Isn't about time MNHQ started deleting posts that attack people's spelling and grammar?

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

(In advance I will say any of my posts are likely to have spelling and grammar mistakes)

It's such a shitty thing to do and often it is directed at poster who then feel they have to explain themselves and disclose they have dyslexia. I don't understand why MN tolerate people with potential disabilities being mocked in this way?

Why can it not be regarded as a personal attack and such comments deleted. Very often the arses that post comments about another posters spelling bring nothing else to the thread and usually it derails the thread and the OP's original issue gets lost in the ensuing bunfight.

Hello,

Thanks for this thread. It is an issue that has come up several times before in the past and one we do try and keep an eye on.

We believe in allowing the conversation to flow, with or without correct spelling. We think it's fine for others to correct spelling if they want to but anything that falls into a personal attack will be deleted.

We don't think it makes sense for us to police this as most people will call others on a thread if they feel that they are overstepping. Some people are grateful of the correction and others take offence - it is the same with most things. It tends to be about tone and context.

If an individual posts in this way over and over again, we may well 'ave a word if they are reported to us. So, as ever, please do use the report button.

Thanks all

...so am I the only one who checked RebeccaMumsnets posts for spelling mistakes

I generally don't like to be corrected but I have to say that my spelling and grammar have improved since using Mumsnet. I find it a bit pathetic when people are horrified at other people's mistakes. I genuinely find spelling and grammar difficult. Sometimes my spelling is so far off that spellcheck doesn't help. Fortuanately I'm pretty awesome in lots of other respects so it doesn't bother me too much.

Wandering I bet Rebecca checked it herself about 50 times before posting

Momagain - yes, that bit is only for UK English, not US English. You don't seem to worry about it over there, and have either c for both or use an s where we would us a c (defense (US) /defence (UK) being an example)

However, it is valid for UK English.

it deos not btoher me at all if poeple crorcet my seplilng or gamrmar. if poeple are nsaty aobut it tehy celalry hvae to mcuh tmie to sapre.

no it does not and most of the time its not. when people are nasty thats just what they are aiming to be.

im not sure that an 8 year old knowing the difference between loose/lose is relivant when it comes to dyslexia as its nothing to do with age.

A sticky on "What is rudeness" and "What is snobbery" might also be useful. Love your post, TiggyD.

lol

Have we even discussed the twatphone effect yet? DYAC makes spelling clutzes of even the most careful.

My phone loves to "correct" my apostrophes which is lovely when it automatically correctly puts one in "it's" but less lovely when it does so in "sons". Argh.

Yes, MNHQ should definitely delete posts that correct people's grammar, or the posters doing it should at least get a warning and perhaps a ban if they persist.

I like the generally good standard of written English on here but think the pedants are being very rude towards those who make mistakes, whether due to lack of education, special needs, English not being their first language, being caught out by autocorrect, or just a simple mistake. Not everyone has the time to expertly compose their post and carefully proof read it.

I don't think correcting loose/lose or they're/there in a factual manner is offensive.

No, it doesn't need to be offensive, but how often is it actually necessary? How often does a spelling mistake actually completely change the meaning of a word to the extent that the post is very different?

I mean, we have confusion when some people use DP to mean parents and some use DP to mean partner, or DS for sister/son or even DD autocorrecting to Dad. But it takes a second or less to skim the rest of the post and get the true meaning.

It takes far longer than a second to read someone's subsequent "It's lose, OP" then roll one's eyes and scroll by.

Ignite for ignore was unintentionally hilarious. Nobody genuinely thought the poster wanted to set fire to her MIL or not much anyway.

We think it's fine for others to correct spelling if they want to but anything that falls into a personal attack will be deleted.

Why is it fine Rebecca?

Imagine for example a mother is tearing her hair out and comes here for advice on how to get her baby to sleep/feed/stop crying.

Do you really think it's 'fine' for others to start correcting her spelling?

Do you really think that person is likely to come back to MN again for advice?

I think nipping this crap in the bud is long overdue. As long as someone has made themselves clear and communicated exactly what they're trying to say, that should be all that matters.

Mumsnet is a very diverse forum with people from all different educational backgrounds and countries.

If they come here for advice or to chat, they should be able to do so without other members grabbing their big red correction pens.

Spelling and grammar DO matter.
If you are in a professional job they matter even more.

I would not employ someone who couldn't spell or string a sentence together. I'm not talking about the odd mistake here or there, I'm talking not so much about the inability to be 100% perfect but more the willingness to do things correctly.

If you can't be bothered to spell words correctly, to me that says that you can't be bothered to do your job properly.

They don't matter on a chat forum as long as the mistakes don't change what they're actually trying to say.

But Mumsnet is not work or a job application OhNo, its a chat forum. No-one is saying spelling and grammar do not matter. We are saying that 100% perfection is not necessary on a chat forum and it is on non for mistakes to be corrected sarcastically or have the piss taken.

There could be a tearful, end of her tether member posting that her baby won't sleep, feed etc but if she dares to say 'I would of thought he would sleep through by now' you can guarantee at least one poster would say something like:

have have have

Imagine for example a mother is tearing her hair out and comes here for advice on how to get her baby to sleep/feed/stop crying. Do you really think it's 'fine' for others to start correcting her spelling? Do you really think that person is likely to come back to MN again for advice?

I agree, Worra, but I would argue that this falls under normal guidelines about being "by parents for parents" and "peace and love" and "be supportive, you cunts" and doesn't need a rule on its own.

I know I'm boring on this subject, as celibacy obviously finds from her comments upthread, but honestly, ohno, that is such a generalisation.

Yes, for some jobs perfect SPAG are crucial. Those jobs are a tiny minority.

For many jobs, good SPAG are helpful, but not absolutely necessary.

I will never understand why people are so proud to say they wouldn't employ someone whose spelling was bad. It's boasting you wouldn't bother to adapt to someone in difficulties, isn't it?

Reading over this thread, I do not think people realize how hurtful and plain rude their comments and assumptions are.

We are not all people with low literacy, little education and little motivation. We don't lack aspirations or motivation to learn. And if we did, why would it be ok to make us feel bad, or for you to boast about how you wouldn't hire us?

As worra says, this isn't a job application. IME, Job applications are often judged by humane, sensible people with a knowledge of Equality Law, who want the right person for the job. Not by pedants.