Chatspeak(Chtspk)

When it comes to this article I take a firm stance on the side of, No it will not destroy the English language. Chatspeak is just another form of slang used by all students of any age. Remember when you were in High School and you chose to speak in code or a different way from the adults, so that they couldn't eavesdrop on your conversations. I believe that this is another form of it, and it will not destroy English. I believe when these students grow up or when they aren't online that they will use proper English. Well, as proper English as a High School student can get. I really don't believe that it will jeopardize their speaking skills when in public or while writing a paper. I used to use the words "like", "you know", and "um" all the time while talking. Now I don't do it at all. I learned how to speak when I was in College and because I have matured past that stage. The kids will grow out of it, or only use it when they are chatting online, thus why it is given the name "Chatspeak".
When Greg Monflis commented " A student of mine recently asked via e-mail, “hey, i cant find hw n the conf can u help.” I did. Shortly thereafter, she wrote a lovely paper devoid of chatspeak." This is a great example of how chatspeak is used very informally while online, but when it comes down to a paper or a situation arises the student can speak in proper English. When Linda Howard said "Chatspeak is destroying students’ command of written English, in the sense that whatever we engage in for a long period of time will most likely become commonplace." It makes me feel like she was never a child who used slang words and grew out of it to become a clear and well spoken adult. I believe that she is taking these children for granted and implying that they will never learn how to speak because of the way that they talk to their friends.
Some questions that I would have for Linda are, do you have children? Do your children go online and use chatspeak? Are they less capable of speaking to you in the English language? We make fun of this form of talking on commercials and tv shows, but the children really don't go around talking like that, and I do not believe that it will hinder the language, as long as they have great teachers showing them the proper ways to speak. Is this really a problem? I don't think so, but some do. Why is it such a big deal to use slang language? Riddle me this...