Mocking bad spelling/grammar on social media

[someseriouscoffee]

I see this more and more on social media, where people with less than perfect spelling and grammar are mocked for it, usually in public view with their name showing. AIBU to find this behaviour bullying and potentially disablist (as the person could have a learning disability for all we know). Maybe I'm being over sensitive but I really hate this, it's so patronising.

Noqont obviously,my comment doesn't apply to someone with dyslexia.

I would not give people who make these mistakes any grief. Nor would I give them a job. Schooling is compulsory in this country, so I'm afraid I'm not in the business of making excuses for the chronically ignorant.

I never correct SPAG - or anything really - on social media although I do notice it because I am an editor. However sometimes poor spelling, typos, not understanding what a word means, or autocorrect can make it hard to understand what someone meant. Upthread for example someone said mocking spelling was classless. Now, did they mean classless, which could mean vulgar or it could mean it’s something that people of all classes do, or did they mean classist, which is to say it is part and parcel of mocking those perceived as “chavs” ? They are two quite different things, and if they did use the wrong word - which they may not have done, it is just an example - they haven’t put across the meaning they meant to.

Metoodear it's actually spelt 'soothsayer'

Gandalf surely the fact he was spouting racist stuff should have lost him all credibility not his spelling?

Myself can't bare spelling and grammer misteaks. If people can't brake there sloppy habits then their is no need for themselves too post.

Never corrected anyone on fora or social media - but some mistakes do particularly grate!!!!

It makes the corrector look like a twat

I don't like sloppy grammar and spelling, but pointing it out to someone is just very patronising. People who do this are deluded if they think their condescending pedantry will make one iota of difference to the downward spiral of the nation's grammar.

I here wot u r saying and think there very rude.

I wouldn't correct SPAG on a forum. It's impossible to know whether the writer might be dyslexic; or have had a poor education for an unavoidable reason such as ill-health.

I'm no expert in spelling and grammar (< Even had to double check that word!) but I do try. I rarely see others mistakes. I do however inwardly judge the 'Omg hunz, wot dud U jus sea?' posters. I find them very hard to decipher. (< Had to Google how to spell that word too. )

When I visited a museum last week, one of the exhibits was a cabinet holding different types of English apples - alongside it was a notice saying, 'Pull out the draws to see the different types of apples'...
As this museum is very popular with school parties, I mentioned it to one of the assistants when we were leaving - she sighed deeply and said that they'd had many complaints, but no-one took any notice...!
Is it any wonder that children grow up being unable to use the English language? (I write as someone with a dyslexic DC)

Nope, you've lost me there. What's wrong with it?
(Also, SPAG= SPelling And Grammar?)

Oh, I see, it should have been drawers?

I’ve posted before about poor adult literacy. I used to work in a town where 1 in 5 adults had low literacy levels, people who had low employment prospects, poor health outcomes, were more likely to be involved in crime, more likely to be affected by a serious fire, and less able to access education and support for their children. So the cycle perpetuated.

This was around 15 years ago, before so much of every day life moved online. These people are functionally divorced from things literate people take for granted.

So yes I judge. I judge anyone who takes the piss or chooses to correct others.

I think it's very rude and mocking. Who do the critics think they are? It is not their place to ensure other people "learn"

You've omitted the full stop.

I'm dyslexic. If I make a mistake I'd be pleased if someone showed me how not to do it again.

By not (politely) correcting someone you are choosing to disadvantage them in a world where they will be judged for poor literacy skills. Those saying it's unfair, or twattish to require good SPAG probably aren't in a position to open doors/recruit/employ others. Too many CVs get self selected into the bin because the applicant is unable to express themselves correctly.

While there is a strata of society with good literacy skills, those without these skills will remain disadvantaged and that isn't fair. My aunt left school 40 years ago with no qualifications but her SPAG is far superior to many of the bright young things I work with (and many of them are graduates).

"potentially disablist"

It's rude. You don't have to find a deeper level. Not everything is an -ism or an -ist.