I've recently noticed that the language in these forums has been slowly degrading.
What has caused this, and can it be fixed?

I think it's just the plain and simple fact that we're starting to get younger members.  Only for examples, look at the contrasts between Katana and Fozzer.

You do realize that once these notes get read, we are gonna get bashed .....big time........from all the other users on here......after all, we are a minority.......

For some people, it's part of their daily vocabulary. Not myself personally, but being a high school student, I am pretty numb to it. 

I believe Yabb has an option to edit out the particularly naughty words. But, words like crap, hell, etc. aren't considered "bad" in my book. 

Speaking as an English teacher I think there are two major reasons.
Number one we are attracting a lot of new members for whom English is NOT their mother language, and they should be applauded for having a go in a different language (believe me I know how hard it is!), and you have different levels of expertise within that language, for example ATI is v.good at English, and he is German, whereas some of our other foreign members are still just beginning to learn English.
Also the education system (please note that word, do NOT suppliment for teachers!) is failing. All students seem to care about these days is their rights, not their education. When I first started teaching in Hungary I was treated v.differently by the students than I am now, nowadays they know I can't even give them a detention, so they swear at me, or wonder into the class half way through the lesson, and don't apologise! It really comes down to the hippy brigade (no disrespect to ex-hippies), and their free will attitude and lack of discipline. In Japan things are v.different, and they still have exceptional discipline, and it shows!
Alas we cannot turn back the clock and fix these things, and alas the American sueing culture is catching on everywhere these days. There was a good thread about this a while back, and a lot of the American members here were saying 'why can't people accept responsibility for their actions?', and they were right.

Ozzy

my mother language is Dutch. in these forums i learn much english. of course i still make lots of mistakes, but without them, you can't learn anything... by the way, it 's much more fun to learn a language this way, than in a classroom.

okay,i'll try to avoid using "bad" words. promised.

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Brensec, my old sparring partner.  
I have no objection to ampersands or indeed the usual chat shorthand like LOL or ROFL.  

Steve-O pointed out that he was referring to bad language in the original topic. Depends what you mean by bad language. A lot of acceptable words in common usage today were regarded as disgusting in my young days. I always thought we're a reasonably well-behaved lot.  

PS. This reply has been edited as I found a mistake after clicking the Send button. 

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Hagar my friend, you inspire me to go and learn....after seeing your placement of the word " toothcomb " at the end of your post, I wondered if you forgot the space in the middle, or used that word in place of fine-toothed comb...A term which is more commonly used in my part of the world......in my search to learn what a toothcomb is, I did find out that a toothcomb is a set of teeth, used in many animals primarily for grooming and foraging for food, so in essence you didn't make any error there at all................thanks for the lesson, pal..........if you hadn't said it, I wouldn't have learned about this......

Hmm, interesting.
It amazes me what you can learn here
As for harsh language, I'm a hypocrite. I don't tollerate it from my students, I don't like it when somebody is using it in front of a lady, but when I'm working on something or irritated, boy can I use the F-word e.g. fudge, flip, fruitbat etc.
I did recently do a whole lecture on this word at uni., and it proved to be a really interesting lesson (according to my students), and quite a lot of fun. It is  just such a versatile word.
But I won't tolerate naughty stuff here, so be warned!

Ozzy

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I know what you mean. I've sent of countless e-mails without getting a chance to correct major errors that were noticed after being sent. I've even accidentally sent somewhat offensive e-mail to the wrong person once! I was using Outlook and it thought it was so smart that it guessed the e-mail

Err Fozzer shouldn't Quote:
be errors (plural)?

Ozzy

My grammar, punctuation and spelling are always terrible.  I am better now that I can use a keyboard but my brain moves at about 500mph and my fingers at about 5mph.  I am always rushing trying to get to the point of what I wish to say and often I lose the thread completely.  I would like to take this opportunity to apologise to my international buddies who for some strange reason don't always see the funny side to my jokes.

I would also like to thank you guys.  This is beyond doubt the politest and most helpful (is politest a word?) forum I have ever seen.

I despair when I read some post's as I haven't a clue what the person means.  I have taken to not responding if I only think I understand due to a recent disagreement with a member of a collective.....

Will

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Interesting to learn that there is such a word (and thing) as a "toothcomb" however, I really do think, regardless what part of the world you're from, that in the context you used the expression, Hagar, it is supposed to be "fine-toothed comb" as in the type used for removing nits etc.   

Dave you are quite correct. Politest is not a real word according to the OED. Odd as so many people use it, I guess it will get taken on-board in due course like so many other words......

Ozzy

It has gotten far worse in schools in America. Students dont listen to their teachers, or walk out in the middle of class. It gets to the point that I wish school was run like a military academy. At least then their would be discipline and respect.

Well you fella's will be pleased to know that the only swear word I use regularly is BUGGER! Its not too rude and can be used in many many situations and usually in place of f**k aswell. As for spelling and punctuation, I think i'm pretty good.

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Point taken, if you wish to be pedantic. 

By the way,can anyone tell me what"LOL"means?I dont find it in Websers un-abriged collegate.

Thanks,Steve- O,I though it was something else,un-postable.COOL kitty you have there!

Hmmmmmmm!!!!!!   Are we expected to be perfectionists in our Typing and English skills?  With all the comments made here, maybe a Moderator should make up some ground rules for what is expected.  Is that really necessary?  This is a Flight Sim forum and I love it in here.   I agree with Phil, and I suspect a lot of participants are "Hunt and Peck" typists and have not a lot of time to sit down type, correct or proof read.  I type 85 wpm and make mistakes which I hate correcting, its time consuming and one is only trying to make a point, ask questions or comment on a subject.  I am also an old fart, my use of language leaves something to be desired sometimes (I spent 36 years in the military),  and I havent seen anything in here to upset me at all, whether said by a 12 year old or a 65 year old.  I love the information that can be gleaned from these forums and have put a lot of it to good use to upgrade, update and make my FS better, even tho' sometimes I have to read between the lines or ask for elaboration.  Sorry guys, I dont mean to preach, but I just don't see a problem here.  You want to see bad language, go into multi-player and watch the "scrolling comments" in the lobby.  Anyway "enuf" said  lol, lmao, rotflmao.  Anybody pissed at what I said, tell me so.  I like that.
Splash

Now tell him what ROFLMFAO means. 

lol

I usually don't swear or cuss, but after all this time being 'around' all you Brits, a few words have rubbed off onto me

There's a few words i'll say, but I don't say 'sh!t', or 'f***', i think you can get the idea

I usually stick to 'Shoot', 'rats', and occasionally, 'bugger'

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Ok, I've known for years what LOL means. I really did not care what LMAO meant! But now since we are on this topic,
What does ROLFLMFAO mean?

Dave

I move to the floor that that this issue be decided upon by our esteemed moderators,as the rules and regulations of acceptable language,grammar and general conduct are in drastic need of clarification as this thread is in danger of becoming "buggered",as well as"NFG"  All those in favor say....... 8)

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The rules and regs are pretty well set out. I believe they are discussed at some length somewhere on the home page.
Everyone has a reasonable idea of what is acceptable and what is not, as far as bad language is concerned.
As for grammar etc, well, we all have our strengths.
As has been mentioned, there are posters from foreign countries and from those that are still in school and still learning.
So, given all this, we need to be patient where there is an obvious language barrier or lack of knowledge due to age.
The annoying thing for most, is the laziness and lack of pride that is sometimes quite evident.

Those that are at a genuine disadvantage can use this forum as a place of learning by way of advice from those here that are "in the know" or by making use of spell checkers, thesaurae and other tools.