MN and dyslexia, laughing at a disability?

[MrsBlackbeard]

I'm wondering what to do about the problem of being a dyslexic on MN. Do I make a simpering apology at that the start of a thread and/or as I post a comment?

Its just this, if we were all in a room together, and English wasnt my first language and Im having difficulty pronouncing things because of it, or I had a speech disorder, would you:

A. Stand round laughing in to my face.
Or
B. Assume that I was unintelligent and not worthy of your attentions?

I know Im asking for trouble for writing all this and will take on the chin the usual basturdly (Dont worry my own word) wit that some times swills round in hear.

Iv named changed a couple of times since being hear and keep getting that same old shite over and over again.

Its taken me years to get up the bollox to actual write on any forum as it involves having to put my comments through Microsoft word before posting any thing bigger then a three letters. Spellchecker can fail in often spectacularly ways for me, and granted, in very humorous ways..

I couldnt spell my own name till I was 11 years old, and went to a shit pit of a school that advised me to fuck off at 16 due to my illiteracy. I remember when I was 12 having a English teacher read out a essay as I had written it to the class and going home to figure out which would be the easiest way to commit suicide due to the ensuing ridicule and shame. I grew up in an area where dyslexia was only recognized as a condition until relatively recently.

Iv lost jobs when they twigged I had it, and was rejected for jobs when I told them at interview.
How ever, I managed to graduate with a 2.1 and ended up working on international arts projects. I think Iv done all right given my breaks and I feel that Im not that unintelligent. Nice thing about art is you can develop your own language; I can escape the constraints of the written word.

So why do I feel I'm shouting up the stairwell and clambering up on crutches at the party above, as every so often someone looks down to laugh at me as I miss a step.

Im sure there are parents of dyslexic children on MN, that dont find anything funny in what they have to deal with trying to get there kids on in life.

As for text speak, yeh well it dose look common but language evolves. It is a form of communication that is unsanctioned, adapted by people who were failed by the education system, delivers a meaning quicker (And cheaper by the pound on your phone bill).
I dont personal have a problem with it; its just a different way of writting.

Come on then have a good laugh, point at the linguistic freak..

You have no idea how many times I had to go over this, and I bet its still choca with spelling mistakes.

Sorry rant over..

Oh don't preface your posts, people need to elarn to be charitable, not have it hand fed...

I find having this thread in reserve so I can link to it if someone gets snippy is enough.

on my very first post on here i got my spelling picked apart, by a poster who in their next post spelt something wrong. THAT really pissed me off.

im not dyslexic but my son is - diagnosed, (he also has aspergers and dyspraxia) - he is also very intelligent - an above average IQ in tests but he cant spell for toffee. he uses a laptop for everything- all his A level work is done on a net book and he uses a hand held PDA.

just want to say i know what its like. people who pick apart others posts for spelling/grammar really irritate me.

OP totally agree it is pathetic the way people are picked up on for their spelling, or way the express themselves.

Unless a post is so bad that it cannot actually be understood, then i see no point in ripping people to shreds. Well I do see the point, the reason people do it is snobbery, to make themselves feel superior. It is not a pleasant trait to see displayed so openly all over the boards.

thank you mrsblackbeard for the links
am not in the uk

still feel my life would of been very different if I could of got a good college certicate,but I
should stop regreting things

IMO there's a huge difference between spelling and text speak. Lots of people can't spell. Perhaps because they're dislexic, perhaps because they can't type that accurately so spelling suffers, perhaps because they just can't spell for whatever reason.

I don't think that people should have to justify why they can't spell, and I do think that pointing out someone's spelling mistakes is petty and pathetic.

My spelling is crap. People make excuses for it on account of the fact I use a screen reader, but the reality is that it's crap. And I remember once misspelling a word during a post on a highly sensitive thread, and someone came on to the thread in question and pointed out my one spelling error in a post of several paragraphs which was IMO both petty, and completely disrespectful to the op whose thread was highjacked so someone could prove that they are better than everyone else.

But I think that text speak is a totally different issue and I don't think we should have to be tolerant of that.

Text speak isn't a new way of writing - it's a bloody lazy way of writing, and I think it's sad to think that in twenty years time our children will be posting on here in text speak because they will have lost the ability to communicate properly.

And unlike spelling, you actually have to make the effort to write in text speak, so if someone has to do that then there's no reason IMO why they can't attempt to write properly.

I would never laugh at anyone with dyslexia or any other type of disability and shame on those who actually do.

DH has dysgraphia and my best friend has dyslexia (both of them very intelligent people - alot more intelligent than I am!).

I also fill out most official forms for DH because he finds it a challenge, especially in busy places where you are under pressure like banks, or and office. He makes mistakes when he feels under pressure and gets angry and frustrated.

I don't judge people for their spelling on MN or any other forum because many BF their babies whilst typing or do have dyslexia. Various reasons for having typos on here!

No one has ever picked me up on my spelling. or my typing. both of which are shti
nealry as bad as cod's . ha ha.
who cares if someone picks you up on your spelling ?

have you been that badly treated then Op ?
seems a shame. is this new on mn then ? is pendants corner on every thread these days ?

There was a hideous thread the other day oblomov, I don't know whether that one or others have triggered this but I think it is warranted. Some people are diving straight into threads about quite serious subjects with comments about spelling etc. It's quite depressing.

It has ben worse here in the last week

It goes in cycles

Everyone will move on to some other crime soon enough, white rbead or Asda shoes

Tis how it goes

I'm quite scared. I had my 7 year old dd tested today. Apparently she has a stratospherically high IQ of 145 but is badly dyslexic. I have literally just been told that this morning and am still reeling. It saddens me that people will write her off as a bit 'thick' based on her spelling etc - clearly they will be quite wrong.

MrsBlackbeard - yes your OP does contain some spelling mistakes. So fcking what says I. You sound like a brilliant, intelligent, interesting lady with a job you love.
Language evolves and spelling does too. I have books at home that say 'to-day' etc, in Shakespearian times there were random letters all over the place (e at the end of words, s and f were practically interchangeable).
My DH is dyslexic but was branded thick until he was about 12 when it was discovered not only was it dyslexia but he needed glasses too (how the fck his parents missed out on him having as eyesight amazes me).
I'm an auditor. It's my job to spot spelling mistakes in text. But not on mumsnet. At least, I will personally kick myself up the arse next time I point out a spelling mistake or snigger

Agree MrsBlackbeard, I've seen some mumsnetters point out spelling/grammar errors to ridicule and feel superior, saying they can't take a poster seriously if there's a spelling error in the title, which is unnecessary.

An artist friend of mine said most of her lecturers at university were dyslexic, it's interesting you say art is an area to escape from the written word. I used to volunteer in an adult education class where most atendees were dyslexic, all were intelligent people, one in particular a talented photographer.

I can see your point about text speak, I enjoy it on text messages and agree that language does evolve, but wouldn't use it on mumsnet!

Peachy I love you and you know I would never pick anyone's spelling apart. I just find it annoying if someone is being really preachy and patronising and if they are at the same time making loads of spelling mistakes I might just point out the discrepancy. But for no other reason.

Oh, forgot to say, FUCK YOU Nightshoe. Good to know who to avoid.

I made this point on a thread not long ago that criticised misspellings. I had a lovely friend who had dyslexia, very intelligent man but his dyslexia shattered his confidence and he would not let others read his writing in case they judged him for it. He was my first kiss too!

I think if you went onto such a thread and said you were dyslexic they would be mortified. And rightly so.

Unfortunately some people don't think when criticising.

And I've just noticed a spelling mistake in my own post!

I have in the past tutted at the school for sending letters out with spelling and grammatical errors, but agree with Iklboo not necessary to do it on mumsnet, so what.

pofaced and nightshoe, get a room. If you want to spoil what is a really good, supportive thread then you are doing a good job. Take your childish petty slanging match elsewhere.

Or go and sit in the naughty corner until you've both calmed down and are ready to say sorry. I don't care who started it!

HMC here

look under conditions,they do take SLD's such as dyslexia. And please don't be scared: one of the great benefits of a high IQ is the adaptability that comes with it.

Can we point and laugh at the people who decide to pull others up on their spelling/grammar and then fuck it up themselves? I love it when that happens...need to get out more possibly.

Pofac4ed, [atronising people arenever good are they? Still would avoid mentioning their typing though (and know I an accidentally do patronising especially when I am trying really, really hard not to do it!)

I have done it about twice Peachy, when people have been particularly nasty.

hmc, don't worry too much. You WILL have to fight your DD's corner on many an occasion but with your love, help and support she can achieve!
My DD1 is now 15, in 1st year of GCSE's, already her teachers are predicting her A's in most subjects if she can hold her nerve in exams. Her mind works very differently to some of her pers, but she much more of a deep thinker than most. RE teacher has her down for full course RE/Philosophy and says it would be a tragedy if she doesn't take philosopy at A level. She's also incredibly artistic, wants to be a TV/film set designer.
Your DD will find her successful way in life with your love and support!
You'll have to develop a wierd sense of humor alongside your DD when she comes home moaning about teachers wanting her to use a dictionary. As she says, how the hell can I look a word up in a dictionary if i don't know how to start spelling it? A very valid point I think.
Message me if you need a chat.x

I think Mumsnot should be for everyone, even dyslexiacs.

Thanks Peachy. It is going to be a steep learning curve to understand how best I might help her...also feeling a bit low that she will always (probably) struggle academically and it will be much harder for her than her peers...up until now I was hoping that she might just be a 'late developer' who would suddenly 'blossom'..

And thanks five, it sounds like your daughter is doing incredibly well now. I might just take you up on the offer of messaging you

Well five, if your DD wants any helpwith that RE you know where I am ...nice to see her going for it (my degree is RE & Phi. and it is huge interest of ds1, who has probable dyslexia, ASD and possible other bits thrown in)