Isn't about time MNHQ started deleting posts that attack people's spelling and grammar?

On FB, yes, fine, I would say.

You misunderstood me, confused. I didn't mean he's lazy, or that he doesn't have things going on in his life.

I meant, you're talking as if a correction could be offered once, and people (like your DH) would suddenly know which was the right spelling to use next time. And the fact your DH needs to ask repeatedly indicates this isn't how it works, for him and for others.

I am like that. I know the difference between, say, metre and meter, but I forget, or rather, I slip up when my mind is on other things and then can't remember what that difference is. It's fairly normal.

But if someone were to tell me every time I got things wrong, they'd never stop, and I'd just end up not posting.

My husband is retired now. When he was working, he would rely on his assistant or on me (numerous phone calls) for help. Then with the advent of spell check, he began to rely on that, hence the stake-steak problem. Now he just asks me to proof read his Facebook posts.

Confused if your DH asks it's because he wants to know.

That's different to complete strangers pointing fingers at his mistakes when he hasn't asked them to do so.

How very Buffy the Vampire Slayer of him.

My DH is another really bad speller who had a successful career as an executive. I am pretty sure that he has undiagnosed dyslexia, though much milder than our son's. He once famously sent an email to his team inviting them and their spouses to our house for a "stake dinner."

18th missionary among the feckless poor

Ho, yes.

But, confused, when you say he 'still' asks, doesn't that indicate that there is much more going on than could be solved by ad hoc corrections?

If he keeps asking, it would seem to me it's something he struggles with persistently. It's not that you could say 'oh, it's this one' and he'll never make the mistake again.

I barely notice dodgy spelling or grammar although I'll seek clarification if there's a bit I can't understand and it's important. Most of the time it's not necessary because the person is typing as they speak - as I do myself - so you can hear their 'voice' behind the words. I try to listen to that voice and that person.

Or do they think, in the manner of an 18th missionary among the feckless poor, that they just have to told What Is Right?

This may be one of my all time favorite sentences ever on MN.

Oh and if you think it's calmed down, try starting a thread saying "I could of cried when someone told me I need to loose weight"

Go on I dare you

But wouldn't you rather know if you repeatedly used the wrong spelling/grammar, instead of being blissfully unaware?

Yes I would but what has that got to do with it?

This isn't about me or about you preferring to know.

It's about people who don't want to be picked up on their spelling and grammar when chatting on an internet forum.

There may be many reasons (as stated above by PPs), why they don't want or need that while trying to have a simple chat.

And yes, well said, devora.

confused - but that's a false dichotomy. Most people do know that their SPAG is poor, when it is. I know mine's faulty. And all that people telling me about it does, is to make me feel insecure and stupid and lazy. It's really unpleasant.

I don't deny that there may be a few (very few) people who go through life 'blissfully unaware', but I don't think it is common.

Do you really want to know? Because I can help you with syntax/punctuation/tense if you are genuinely asking?

Well said Devora

But I don't think they do worry, not the majority of them.

I think it completely goes over their heads.

Well they're all individual people but even if it's true and the majority of people don't worry, that still leaves a minority who may be too embarrassed to come here and post.

That's not right considering this is a chat forum, designed to help parents.

I can really live with someone pointing out my mistakes - I'm sure I make many because I type in a hurry, don't proofread my posts, and above all don't consult the dictionary every time I post.

But you know, I am university educated, am in a job where I write reports all day, have written books. I can afford to take a knock (though I'd still think you were a twat if you did it). I'd still know that I am articulate and competent, because I get lots of other feedback and evidence to show that is so.

What about people who have low confidence about their literacy or language skills? Who didn't do well at school? Who speak English as a second language? Whose parents always told them they were thick? Who have generally low self-esteem? Who find online conversations easier than RL conversations? Have the Correctors even thought about what it would be like to be in their shoes, and get slapped down every time they try to contribute? Or do they think, in the manner of an 18th missionary among the feckless poor, that they just have to told What Is Right?

I don't think that's true, confused.

Every time I get into a thread like this, I get loads of PMs from people saying they felt really upset and hounded, and didn't dare to speak up. And every time there's a thread like this, it runs and runs, and there are people who regularly post saying why it worries and upsets them.

I am sure some people are good at cheerfully ignoring being corrected, or just take corrections on board without it bothering them, but I think they're actually in a minority, because good SPAG are so habitually used as indicators of other, not necessarily related things (good education, good literacy, lack of laziness, etc.).