Courtesy on the forum

[K K Iyer]

Today I sent this msg to a member:
Hello
May I know your name and age please, if you don't mind?
I and a grandfather now, but I have no idea whether you are a student, or working, young or married with kids of your own etc.
My mailbox here is always nearly full, so I have to keep deleting messages. I still have your last two msgs.
I could not understand what you were trying to convey with the mention of 200, 40, bad words etc.
By rubber power do you mean catapult or rubber motor with prop?
Please share details of the model you are planning to make, what materials you have etc.
Please share your email address. Will send photo of the rubber powered model I made last year...
Best wishes.

Here's the reply:

what you want to say with these words "or married with kids of your own etc".
You said "or married with kids of your own etc"
who will get married with their kids ?
I think it is  your writing mistake.
Please check message  which you sent.
I need rubber powered plans design which can be easily made with available item at market.
Please provide links of the images

Kya baat hai?
Didn't understand Shaadi Shuda bacche sammed?
The tone of the message is as if I'm his servant.

Perhaps we could have a little more courtesy on the forum...

[Ajay Sarwan]

Also a little more of common sense and respect.
I guess, New members should not be allowed to write on forums for short period of time, so that they can read old posts, and know how the forum works.

[girishsarwal]

Iyer sir,
I always have this discussion with my friends, that English is not our native language and transliteration of English puts us in sbiffy spots. Some things are best understood in our mothertongues (given we have so many). The gent seems to have misinterpreted that you were suggesting he got married to his "own kids". Such transliterated misnterpretation is bound to incite unwarranted offense... ...and I do feel the request-demand conundrum is also a remnant of the same transliteration.

And yes then there is this gen gap. I remember my parents giving me a piece of their mind on how disciplined their lives as kids were. I rhetorically offer the same speak to my kid today. We're all coming of age in a way. Respect and courtesy have different meanings in the order of the newer world that is much affine to the further west.

[K K Iyer]

I realise that it's a matter of familiarity (or lack of it) with English.

But actually it's more than that.
There is a pride in ignorance.
In pointing out a mistake to someone without realising one's own lack of understanding.

I fear that this is becoming endemic in our country, though that is beyond the scope of this forum...

All I wish is that we all extend courtesies to each other.

[K K Iyer]

But. All is not lost.

Hindustan me abhi tehzeeb baaki hai.

Here's the response from the person whose msgs I was quoting:

As you replied on topic "Courtesy on the forum",
There is misunderstanding.
Sorry for these words.
English is not my native language and i can't understand English very well. 
There is misunderstanding.
Sorry for that words.

I am grateful for such a nice reply!

[Imperial fire]

language may or may not be the issue here..
i think the person lacks manners ..period....
i mean come on someone has taken an initiative and is trying to help u make a project....
firstly that gentleman doesn't  understand what is being said...
secondly he is impolite enough to place a demand :I need rubber powered plans design which can be easily made with available item at market.:....GENIUS its a rubber powered airplane obviously everything is going to be available in the market...

you are not being asked to make a space shuttle...what happened to 'thankyou for the plans', or 'i appreciate your help'...or manners...
jeez the nerve of some people.
anyways back to studies enough of ranting from me.

EDIT: that person showed manners...my bad 

[K K Iyer]

@ imperial fire
Two issues involved.
1. Individuals can and do apologise for rudeness (at least sometimes)
2. Rudeness is perhaps getting ingrained into our psyche. Pity.