to think that it is not ok to be rude about other people's bad English skills?

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

I have read a few threads recently that say how uneducated and stupid people who don't spell words properly are. there have been times on mumsnet that my opinion has been belittled because of the spelling/grammer in my posts.

I am dyslexic, I didn't learn to read untill I was 10 (I just looked at the biff and chip pictures and guessed what was going on, the teacher would correct me and I would memorise the story, I had to read to same book over and over untill I could "read" the entire book but I had actually just memorised the words.) I am not stupid, I have a degree, I read newspapers regularly, I have learnt a second language in he last 3 years, I have had a profesional job that I loved (I am now on maternity leave). I am just really crap at spelling.

I feel so stupid and unwelcome when I read negative things about spelling. I think that one of the great things about mumsnet is how open and accepting people are about many different issues but it still seems to be ok for posters to be rude and mean about people with bad English skills.

If you were to start a thread saying "AIBU to not want to read a friend's facebook status because they said their instead of there?" there is a high chance you will get lots of posters saying yes, never have anything to do with the fool again! If you started a thread saying "AIBU to not want to listen to my friend because they have a stutter and it anoys me when they struggle to get their words out?" I would assume that the concensus would be (rughtly so) yabvvvu.

I have a baby who goes to sleep at 5.45, my friends all have small children so they are at home in the evening, my dp works nights. I feel really lonely but mumsnet is a great way to make myself feel like I am have meaningful conversations with other adults, it would take me ages to post if I was to check each spelling that I wasn't 100% sure about.

Often on the people who can't spell are so stupid type threads people say "oh but not dyslexic people, I didn't mean dyslexic people" 1 in 10 people are dyslexic, often you won't know if a friend is dyslexic as it isn't the sort of thing that often crops up in conversation.

AIBU to think that learning difficulties/disabilities/differances should be treacted as any other physical/mental difficulty/disability/differance?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Not read the whole thread - but from my pov. I think that with any totally text based communication, then people are making a judgement entirely based on a couple of sentences on a screen. Without context, facial expression, tone of voice or any other clues to base their judgement on. It is obviously going to be a minefield.

I sometimes carefully craft and re-type a post. Other times I type rapidly and make mistakes as I don't check before I send or I send by accident before I do a read through. I have good english skills and am well educated but if I am typing in a hurry and a bit carelessly then I can create a post my 9 year old would be ashamed of. I don't stress it as the only people who count when assessing my abilities are people who actually know me and my works...

I don't think I have ever written a post criticising grammer on MN and I don't see the point of doing so, if the post effectively communicates, whatever they want to say, then that is sufficient, even if the spelling is atroshus.

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

falcon

it's not Murphy's law though that I was referring to!

It's Muphry's law. check it out!

[SharpLily]

As much as I'm quick to moan about poor SPAG (in my head, I don't correct others unless asked to), I appreciate that the root of the problem lies in the educational system, with a whole generation lost to an experiment in dumbing down.

Having said that (and dyslexia is a completely different problem and totally exempt from my anal retentiveness), EVERYONE, shit education or not, knows for example that sentences start with a capital and that 'I' should be upper case. They may not care but they have been told that at some point during even the worst school career, they know that's how it should be done. I can't see any explanation other than laziness for not doing so - it's just one extra keystroke! I use an iPhone and manage to get my capitals in so I don't see that as an excuse either. I'm quite happy to accept a reasonable explanation for why people don't do this but I can't think of one myself. It's nothing to do with everyone having different skills and the fact that some people just aren't great with words.

[themaltesefalcon]

A tip for interacting with the English, Zing: my English husband invariably refers to Murphy's Law as "Sod's Law." :)

[SharpLily]

Yes. We didn't have KS anything - I see people talking about them here but have no idea what they are. During my English Literature A Level course, we were told not to worry about spelling.

[SharpLily]

And it's an extremely common mnemonic that's been taught to kids doing exams for years and years.

I'd like to think this is the case, but when I did exams in England we weren't taught it - because we weren't taught any SPAG. Ridiculous.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

at "Pelling" though!

[Mintyy]

Oh really?

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

The P is for punctuation.

[Mintyy]

S
Pelling
And
Grammar

very lazy shorthand, in other words.

[DoesZingBumpLookBigInThis]

what is SPAG, please?

I read it and it makes me hungry as I think of spag bol!

[Mintyy]

I don't think I would ever directly question an individual posters spelling or grammar on Mumsnet, unless they were the type to be forever droning on about their qualifications from a Russell Group University or the like.

It is absolutely fine for the pedants to start separate threads. They need to hang out somewhere!

[hollowhallows]

OP i totally understand where you are coming from. My grammar is not always the strongest and i feel very aware of judgement on MN and have had someone belittle me once before.

I once checked out 'pedants corner' i think it is called and was appalled by how snobby, arrogant and judgemental some people can be.

[bluecheeseforbreakfast]

I also don't know anyone who lies about having dyslexia, I don't understand why people would exagerate struggles.