Unashamedly a TAAT!

[JudgeRinderSays]

AIBU to think MN should ban grammar and spelling pedantry on all forums except the one explicitly for this purpose.
It is so F*cking tedious!

Quite a while ago an OP posted about a difficult and involved issue. It was a long post and had three paragraphs, the middle paragraph was very long but it would have been difficult to split it up without destroying the flow of the narrative. The very first response to the OP was "I couldn't be bothered to read that, PARAGRAPHS OP".

The person who posted that was just a twat who thought they were being big and clever when in fact their response proved the complete opposite. Clearly they lack reading and comprehension skills, have never read any classic English Literature and are insufferably rude without the most basic grasp of manners.

When I need help with my grammar I ask for it, either on here or elsewhere those who help do so without sneering or patronising.

Text speak is fine in tetexts. I don't use it, I don't say anything to people who do.
When I first saw my son using it, I asked him why he did especially skool instead of school. His reply was he knows how to spell and write correctly and does so when needed. but text speak is text speak that is how they all write to each other and if he would stick out like a saw thumb if he didn't. To be honest trying to read text speak was like learning another language.

"So where does everyone stand on text speak?*

Isn't that so yesterday ,I don't think my teenage dcs even use text speak anymore. My DS even had his spelling pointed out on facebook by his friends

I'm the self-appointed Queen of Pedants' Corner, so let me through please.

Firstly, PC also gives short shrift to twats like those on this thread who think it's a place where they can heehaw and pat themselves on their (rather inadequately educated) smug little backs about how fick innit the rest of MN is. We just like words. Which we like to use correctly.

Secondly, I've only skimmed this thread because I've already been doing battle on the other twatathon this morning, but, as I said on that one, if AwakeCan'tSleep, FarFromAnyRoad, ConfusedInBath, MrsTawdry, Lulu (of course) Icimoi and Bruffin want to PM me, I can give you a rundown of your own extremely elementary language errors.

Thirdly, as others have noted, the "anti-grammar" people do tend to be confident users of the language themselves. They're just not twats who clearly have so little self-worth and so large an inferiority complex that they get some sort of kick out of belittling someone else. They're pitiful really.

Mintyy/Pag- I've been reporting them for years. One particularly vicious TAAT was deleted, but only because it was a TAAT. The OP of that thread subsequently flounced and accused me of being a bully. The irony wasn't lost.

Belinda unfortunately that's happening already. Or at least it's starting to.

I wonder how many of us saw the thread last night and just didn't comment/left so as to avoid the inevitable bun fight?

I know this comment is trotted out periodically, but I wonder if MN really is like it used to be? I'm sure I remember it being far more supportive. If someone made a SPAG error it was overlooked. If someone wanted advice, it was given. If someone needed support, they weren't criticised immediately for their lack of paragraphs.

I know ScottishMummy always used to say "words on a screen", and to an extent she was right. But surely that doesn't excuse posters bein downright nasty to each other?

I think I will namechange to IMakeALivingFromTheEnglishLanguage so that everyone can drop a little curtsey when I waft past.

What happened to ScottishMummy? haven't seen her for ages.

Lulu you advocate correcting spelling and grammar irrespective of the content of the post, yet when someone pointed out that your own post on this non life threatening issue was riddled with errors you visibly bristled, can you not see how inappropriate it is when the subject under discussion is extremely serious?

You dug yourself into a hole by using the 'hoist by your own petard' phrase against another poster when it applied to you and your own posts hence the 'delicious irony'.

I make mistakes, typos, grammar, apostrophes (the possessive apostrophe is always ready to trip me up), if I want help or corrections I'll ask, other than that as long as my posts make sense I am grateful that people read them and forgive the odd errors.

What's a saw thumb?

(Hides??)

its a shame that it seems to stop people from posting. does it make the people who pick on grammar/spelling feel big?

sore I sometime spell incorrectly just to make peoples teeth itch
honest

DrankSangriaInThePark please do. I'm not a native speaker and always keen to learn.

I think the whole topic has been blown completely out of proportion. I prefer good writing and correct grammar over 'should of' but the latter doesn't kill me. It does annoy me and I'm not afraid to voice my annoyance on a thread like this, dedicated to the topic. But surely turning every other thread into a war on grammar, followed by a war on war on grammar and a TAAT isn't very helpful either.

IMO some people are over sensitive to having their mistakes pointed out. Others are over zealous at pointing out mistakes. Could we just all calm down and chill out a bit?

Margot the problem with text speak is not everyone understands it and those with reading and sight difficulties can find it particularly to understand. I think people are mostly forgiving as long as the post is legible but OP's will be asked not to use it as it is an accessibility issue. Think it might even be in the guidelines.

ConfusedInBath I agree to an extent - those posters are not thick. However IMHO they lack a degree of emotional intelligence. I simply cannot comprehend the attitude that, even if a poster is clearly asking for help and support, that it is acceptable to pull them up on SPAG errors, often without contributing anything that could potentially be of use

Yanbu. Can i have it on record im dyslexic in case anyone corrects my grammar and spelling. I do try and due some amazing teachers you wouldnt know i was but every so often it shows, especially when im tried. Still i think my dyslexia is a gift as its given me other talents. I read and see things in colour. I wish someone could teach me right and left and for the life for me i still struggle with them. The only way is to hold a pen then i know its right. You may as well say pink and wellington boot as two words...

Awake You cannot really judge whether someone is oversensitive though can you? Saying that people should just accept this is bizarre.

If something hurts someone's feelings; then it does. It's not about sensitivity.

The bottom line is it is putting people off posting on this forum. I don't know how anyone can defend it in that context.

Thirdly, as others have noted, the "anti-grammar" people do tend to be confident users of the language themselves. They're just not twats who clearly have so little self-worth and so large an inferiority complex that they get some sort of kick out of belittling someone else. They're pitiful really

Ok I am confused. I don't care about good spelling and grammar on Mumsnet because I am a parent of and teach many people with dyslexia. I accept people make mistakes in SPAG and see no reason to focus any response I make on those mistakes.

Are you calling me pitiful or not, I cannot quite make it out . Who are these 'anti grammars'?

Sorry Confused, I was looking at it from a "thick vs lacks intelligence" angle. Totally agree with you re rude and insensitive - I just wondered whether "thick" could actually be interpreted differently.