Tommy

I completely agree that these days such notes are pretty pointless, but I always thought that they were initially put there to provide an excuse to mobile posters. As mobile posts would tend to have more spelling errors, lack proper caps, etc. due to people typing on a tiny keypad - and often feel markedly more off-the-cuff than those written from behind a PC - my thinking was that these notes were there to head off flames from the audience. But it's quite possible that I've been overthinking this and it has always been mainly about the gee-whiz factor as you say.

That's actually some interesting insight you've posted there. Since most mobile users don't really bother to use proper grammar or spelling, it could be there to basically say "I'm lazy" as well.

But in all actuality, I even see such "signatures" on forums that let you know, "Hey, I posted this from my phone!" I usually only see those as spam messages because it adds nothing to the conversation.

But you're right, those keyboards are very small. The only mobile thing I've ever owned was a second generation iPod Touch which is quite useless anymore even updated with Whited00r. But I've always hated the thing because it never does what I want it to, either it's taking you to things you never really touched but because your finger just happened to land on it while scrolling, you have to hurry up and hit stop your browser otherwise it screws you up and takes you someplace else. And I'm a proficient typist on a PC. I can go upwards of 150 WPM but those things, they drive me crazy. Human fingers were never meant to try typing on a thing so small so that's the one thing I one finger at and it takes me forever to get out a simple email message so I don't use it often at all. But get me on a regular keyboard and I go like wildfire! I've even had people at my work be like, "What the hell man??" since I'm just in my little cubical clacking away like nobody's business. XD

A little story before I wrap this up. I was at a friend's house long ago, back when stuff like AIM was still popular and used often. She wanted me to try it out and type to her friend and so I did. However, I used correct grammar and she's like, "What are you doing?" Apparently I was suppose to not use capitals or periods. I told her I wasn't illiterate and that using the correct style of writing was what I did. I'm certainly not perfect, but I can't see turning my brain off either just for the sake of being fast.