to think that it is unacceptable to pick on someones grammar and/or spelling on an internet forum?

[Lorayn]

I have been on quite a few different forums/chat rooms in my time online, and tbh am getting slightly fed up with the constant barrage of insults that seem to be directed toward people who aren't professors in the English Language.

1. There is nothing that says because someone spelt a word wrong they do not know what it meant.
2. It is VERY rude to pick on people for maybe being less capable of you in this area, especially as some may have had learning difficulties or even dyslexia and
3. Make your point??? If you don't agree with someone, surely you can just explain why?? Marking them up like it is some kind of test really doesn't help your argument.

oh, btw for those of you who are so pedantic, I made sure I spelt things right for you. I hope it is readable and understandable.

as was mentioned on the thread, you press the ! and someone from MNHQ takes a decision over whether to delete. anyone can do it, you don't have to be the person insulted. you also don't know if someone who you are arguing with has done it because they think that another person has overstepped the mark.

after being called thick and stupid ? i dont think so i wasnt rude to antone in particular - other comments from other people where rude, offensive and personal - all i did was stand my ground

goodness, lillaura, you have a selective memory...

so someone posted something rude that constituted a personal attack
you reported it
it was removed

the system works...

I know, I know, they shouldn't have been rude in the first place, but once you'd brought it to MNHQ's attention, poof, it was gone, and the poster will have got a stern talking-to.

Can we do any more?

I dont use text speak unless I am really busy and in a rush!
I dont like it too much but I would not say anything if someone preffered to use it.

if you look bk on the thread the first personal attack was not made by me was it?

I thought the mistake in the OP was 'less capable of you' instead of 'than' you.

If you are the sort of person who cares about grammar and spelling, some mistakes are like fingernails down a blackboard especially if they are repeated so you know it's not just fast typing. Using 'wot' for 'what' really grates, for instance.

There have been occasions where people are trying to be patronising, claiming to be more intelligent than the people arguing against them. In that case I think it's reasonable to point out any errors.

During previous debates about spelling, several people have posted that they just didn't know about x, y or z - so it might be helpful to explain what the correct version is.

My sister has dyslexia, btw, so I don't assume everyone finds spelling easy. And I think a lot of people have suffered from fads in teaching. Grammar was out of fashion for many years, for some daft reason. Speech recognition software can also create some entertaining words.

yeah it works to a certain degree but I just feel we should not personally attack people anyway but that is my opinion. x

Darn, someone got there before me while I was typing!

nope, you're quite right, we shouldn't personally attack people
so if you see someone doing it, hit the red button
piece of piss, mate

not acceptable as a form of personal attack, but perfectly acceptable when someone is bleating on about spelling or grammar, but makes an obvious mistake like spelling it "grammer" or some such other trivial mistake (there was one a couple of weeks ago).

...and apologies for lack of punctuation, but cradling cranky be-jabbed 9wk old in other arm!

Thing is, chat rooms/message boards are a written form of communication. So being able to spell certainly helps you get your point across.

lillaura, i can understand that you didn't enjoy the thread very much, but you weren't so much standing your ground as digging in, despite the fact that it became more and more apparent that you didn't have the slightest clue about the postal strike.

you didn't know what caused it, what they were fighting for, what they got paid, how many strikes there had been, how infrequently the RM has struck in the past, or even whether your own postie was striking. you seemed to think no, but you had missed post and were operating under the fond impression that they were on a continual strike rather than pre-announced one day actions.

you persistently said that you were only wanting to have a discussion to 'learn' but you steadfastly refused to take on any information, whether from the wives of postal workers terrified about how they wre going to pay this months mortgage, or from union organisers with a wealth of experience in this area.

this, more than your spelling, is what got on people's tits, i fear.

Ginny if you have your own forum, what are you doing here?

Is there a 'one forum' per person limit?

yes. it's an MN rule. but you only know them if you're in the cleak.

Pinkmartini am I not allowed on this forum then??
I like to talk on lots of forums I dodnt think it was a problem!

Not at all, just that Ginny said she was busy with kids and runs her own forum. I'm a voluntary mod on a tiny site and know that it cuts into my time hugely - and I don't have any dcs.

And in reply to the OP, it's very poor form to use poor grammar or spelling in an argument if there's no reason behind it imo, but if someone's spelling something wrong, I tend to try and use the word again and spell it correctly. Often it's just brain ache from the poster but I think it's a better way of doing things.

I must say poor grammar does irritate me beyond but not enough to "pick on" anyone.

One thing I love about MN though, is the fact that most posters DO know how to punctuate, spell and construct an argument which is what makes it such a great place.

'Cleak' PMSL

PinkMartini, I too like good grammar and/or spelling, and am currently doing an english degree, which I hope will lead to teaching.
I often correct things in a chatroom I am a regular of, in a jokey manner, but to use it as a weapon I just think is wrong.

I run a forum that helps young mums.
It gives them advice etc and we have formed good friendships on and off the computer.
I still find time to go on the internet and talk on chat forums as I am quite shy so I find talking on forums easier.
being a mum of 4 does not stop you doing things it just slows it down slightly and makes it a bit harder.

I am not bothered about punctuation and spelling as I try my hardest whilst busy doing other things.
I personally think my posts are legible even without the correct grammar I apologise if they are not but I am writing so fst a barely look at the scree.
I understand that the correct grammar makes it easier on the other users but surely as long as we are doing our best to make our posts legible thats ll that counts?

its CLIQUE

sorry, it was meant to be so fast and barely look at the screen.
I always try and correct myself whern I am wrong.

I think Aitch did that deliberately, no?!

Any threatening emails from wimpy writers this week Aitch?

Thing is, Lorayn, this sort of 'topic' and these sorts of threads have come up time and again.

You're not saying anything new.

It's dull and the logical answer is nearly always, 'If you don't like it, why hang around?' There are thousands of boards to go on where 'respect' is tantamount.

Yawn. Parp. 4.