to think that MN should be accessible to everyone?

[lookingforsunshine]

Here are a few facts that I would like the MN community to know:

-Some people who use MN are not English. Many people who use MN did not start learning English as babies. They learnt as older children or adults. It is not easy communicating in another language.

-Some people who use MN have a learning disability. They may have difficulties expressing themselves clearly.

-Some people who use MN have dyslexia which can make writing accurately difficult.

-Some people who use MN have had little or no formal education. They may write poorly due to this. This is not their fault.

Speaking English as a second language is not a crime (actually it is a gift).
Having a learning disability, dyslexia or a lack of education is not a crime. None of the above is the person's fault.

Many people who write poorly are deeply ashamed about this.

Over the last year, I've seen a few posts that are badly written, comments by other posters are rude to say the least. It feels like we do not want people here unless they can write well. We don't want people with poor spelling, grammar or punctuation. How can this be right?!!

If you see a post written by someone who does not write well, try to focus on the actual message, they may well be in need of help! If you genuinely don't understand, either ignore the message (someone else may well understand it) or ask nicely for clarification.

Many people here have children with special needs. In some cases their children will never be able to write 'well', it must be upsetting for parents to see how MN tends to treat people who don't have a great grasp of written English.

If MN is the first place you have encountered people with reading and writing problems, that says a lot more about you than them.

Who decided that it is ok to make derogatory comments about people with poor written English?

Nor have I OP.

I have never ever felt the need to basically "show off" on here. Unfortunately many hard core users do.

Time and time again, these people are so nasty and rude it's quite astounding that they get away with it.

Yanbu at all.

I hate it when the smug grammar and spelling police turn up to a thread.

I think most people will pull people up for being rude as usual said.

agree op

today i used one wrong word in a saying and one poster that didnt like my view deemed it worthy to pull me on it,not because it bothered them but to point score

i didnt reply as it was not worth it

i dont think i have ever seen a post so bad in grammer that i havent been able to understand.I think those that do make the point to make them feel superior.

though it helps if a long thread has paragraphs or something to split it up

Lets not forget the...
You are a troll
You are stupid
You are a bigot
Answer my question, you didnt answer my question [when they only what to hear what they think is right]

I call it being a bully in all honesty.

Yes they do usual

Sometimes a polite suggestion that an OP uses paragraphs Is just about OK but laying into people for poor spelling and grammar is pathetic and very patronising. (Sp? )

My written English is poor but I'm brilliant at other things

I wonder if all the grammar police are equally as talented in other areas of their lives.

Someone's been reading the 'baby in a cage' thread...

All good OP, but can we please please please drop the condescending assumption that poor paragraphing and punctuation must mean the OP is not a native English speaker?? I am from a non-EU country that uses English as the lingua franca. I have also worked in a city that is not English-speaking but with many expatriates that work in English. I have never come across the poor levels of English that I have seen on Mumsnet. It is here that I first came across "would of" or "should of", for example, a construction I did not think was possible until I came on Mumsnet. You need to look closer at your education system, not just assume that it is foreigners who use English poorly.

I have no problem reading and responding to posts that are written poorly but as a foreigner, I am coming to resent more and more the assumption that a poorly-written post must be from a non-English speaker.

Valiant mouse's post has made me think. Writing a coherent post is another way of making mumsnet "accessible to everyone", isn't it? If blocks of text and typos mean that your post is too hard to read.
It can be difficult for both poster and reader.

I can and do, as everyone else can and does get they gyst.

To pull someone up that doesn't have the right "grammar" is apaulling.

Ooops forgot the double "p"... you knew what I said though im sure.

I said a lot of regulars are bullies, it's a fair statement from where I sit. Not sure why you have to defend? Surely you speak for yourself and not consider yourself as a "group"

I honestly can't recall any occasion where I've seen a regular 'bully' someone.

As with everything on MN, I think we have to assume the best of any post and poster. That it's a real person, that's what written is true and is the best the poster can do to express themselves. There's not much point otherwise.

If you think a thread is dodgy, report it. You don't need to do more, just click yourself away.

If it's badly spelt or hard to understand, then try a bit harder or click away. Allow people who can work out what a poster is trying to say to answer. If you really can't read a post without paragraphs, click away.

Mary...

Im not sure why you need to be the thread police.

An opinion is just that. There are a thousand reasons why this person may have such an outlook. "Calling People Out" however smacks of thinking you are above someone.

"We shouldnt allow them to to carry on" there again is a bit of who do you think you are statement.