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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is unacceptable

164 replies

Sisterelephant · 02/01/2014 22:00

This lady updates the FB page of our local children's centre. She asked me a few months ago to like the page as she was now taking over it.

There are daily updates on frankly what I think is unprofessional and should be checked before going live.

Things such as using the word 'grate' for great, putting xxxxxxx at the end of status' and general terrible grammar.

Now, I'm not perfect, my grammar is rubbish but I would get a second opinion if I had a similar job.

AIBU to think its not acceptable?

I'm too chicken to complain but want to have a moan, yes I have too much time on my hands

OP posts:
KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 02/01/2014 22:02

Does she work for the centre or is she doing it voluntarily?

Maybe it would be easier to suggest she uses a spell checker add-on to her browser to help with the spelling?

horseface2 · 02/01/2014 22:03

Well it kind of puts you off wanting to send your kids there, lest the centre attempt to 'educate' them in any way.

RandyRudolf · 02/01/2014 22:05

Is English her first language? Could she be dyslexic/ have learning disabilities?

MissBurrows · 02/01/2014 22:05

I agree with horseface2. And I don't think you're BU.

She should perhaps be reminded that the page is not her personal Facebook, but one that is representing a place of business.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:07

are you joking? it's not as though she's putting up offensive statuses, it's just that she's not as clever as you? Fair enough.

monkeysox · 02/01/2014 22:09

Boils my piss when surestart staff make errors with basic spelling and grammar. Yanbu

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 02/01/2014 22:09

It's up to the centre.

If they are happy with her updating it then leave it.

If they are doing a good job of entertaining and caring for your children then why should you complain? They are not teachers, they are supplying care for children. If they do that well then I wouldn't give a toss about their spelling.

I am also a pedant but I think that if you were to say anything you would come across as rude to be honest and mean. This lady is trying to raise the profile of the centre in a friendly and nice way, if the centre weren't happy with that then they would say so.

formerbabe · 02/01/2014 22:10

It's not about being clever, the lady has clearly not had an adequate education or paid any attention at school. Yes, she may be dyslexic but too many people cannot spell and have bad grammar to put it all down to dyslexia.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:11

so what if she's not had an adequate education? Neither have a lot of people.

afromom · 02/01/2014 22:13

YANBU This is really unprofessional from the Children's Centre point of view. A senior member of staff should be checking the Facebook page and making sure that spelling and grammar are right. You would never send out a leaflet with spelling mistakes etc, why would you do it on the Internet! It's not a personal fb page, but representing a business.

If I was you I would say something to someone at the centre. I know that I would want to know if info that our centre was sending out was like this.

Original poster
Sisterelephant · 02/01/2014 22:13

She's English, really lovely too.

I think she just needs to be told its not her personal fb, as said up thread.

OP posts:
VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:15

sharing inappropriate statuses is one thing but i can't get all worked up about a bit of bad spelling/grammar - she could be doing much worse! unless she's teaching literacy to the kids then yabu.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 02/01/2014 22:17

Well aren't you lot lovely?

I'm sure the centre is very aware of this lady voluntarily updating their Facebook page for them. If they had an issue, they'd raise it themselves.

How would it make you feel better to complain? Would it make you feel clever? Would it offer you any benefits? Would it result in better care for your children?

I think you need to look at the real reason you want to raise this issue, because it sure as hell isn't for the benefit of the centre which seems to be quite happy with things the way they are.

brandyandsummergloves · 02/01/2014 22:17

Agree with missburrows above. She is representing an organisation and should ensure that spelling and grammar are of a professional standard.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:17

i think it might just be pure snobbery

Iamsparklyknickers · 02/01/2014 22:24

I'd not mind about the content of her updates, if the people running the centre don't mind that's up to them.

The spelling and grammar? I actually think it's a bit cruel to let her continue to do it tbh, they're such obvious mistakes people will notice and if she's using this to gain experience to ease back into the workplace, stuff like that could lose her an interview if she isn't aware enough to double check her applications and CV.

Teeb · 02/01/2014 22:29

Agree it gives the business a poor public image.

Bonzodoodah · 02/01/2014 22:30

What odd responses so far. This is a media page representing a business and it's okay to use poor grammar, poor spelling and odd kisses at the end of posts? I'd say something but gently, like is this the image you want to portray. And I'd say it is quite different from being a personal page where spelling, style and content do not matter.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 02/01/2014 22:33

Nice turnaround but there is nothing to say that this lady is looking for a job and again, it's up to the centre to bring these matters to her attention.

We have no idea of the spelling or grammar mistakes, all we know from the OP is that she puts kisses at the end of posts and mis-spells some common words. Most people who use that centre wouldn't give a crap because they appreciate the service it gives them. If it becomes an issue then the centre staff should deal with it in an appropriate manner. Complaining about it only makes the complainant appear petty.

The centre staff are NOT teachers and the OP hasn't even said if this lady works with the children.

afromom · 02/01/2014 22:33

I don't really understand why people think it is cruel and unnecessary to point this out. A Children's Centre is a professional business and presumably the page is used to advertise the business?

When receiving information from a business most would expect to receive something that is informative, easy to read and with accurate spelling and punctuation, I know I would!

I understand this lady may be doing this voluntarily, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be done properly. But it's not her fault, the Centre should be checking that any information going out to the public is accurate and of a good quality, so actually the centre are at fault here and therefore it should be pointed out to them.

THECliffRichardSucksEggsinHell · 02/01/2014 22:34

I now feel terrible for the poor woman who is doing her best and now stands to be crushed by the comments of someone who is a pedant.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:42

i feel terrible for anyone who isn't great at spelling. we can't all be good at everything, you know!

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:42

(wow, that has not come out as i intended it to - i meant because of snobs)

brandyandsummergloves · 02/01/2014 22:48

Vampyreoftime......good spelling and grammar have nothing to do with being a snob, I'm not sure why you think they do?

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 02/01/2014 22:50

looking down on people who can't spell properly (aren't educated adequately, perhaps), what else would you call it?