General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,692 posts)

107. Not really.

Tue Dec 30, 2014, 08:47 PM

Dec 2014

The point of a signature is not to identify the author, but to authenticate the intent of the author. Sort of like a password - the more unique, the better it serves its purpose. I could relatively easily forge Mickey Mouse's signature - far less so Mr. Lew's. That makes Mr. Lew's signature much more effective for the purpose it serves - to establish that the mark was actually made by Mr. Lew (and not someone else attempting to bind Mr. Lew to a statement - or legal commitment - he did not make).

My signature is extremely illegible but remarkably consistent from document to document (even though I cannot create it if I stop and think as I am writing it). Because it bears little resemblance to most of the letters in my name, it would be very hard for anyone else to replicate either. if someone were to show up in court with a document I signed, it would be pretty good evidence that I actually signed it. On the other hand, if someone showed up with a forgery it would be pretty easy to establish it was not my signature. And that is the entire purpose of a signature - to authenticate that the statement or legal commitment contained in the document is one I actually made.

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If you don't know how to write cursive, then how [View all] clydefrand Dec 2014 OP

My Great Uncle could neither read nor write, but he could sign his name ... Scuba Dec 2014 #1

Are schools teaching even THIS much? WinkyDink Dec 2014 #6

It has been replaced by how to fill in bubbles correctly. femmocrat Dec 2014 #26

Common Core has replaced bubbles... onecaliberal Dec 2014 #29

I printed in school CreekDog Dec 2014 #85

My kids are learning cursive sharp_stick Dec 2014 #28

Of course not. LWolf Dec 2014 #42

That's what I do, too. eom. rogerashton Dec 2014 #36

I know someone who can write his name madokie Dec 2014 #103

I spent a weekend a few years ago trying to teach two teens cursive. 2theleft Dec 2014 #2

You could not read my name Duckhunter935 Dec 2014 #3

I was going to ask if anyone had ever been to a doctor, lol... Phentex Dec 2014 #15

Yes, mine types her chart notes into a terminal in the exam room CreekDog Dec 2014 #86

My signature was destroyed working in medical labs. hunter Dec 2014 #70

I am pro-cursive. bigwillq Dec 2014 #4

Yeah - my writing process would not be the same without cursive Iris Dec 2014 #16

We are kindred spirits in this. MANative Dec 2014 #22

I am too. Especially because I am interested in genealogy and sometimes it is tough enough to seaglass Dec 2014 #18

But, don't you think it would have been easier if our ancestors DawgHouse Dec 2014 #52

Easier to read, not easier to write which I am guessing was the whole point of cursive. I'd hate to seaglass Dec 2014 #56

True! Although in some cases, I've almost need a translator for some very old records! nt DawgHouse Dec 2014 #58

I can totally write cursive but depending on who wrote it I may not be able to read it. TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #117

I already run into problems with people that cannot read cursive csziggy Dec 2014 #120

Have you ever written with a fountain pen or with a dip (nib) pen? csziggy Dec 2014 #118

Oh yes, I love writing with a fountain pen or a calligraphy pen nt DawgHouse Dec 2014 #119

That's actually a concern that has been mentioned. Iris Dec 2014 #95

If you were interested in genealogy Mariana Dec 2014 #110

Of course now it would be easy to learn, I was thinking much further into the future. n/t seaglass Dec 2014 #114

I can manage to read & write cursive as well as the old pre-WWII deutsches Schrift, Jackpine Radical Dec 2014 #82

If you don't know how to write cursive, then how do you sign a check, or, a contract? baldguy Dec 2014 #5

Mr. Lew is simply and deliberately being an ass. WinkyDink Dec 2014 #8

My Dad's signature is similar to Mr Lew's RockaFowler Dec 2014 #47

Exactly! 2naSalit Dec 2014 #65

Not really. Ms. Toad Dec 2014 #107

I am appalled, having watched too many h.s. seniors struggle to finish a test in time because they WinkyDink Dec 2014 #7

+1 lunasun Dec 2014 #35

Printing an essay... Jesus Malverde Dec 2014 #77

I was raised not to curse 1step Dec 2014 #9

Printed signature works fine. Feral Child Dec 2014 #10

If there's money in your account they'll take anything. ucrdem Dec 2014 #11

However you write your name, it is valid as a signature. MineralMan Dec 2014 #12

On Christmas morning my 12 year old daughter LibertyLover Dec 2014 #13

You can buy online a great cursive instruction book called "handwriting without tears" kimbutgar Dec 2014 #39

Thank you! LibertyLover Dec 2014 #54

Do you regret kids not learning the slide rule RunInCircles Dec 2014 #14

That is not true malaise Dec 2014 #17

Slide rules are the future Major Nikon Dec 2014 #32

I learned to cursive and later on to type. How is it there was time enough to learn KittyWampus Dec 2014 #72

Slide rule is the extentension of logarithm functions. immoderate Dec 2014 #80

+1 n/t Ms. Toad Dec 2014 #109

Actually, yes. Ms. Toad Dec 2014 #108

Isn't it so much nicer to get an e-mail love note or card Historic NY Dec 2014 #19

Not only do they not write essays in class with pen & paper... DeadLetterOffice Dec 2014 #112

i can sign my name in cursive but cant use cursive writing other than that belzabubba333 Dec 2014 #20

Not everything can be done on a computer HockeyMom Dec 2014 #21

I think it is apalling... Punkingal Dec 2014 #23

It's not just writing, it's also being able to read it. alarimer Dec 2014 #24

Fortunately, one can learn to read and write cursive at any time. Mariana Dec 2014 #44

I get your point... catnhatnh Dec 2014 #53

Even most cursive documents over a century old can be fairly challenging Posteritatis Dec 2014 #74

Dumb premise. JoePhilly Dec 2014 #25

What's a check? nt Live and Learn Dec 2014 #27

I'm 30 and I've never signed a check or a contract. Agschmid Dec 2014 #30

You can buy a car without signing your name? nt Logical Dec 2014 #60

Yup. And I bought new at a dealer! Agschmid Dec 2014 #97

Why writing in cursive or old shorthand is faster HockeyMom Dec 2014 #31

Writing in cursive is not always faster than typing on a computer, not by a long shot. SheilaT Dec 2014 #57

Not so, actually. For example, I type about 100 wpm on MineralMan Dec 2014 #84

I force my children to write in cursive lunasun Dec 2014 #33

And while we're at it nichomachus Dec 2014 #34

Not necessary LynnTTT Dec 2014 #37

I don't think they should stop teaching cursive. hamsterjill Dec 2014 #38

Cursive stimulates parts of the brain that Lilyhoney Dec 2014 #40

Helps develop fine motor skills too. /nt gvstn Dec 2014 #41

Not universally. Ms. Toad Dec 2014 #115

I never use a consistent signature BubbaFett Dec 2014 #43

Nobody "requires" cursive for a signature brooklynite Dec 2014 #45

If you don't know how to write cursive, apparently you can still be Treasury Secretary brooklynite Dec 2014 #46

DooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOd!!!!!! That's what that looks like, to me! nt MADem Dec 2014 #78

I think most people come up with a scribble for their names Warpy Dec 2014 #48

Specially lined paper. bikebloke Dec 2014 #49

I worked for the Dept of Human Services for 31 yrs... Stellar Dec 2014 #50

I don't believe cursive is a requirement for signing a check DrDan Dec 2014 #51

A signature is simply how you write your name. DawgHouse Dec 2014 #55

Signatures KateGladstone Dec 2014 #59

Print? GeorgeGist Dec 2014 #61

Autographs just wouldn't be the same if not written in cursive. VScott Dec 2014 #62

Funny. Who writes checks anymore? Who gets checks anymore? randome Dec 2014 #63

Me and me. Vinca Dec 2014 #87

Ditto. I'm currently sitting here listening to my spouse Ms. Toad Dec 2014 #116

Most people actually write in a hybrid style BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #64

If you write in cursive, how do you expect anyone else to read it? Threedifferentones Dec 2014 #66

knowing print and cursive gives one a choice, an option, expanding possibilities. There is NO msongs Dec 2014 #67

Translators for old documents in cursive HockeyMom Dec 2014 #68

*facepalm* (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2014 #75

Been awhile since a good kids-these-days, decline-of-civilization cursive thread. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2014 #69

Lots of problems with getting rid of cursive. kiva Dec 2014 #71

The reason for teaching cursive is brain development. AND it's also easier to learn KittyWampus Dec 2014 #73

Cursive saves time ... JEFF9K Dec 2014 #76

There's an artistic element to cursive. nilesobek Dec 2014 #79

There are studies emerging that cursive writing is linked to better school performance riderinthestorm Dec 2014 #81

Thank You. Americans' artistic and imaginative development is stunted enough. KittyWampus Dec 2014 #83

Painted murals on my Grandson's room HockeyMom Dec 2014 #93

Think about it ...no cursive and no music. peace13 Dec 2014 #89

And who writes checks anymore? Capt. Obvious Dec 2014 #88

My daughter taught herself cursive at 5 HockeyMom Dec 2014 #90

My Dad signed his name "X x". He was a junior. :) n/t benz380 Dec 2014 #91

Quills, stone carving, clay tablets FreeJoe Dec 2014 #92

Legal documents HockeyMom Dec 2014 #94

They can write FreeJoe Dec 2014 #96

Quills, stove carving, clay tablets, cursive writing. Which of these things is not like the others? Bluenorthwest Dec 2014 #99

OK, if we want to get pendantic FreeJoe Dec 2014 #106

Actual cursive has very little to do with signatures. True Blue Door Dec 2014 #98

I was drilled in cursive intensively in school. Denzil_DC Dec 2014 #100

When students are about eight years old mainstreetonce Dec 2014 #101

You sign it by signing it. Scootaloo Dec 2014 #102

Any mark you make on paper is a legal signature Spider Jerusalem Dec 2014 #104

I use cursive handwriting on my Note 4.... FloriTexan Dec 2014 #105

Looking back at a few handwriting samples in my own family.. annabanana Dec 2014 #111

The Palmer Method did make for lovely handwriting... DeadLetterOffice Dec 2014 #113