say hi! and wish u guys lots of luck in the future and hope to see u soon! o ya ..... Todd u smelled really good and u guys look really hot that night too bad u couldn't stay longer 8( o well we'll let u get back to whatever it was u were doing, all rity then see ya'll later.
Much L<3ve ,always ur dedicated Townsend fans:
Allyson and Crystal
As you would imagine, I found it a little difficult to follow the above post.
Have you figured out what the contest is all about yet? U 1/2n’t!! 2 b+. Don’t u jst h8 that? U 1/2 2 h& it 2 me, I can do > with <. I’m no b1 he+(-d). Lol jk. 2b or not 2b a townsend f&(-d) that is the ? I off10 1der wi u seem 2 <3 townsend sooo much. R u really their # 1 f&-d? Deep hole, got ta go fo now. Luv ya lots, trex.
The contest works this way:
1. Convert the T Rex talk (red font) to emailese.
2. Convert the emailese (blue font) to T Rex talk
3. Convert the drastic emailese (green font) to "normal speak".
4. Don’t ask for my help in the chat room!! I won’t do it! And don’t send me email asking for help. And don’t ask Todd. But, you can help each other.
5. There will be two categories of winners:
a. Individual
b. Team (Official Fan Club as previously posted by Joy in the chat room)
6. Send your answers to trex@townsendboys.com or to the Townsend mailing address: Townsend, PO Box 128, Moffett Field, CA 94035-0128.
7. Responses due no later than Friday, July 13th.
8. Submittals judge by T Rex, Mrs. T Rex, and the guys. Or should I say, judge by Uncle Bob and Aunt Wendy?
So, you ask? What do you win? Personally, I think it’s a little weak but the guys think that you’ll love it. The first place individual winner will get his/her very own Townsend Email address!! For example, my email address is trex@townsendboys.com. All my Townsend email is automatically forwarded to my regular email account. You would just replace trex with whatever name you want to go by. It could be something like crazymeg@townsendboys.com. Of course that will only work if you’re CraZy MeG.
If a fan club enters and wins, we will have a special prize. When you submit your entry, include the name of the fan club and all of the names of the folks that contributed to your response. Also tell me where your club headquarters is located. As in what town.
We may have second and third place winners. If we do, they’ll probably win something great, like a picture of me working in the garden. JK!!!! a.k.a. Just Kidding!
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