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?

'Whoever' has a name.
I suggested it as a possibility as no, the whole of mn is not a cozy cohort but the non name changers, some of them seem to have a chat thread then all of a sudden 'ugh - the regs having fun' appears.

It happens

Only if someone reports it ConsciousPilot. not easy as it seems if they nc or have multiple accounts.

fast moving thread, slow typer. sorry.

I don't even understand the term 'goady fucker' any more. I really don't. I've seen shouts of 'GF!' when someone simply feels like they're being goaded because they've been made to squirm or felt their worldview has been threatened.

"tell me why", "back that up" shite goes on

I don't see what's wrong with that, pinot. I've seen discussions in which you've taken part in which you pronounce a very strong opinion but, when asked, evade questions on it or come up with phrases like "I'm entitled to my opinion" to try to shut other people down. Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, but other people are entitled to disagree with you and to ask you for the factual basis and/or reasons for your opinion - and that isn't bullying, by any stretch of the imagination. If you just want to make pronouncements rather than discuss things, I'm not too sure why you're on a discussion board.

Nyes

Lmao at someone being banned for 'dry shite'

I guess you have to be oirish.

Can I go one better and inform you all that the current preferred term is 'a fucking dry auld shite'

(Potters off in convulsions at own sense of humour)

But we don't pronounce the g in fucking.
For anyone pedantic.

Can I ask a genuine question, then? Why 'rearrange' one's username at all? Is it to stop nosy fuckers doing an Advanced Search on a perhaps dubious posting history?

SoDiana, I haven't a clue what you're on about.

Probably just for a bit of a lark. Seasonal namechanges and all that.

Conscious pilot. You wouldn't be thefirst and you ccertainly won't be the last.
Phone doing its own thing again I see.

I think Diana is Irish and is commenting on someone earlier saying that someone had been banned for calling someone else a 'dry shite' :)

Yes, there are too many letters in research, you sound like a good spelling meister, good at anagrams I bet.

I've never as of yet reported anyone, used to report people flogging their wares over on the dark side but it's a bit tell tale tit isn't it

I don't understand the name change business either, bloody own it.

You would be correct bumbley.

I namechange all the time. I'm terrified of anyone in RL recognizing me here and realizing what a sad fucker I am.

Think of it this way, could you go and write a paragraph perfectly about your child in French? Or in morse code? Then why expect people who's second language is English to write perfectly?

rant over

UnGoogleable

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

Thank you Vulcan

But it's not always that simple. People post about sensitive issues, personal issues, family problems, health problems - all sorts. If, say, a work colleague were to recognize them on here, it would be awkward or unpleasant.

There are many, many reasons why people namechange.