I have to agree with the above. I'm not a real stickler for grammar, but the number of people who incorrectly use apostrophes to make plurals, or who DON'T use them and turn "you are" into "your," is quite staggering. It seems to approach 50 percent at times. This stuff is not that difficult, and people used to know it. What the hell happened?
exactly....my post is irrelevant because I misspelled the word....therefore I am stupid and everything I say is wrong
?
I was just pointing out your spelling errors, which seemed funny seeing as how you tried it twice. That's it. Don't read too much into it.
I'm not sure why so many of the bad spellers here believe they are the recipients of ad hominem attacks. Like you in this instance. Sure, some people launch personal attacks on poor spelling and grammer (ha ha), but not really all that often.
Do you really believe that my one-word post correcting your error constitutes an ad hominem argument? Really?
james the baker wrote:
Except, the purpose of these people who make corrections, is not to increase the intelligeince of society, it is usually to make the person feel like an idiot
Agreed. For those of you who feel that he is wrong, perhaps you weren't on the LetsRun boards about a year ago. Wejo himself not only feels that this type of post is inappropriate, he thinks that the authors should actually be banned!
http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=1787789james the baker wrote:
So, stop crticising
"criticizing"
A significant endorsement wrote:
Wejo himself not only feels that this type of post is inappropriate, he thinks that the authors should be beanned.
You've got quite a bit of credibility there, slick. First, your assertion that wejo "thinks" certain "authors" should be "banned' is just plain false. Wejo didn't say that. Second, even if you can read wejo's mind and that idea was, in fact, in his mind, he certainly hasn't "banned" such "authors." Third, how does one "ban" certain anonymous posts, in any event.
errr wrote:
First, your assertion that wejo "thinks" certain "authors" should be "banned' is just plain false. Wejo didn't say that.
Maybe my own reading comprehension level is terribly inadequate. If there is another way to interpret the following statement, please enlighten me:
wejo wrote:
Should we ban people who correct other people's spelling and grammar in posts? One of our moderators suggested this and I agree with them.
errr wrote:
Third, how does one "ban" certain anonymous posts, in any event.
It is not really that difficult...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_blockinghttp://www.englishclub.com/writing/spelling_american-english.htmWhoops! wrote:
james the baker wrote:So, stop crticising
"criticizing"
FAIL
for a more colorful approach: http://www.angryflower.com/aposter.html
Some of us have important things to do, while others rant about grammar critics on a running site. Whether anyone likes it or not, frequent spelling and grammar mistakes make the poster look lazy and uneducated, irrespective of grammar "trolls" highlighting mistakes.
I live in a non-English speaking country, and can be tolerant of mistakes made by non-native speakers, and also imperial variants.
Two obvious problems with bad grammar and spelling:
- Poor spelling and grammar gives an impression of poor education, whether right or wrong, which may undermine any desired authority to communicate a message meant to convey important or accurate information. If the speaker doesn't have time to say it right, why should a listener take the time to listen?
- The chance of miscommunication is increased, if the intended message is distorted with spelling and grammar mistakes. If some says "wejo wants to bean IP addresses", but meant "wejo wants to ban IP addresses", the meaning risks not being properly conveyed to everyone.
I can't imagine any proper scenario where something is so important to say, that it's not also important to say it right. Isn't that a lesson from "Bambi" -- if you can't say something right, ssshhh, say nothing.
I don't see how anyone can make a case that giving an impression of poor education, or miscommunicating a message in a public forum to a large audience, many of whom may not speak English as a first language, is appropriate.
malmo wrote:
Why is that a problem for you? The normal reaction is "thank you." Agreed that things like typos aren't important (ie smoething), but everyone benefits from spelling and grammar, especially the teXt messaging generation.
ie = id est, that is. You're looking for e.g. = exempla gratia, a given example, for example. Nice try though!
English is capitalized, as in the English language.
Mr. Ray wrote:
Some of us have important things to do, while others rant about grammar critics on a running site. Whether anyone likes it or not, frequent spelling and grammar mistakes make the poster look lazy and uneducated, irrespective of grammar "trolls" highlighting mistakes.
I live in a non-English speaking country, and can be tolerant of mistakes made by non-native speakers, and also imperial variants.
Two obvious problems with bad grammar and spelling:
- Poor spelling and grammar gives an impression of poor education, whether right or wrong, which may undermine any desired authority to communicate a message meant to convey important or accurate information. If the speaker doesn't have time to say it right, why should a listener take the time to listen?
- The chance of miscommunication is increased, if the intended message is distorted with spelling and grammar mistakes. If some says "wejo wants to bean IP addresses", but meant "wejo wants to ban IP addresses", the meaning risks not being properly conveyed to everyone.
I can't imagine any proper scenario where something is so important to say, that it's not also important to say it right. Isn't that a lesson from "Bambi" -- if you can't say something right, ssshhh, say nothing.
I don't see how anyone can make a case that giving an impression of poor education, or miscommunicating a message in a public forum to a large audience, many of whom may not speak English as a first language, is appropriate.
Well said, and thank you.
People also need to keep in mind that while typos get annoying, it's much more annoying to see the systematic errors that many many people make, such as "your" vs. "you're" and pluralizing words with apostrophes. These aren't slips of the finger on the wrong key, these constitute blatant disregard for - or worse yet, blatant ignorance toward - the most fundamental and basic rules of elementary grammar.
What it essentially comes down to here in this argument is the uneducated vs. the educated. Of course the uneducated, ignorant individuals are going to argue that their repeated showcases of stupidity are irrelevant. Wouldn't you if you were in their shoes?
Kids are weak these days wrote:
The misuse of apostrophes is astounding these days. It really seems to be a phenomena that has blown up during the past two to three years. I just don't get it. People are either lazy or stupid or a combination of both.
"Phenomena" is a plural noun. The singular is "phenomenon." I suspect you intended to use the singular form, but did not know what it was.
This brings up the point that some people are *not* "lazy or stupid or a combination of both," but simply ignorant, in which case a correction (not offered as a judgment of the poster's character, but simply as useful information) is appropriate.
I avoid correcting what appear to be simple typos.
I do regret that we cannot edit our posts.
p.n. wrote:
Kids are weak these days wrote:The misuse of apostrophes is astounding these days. It really seems to be a phenomena that has blown up during the past two to three years. I just don't get it. People are either lazy or stupid or a combination of both.
"Phenomena" is a plural noun. The singular is "phenomenon." I suspect you intended to use the singular form, but did not know what it was.
This brings up the point that some people are *not* "lazy or stupid or a combination of both," but simply ignorant, in which case a correction (not offered as a judgment of the poster's character, but simply as useful information) is appropriate.
I avoid correcting what appear to be simple typos.
I do regret that we cannot edit our posts.
See, and in this instance, I can simply say "thank you." I had looked at that word several times while finishing my post, and didn't think it looked "quite right" but left it as is anyway. I appreciate you correcting me.
I don't understand why others take horrible offense to being corrected. I'd surmise that it has to do with our everybody-is-super-special-and-deserves-a-gold-star-for-absolutely-nothing attitude in society.
Kids are weak these days wrote:
I don't understand why others take horrible offense to being corrected.
Describing the reaction as "taking horrible offense" is an exaggeration. Personally, I am not a big fan of blatant trolls who inhabit the message boards, and this is essentially the type of behavior that we are talking about.
The vast majority of people who post these corrections are not trying to encourage their intended target. They are acting like condescending, know-it-all jerks, and their warped perspective tells them that it will be funny to create a screen name like "Picking Nits" to aid them in this crusade.
The bottom line is that this is an informal message board, not the editorial staff of The Wall Street Journal. There is a time and place for serious/formal writing, and the LetsRun message boards doesn't seem to fit that description.
Cicero wrote:
malmo wrote:Why is that a problem for you? The normal reaction is "thank you." Agreed that things like typos aren't important (ie smoething), but everyone benefits from spelling and grammar, especially the teXt messaging generation.
ie = id est, that is. You're looking for e.g. = exempla gratia, a given example, for example. Nice try though!
By the way, malmo, where's my "thank you?" ;)
Just to clarify.... I wouldn't mind if someone nicely clarified a spelling mistake, however it is immature and unnecessary when people use it to win an argument by attempting to discredit the poster before them by making them look like an idiot.
yes, this is not a formal sight the grammer stuff is misplaced
as long as the person is makeing an honest attempt to be clear [don't write gibberish] it is petty to pick at small stuff.
Cicero wrote:
malmo wrote:Why is that a problem for you? The normal reaction is "thank you." Agreed that things like typos aren't important (ie smoething), but everyone benefits from spelling and grammar, especially the teXt messaging generation.
ie = id est, that is. You're looking for e.g. = exempla gratia, a given example, for example. Nice try though!
Exempli gratia
The given example is singular, not plural.