Isn’t it time to stop mocking people with poor literacy?

[RickiTarr]

It’s a whole genre and it’s not really on these days is it? If it ever was?

Another one running currently. It’s a terrible look @MNHQ

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4192831-I-know-we-all-love-a-Chester-drawers-but-I-have-one-better#prettyPhoto

I think its really poor form to screen grab someone's fb just to make fun of them, I don't understand why it's allowed on here. We are told to be kind and stick to guidelines so do these guidelines include mocking others on a different site, I shall be wary of what I put on fb now in case a real charmer copies it to here and starts a thread to make fun of me.

I agree with the OP and find it rather nasty.

People who judge grammar and spelling are absolute kunts.

Op, you have given me pause for thought. I haven’t posted on the other thread but admit that bad grammar grates on me. I’d never slag off poor spelling but phrases like ‘Chester drawers’ make my teeth itch and never thought much of saying so. But you are indeed right - no one knows who is reading these threads and the whole thing of critiquing other people’s command of English is so superior isn’t it? I’d never really thought of that until now so thank you.

This is such a thoughtful thread , I so hope it causes change.

Thank you very much for saying so @Merename

Thanks @bobsandbits

On the other hand, surely one must marvel at how so many people can spend 12 years in FT education yet still be functionally illiterate?

I think as a society we need to raise our literacy-expectation game, especially now we're 'competing globally', apparently.

I mean read through your FB. How many posts don't have errors?

I think we need to ask ourselves how we have reached the point where our expectations of literacy as so very low. And challenging it is decried as 'snobbery'.

It's one thing not to be ashamed of one's illiteracy; it's another to be proud of it!

@Miljea

On the other hand, surely one must marvel at how so many people can spend 12 years in FT education yet still be functionally illiterate?

I think as a society we need to raise our literacy-expectation game, especially now we're 'competing globally', apparently.

I mean read through your FB. How many posts don't have errors?

I think we need to ask ourselves how we have reached the point where our expectations of literacy as so very low. And challenging it is decried as 'snobbery'.

It's one thing not to be ashamed of one's illiteracy; it's another to be proud of it!

No, there's nothing to wonder about, unless you are ignorant. Just read up on the reasons, there are about a million academic papers about it.

The snobbiest snobs are usually very badly educated, that is why they set such store on outward demonstrations such as spelling.

I felt uncomfortable when I read that thread too. No understanding or even empathy towards the possible stories behind those spellings.... it definitely feels like middle class sniggering which is to the detriment of Mumsnet and a great shame.

This is a bit of an overreaction imo.

Google or whatever can check a spelling in a second. Presumably if you’re putting up things for sale you are online and you might check?

No ones attacking anyone personally here so storm in a t cup I say

On the other hand, surely one must marvel at how so many people can spend 12 years in FT education yet still be functionally illiterate?
I think as a society we need to raise our literacy-expectation game, especially now we're 'competing globally', apparently.
I mean read through your FB. How many posts don't have errors?
I think we need to ask ourselves how we have reached the point where our expectations of literacy as so very low. And challenging it is decried as 'snobbery'.
It's one thing not to be ashamed of one's illiteracy; it's another to be proud of it!

Exactly - there are lots of reasons why someone might not readily know a correct spelling, but these days it's hardly difficult to check. "Alexa, please spell ...." or just put an approximation into Google. It's not the not knowing that's worrying - it's the not caring!

This is where you're wrong.
If the word isn't highlighted as incorrect as it is a proper spelling just not for the word you're using how do you know to check it ? Do you check every word you type ?
Sometimes I can type a word in incorrectly and it's highlighted as wrong but there are no options as it's so wrong it can't be picked up. I retype serval times trying different versions of getting it wrong enough for spell check to pick it up. Sometimes that fails. I either have to use a different word or the wrong spelling.
This is people's ignorance and lack of empathy in understanding how hard it is for some people.
Why is it important?

I think comments pointing out people's spelling mistakes where it makes no difference to the thread and everyone can understand what it means should be deleted.

It's a Talk forum not A Level English, and the self appointed SPAG police just make themselves look a bit silly.

Agree OP.
Not specifically regarding the Shezlong thread because that's quite funny. But in general we should consider that poor spelling and grammar are often due to lack of good education, support and opportunities.

Good for you if you have impeccable grammar but in the 90s/00 when I was at mainstream school it wasn't such a priority. Teachers were demotivated, classmates were continuously disruptive due to their specific needs and nothing could be done about it, there was bullying going on, 50% of the class didn't have English as their first language.
School was bloody hard work without the actual education bit!

I envy people who went to grammar and actually got a good education and were able to use that to expand their chances in life. I wish it had been stricter and we'd had the opportunity to actually learn.

I agree that criticising people's spelling and grammar on forums etc is nasty. And many of the self-proclaimed grammar pedants turn out to know bugger-all about grammar anyway. Screen-grabbing also isn't really on. But I can't say I see that much wrong with mentioning funny misspellings you happen to have come across when you're not actually attributing them to anyone.

I do think funny unintentional typos are fair game.

But the thing is posters don't come on here for an English lesson, there are other sites available for that.

I agree!

I think it depend how it's done. Screen grabs which show someone's name are not on, but when something is funny and anonymous and there's no harm that's different.

I worry we have to tiptoe around people so much now we are excusing, permitting and condoning incorrect spelling and grammar.

And FWIW, yes I do look up words I don't know how to spell and don't understand frequently. I think it's important.

There seem to be quite a few people who appear to have had a censor fewmar failure on MN of late.

I posted on that thread and saw this one referenced. I think many of the 'funnies' on that thread are just made up. They remind me of toddlers that have been running around like made, had a bit too much squash and need a nap.

HJ40 it's not your place to excuse, permit or condone incorrect spelling and grammar. Do you actually hear yourself? How pompous your post is.

I worry we have to tiptoe around people so much now we are excusing, permitting and condoning incorrect spelling and grammar

Excusing and permitting? It's an online chat. However do you cope with text speak?

@LyingWitchInTheWardrobe It was a collective 'we', and that is my opinion. I do worry about it. I don't mind if that makes me sound pompous, in your opinion. I don't correct SPAG on mn but I do wonder how people will ever learn if not told. Personally I'd rather be told and then learn from it than continue blindly making the same mistakes over and over again.

@Sparklingbrook

I worry we have to tiptoe around people so much now we are excusing, permitting and condoning incorrect spelling and grammar

Excusing and permitting? It's an online chat. However do you cope with text speak?

I don't, it gives me the heebie jeebies

(And I use full stops in text messages, apparently that's bad)

Genuine question - what is the best middle ground? I'm seeing increasing use of poor SPAG and text speak in CVs and job applications. It's all well and good on a chat forum, but when people can't separate the informal from the formal and don't know any different, then what?

It's arguably more cruel to let people continue to talk about Chester drawers than kindly and discreetly point it out to them, isn't it? But sadly hidden behind an anonymous forum, people don't need to be either kind or discreet. So people point it out in public and the OP ends up defensive.

It's arguably more cruel to let people continue to talk about Chester drawers than kindly and discreetly point it out to them, isn't it? But sadly hidden behind an anonymous forum, people don't need to be either kind or discreet. So people point it out in public and the OP ends up defensive.

Say what, now?

It's really not the job posters on MN to educate other posters. Everyone is just mucking about on the internet. Posting with one eye on the TV, typing quickly especially during fast moving threads.

Most people can separate formal and informal. When applying for jobs there's always spellcheck or whatever.