I've been hanging around here for a few years

[tech3149]

I'm not a prolific poster, just respond to topics that pique my interest and read those that have a descriptive subject line that I feel is important. I try not to discount any viewpoints because my life experience is limited and others may have equally limited but different experiences. Comparing those experiences and viewpoints might provide a more accurate view of the world we live in.

My big problem, and I try not to inflict it on others, are posts that might have a good point and a logical basis that can be discussed and defended, but turn me off because of poor spelling, sentence structure, and basically just a poor understanding of the language they're trying to use to communicate. I don't want to be a language Nazi and have never presented the subject before, but I have to ask why post if you can't present your ideas in a clear and discernible language? I don't like discounting someones ideas because they don't present them in an understandable fashion, but why should I consider an opinion that can't be presented in an intelligible fashion? Is it just me? Should I start wearing the thick skin and accept that more people don't read and write but have valid ideas?

[fenriswolf]

1. wats joo problam wit poore speling?

[Lasher]

9. Eye cud sea dat cumming uh mal aweigh

Sum peples haz problem's widdat.

[fenriswolf]

10. gnu weigh. peopleos takes izzues wit me splling?

[Lasher]

12. Ur spellen rat.

Eat's duh reeder's dat haz prollem's.

[fenriswolf]

13. () eye C , radar iz alfabet naazzi?

[Lasher]

15. Mey eye sea ur papurz?

Wee half weigh's oaf meiking ewe tulk.

[fenriswolf]

16. zoe knows

hive laughed m ate whom. I swarz il larn ta tipe.

[Lasher]

19. Gude one knew.

Fallow maw leed. Spellen's maw fort, eh?

[fenriswolf]

20. U lead all phalo

[calimary]

37. Oh for Pete's sake. Look at you guys!

:rofl:

[islandmkl]

2. why don't you just concentrate on the point being made...

instead of conducting an English class? It might make things more enjoyable for yourself.

[tech3149]

27. I try seriously but how much effort does it take to proof what you post?

I do concentrate on the point being made but I consider the presentation of the message while considering the content. If you can't be concerned enough to present your ideas in a manner that can be understood by those who will read it, why should I consider 90the content to be more than mental diarrhea?

As stated in the OP I don't post much and respond only to those that have a specific interest for me. As I stated in the OP, I try and avoid being the language police, but if you want to make a point, say it so it makes some sense in whatever language you are speaking.

I don't want to shut anyone out of the discussion, I just want to be sure we're speaking the same language.

[defendandprotect]

36. Did you "proof" your post for spelling, etal --- ???

[halobeam]

49. 90huh?

:rofl:

[The Backlash Cometh]

52. I think the tip-off is when you said you were not a prolific writer.

If you are a prolific writer, or if you're sneaking posts in during coffee breaks or first thing in the morning before heading to work, proofing is an extra step that many may not have the leisure time to do. And believe me, if you read something on this newsgroup that riles you, posting without proofing is better than starting your morning feeling like there was something you forgot to do.

In my case, I come up with my best ideas when I free associate and just allow the 10 fingers of fate the freedom to reign over my keyboard. I sometimes come back within the first hour of posting to proof, if I have time. The spell checker doesn't pick up everything, of course, because of homonyms, so it does take a fresh eye to pick up some of the mistakes. I don't know that many have my freedom to come and go that way.

I don't have a problem reading through a badly proofed piece, as long as the poster isn't taking jabs at other people's spelling errors, or isn't making a slight about somebody's lack of observation. That's because (a) I like to pick up clues about a person, and pay attention to how they write; and (b) because I know the quiet ones may have some of the best observations, and I don't want to discourage them from sharing them with us.

[uppityperson]

59. What does "90the" mean?

See, typos happen to us all. Or are you now saying that HOW it is presented is what is important? That you would like dialog presented in a certain fashion? (hitting post after carefully rereading and spell checking)

[calimary]

38. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

Here we all are late on a Friday night.

What does THAT tell ya?!

[NMDemDist2]

3. has our childrens learned?

sorry, couldn't resist!

:hi:

[Cant trust em]

4. It's the internet, not a graduate thesis

I really don't have a problem with bad use of language here. The best posts are certainly those that are intelligible, but I wouldn't really get too hung up on it.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

5. Hmmm ! Get the dictionary and look up the word "tolerance".

Maybe you could learn something.

If that doesn't work just stay away from sites that bother you.

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

[Harkpark]

6. Hey decide for yourself

Me not judge people

If can write why not use skill
Practice make perfect Nyek nyek nyek

[calimary]

39. Hey! Welcome to DU!

Soitenly!

[Jackpine Radical]

7. Would it disturb you to know that you made several language errors

in your post?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. Someones got their gander up

' ;-)

[Jackpine Radical]

23. Some people just set themselves up

to be goosed.

[tech3149]

33. Actually, it's my dander that's been up

The state of the nation is no joke. You can play around with phrases like dander, ganga, franga, manga Play whatever game you will It's playing with your life.

[uppityperson]

60. Is this post an example of the type of clarity you wish us to use?

"You can play around with phrases like dander, ganga, franga, manga Play whatever game you will It's playing with your life." is very confusing.

How much effort does it take to proof what you post?

"I do concentrate on the point being made but I consider the presentation of the message while considering the content. If you can't be concerned enough to present your ideas in a manner that can be understood by those who will read it, why should I consider 90the content to be more than mental diarrhea?"

[tech3149]

28. not really, I'm a tired old drunk n/t

[Liberal In Texas]

45. I hear that. I am old and tired and have had WAY too much frascati.

BUT you are correct, sir.

And I will defend you until I fall asleep!

[Liberal In Texas]

44. If the OP made errors, they weren't in language.

Maybe grammar or spelling. But the OP was speaking (in the sense of his writing) correct English, which is his spoken language.

[Wheezy]

8. I have

a degree in English, and I'm a novelist. I care about spelling and grammar in my day job...but not here.

This is a message board. I find it a bit of a relief from the rat race to come here and be passionate without worrying if I've structured my passion properly. :)

Cheers!

[JuniperLea]

14. I don't want to be a language Nazi, but excuse me whilst I be a language Nazi...

GAWD... I loves me some contradiction!

Shame on you for making people feel badly about the way they write. Not all of us are perfect like you think you are.

I say practice makes perfect, and the more poor spellers who use poor grammar post, and use spell check, the better they'll become at satisfying your ridiculous and uppity needs.


:eyes:

[tech3149]

29. I ain't never been perfect and don't expect I'll ever be

If you thought the intent of my post was just to feel superior to others, you missed the point entirety. You could probably find find a ton of errors in my previous posts even though I use spell check and try to think about what I'm typing before I hit the Post Message button.

To get back to the intent of the OP If you have something to say, say it so it can be understood by everyone and doesn't need any mental gyrations to justify the position.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

17. Personally, I am in agreement.

Poor grammar and spelling can dilute the message.

Flame retardant, ON!

[uppityperson]

18. "someone's" not "someones"

Sometimes we write quickly so we don't forget what we are tal

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

21. You made an error in the first sentence of the second paragraph.

There,I feel better already.

[TexasObserver]

22. Agreed.

The Clown Posse notwithstanding.

I don't read any thread with an idiotic or salacious title. I don't read posts by posters who cannot write their thoughts in sentences, unless they're very short posts. There are far too many threads and far too many posts to bother reading the badly constructed ones.

[calimary]

41. And a big ol' Welcome to DU

to you, too!

[SoCalDem]

24. "...someones ideas..." I'm calling the apostrophe police

:rofl:

[alfredo]

25. Consider this:

Not ervey psoren hree has had a good etucoiadn, smoe may eevn hvae smoe tpye of lnanierg dlitisabiy. Elisngh mhgit be tehir sonecd luaggnae.

We try our bset to cosiednr the iedas whotiut jgiundg tiehr gsarp of the lgnugaae.

[AlCzervik]

26. you all are some seriously funny people.

:toast:

[tech3149]

30. It's fun posting something that generates such interest

I hope you all have a fun night and go to sleep with a full or comfortable belly.

[islandmkl]

31. dilycixes untie

[Lasher]

34. I've had fun.

No hard feelings I hope.

[timtom]

32. I noticed something interesting.

Up to this point, responses have been chiefly ridiculing or vilifying the original poster or his point. Only one poster had an intelligent reply.

Some erroneously accused the OP of being intolerant.

This piling on is one of the more disappointing aspects of this board. There is often an anti-intellectual bias -- one that precludes any sort of honest discourse.

Personally, I find it amusing.

Sometimes, though, it makes me sad.

"Well...well...just go back where you came from if you're gonna point out our flaws. Whatever truth is: we don't wanna know!"

[defendandprotect]

35. Someone once told me that they couldn't understand what Jesse Jackson was saying ---

of course, it was really a matter of not liking his message.

Some people have little time for posting and are doing so in a hurry---

I think you should concentrate on the content and forget the embellishments ---

[Liberal In Texas]

40. Um...At the risk of taking sniper fire with you, I agree.

I can't believe that some of the OPs haven't been at least "previewed" and re-read. God forbid that they might try the spell check feature out.

Even the subject line will have typos or gross spelling errors. Now, I'm not the best speller in the world and sometimes make stupid mistakes, but I at least proof what I post.

I don't think it's a matter of being "elitist" or some kind of "spelling Nazi."

This medium is about the written word. To not be careful and precise about how you write what you feel or think creates a misunderstanding that is not only not intended, but one that probably causes discord and rancor.

A lot of the writing here is slap-dash and done on the "I'll be the first to post" mentality. I read some of the longest posts and wonder what the fuck the person is talking about. There is no care or thought in it.

Writing is about conveying your feelings and insights to another. English has, for all it's faults, acquired a precision and subtlety to convey meaning like no other language I know of.

I think many people here know how to construct proper sentences, they just don't. They are lazy.

And in being lazy, they don't realize how much their message is falling on deaf ears, or eyes as the case may be.

tech3149, I am in your court.
(And we are not alone, don't despair.)

[radfringe]

42. according to WORD Spell and Grammer checker

you have two errors:

you wrote: I'm not a prolific poster, just
should be: I'm not a prolific poster; just

you wrote: I don't like discounting someones ideas
should be: I don't like discounting someone's ideas

In other words, lighten up.

on edit: typo corrected

[Liberal In Texas]

43. Not necessarily. It's not a comma fault.

It's a dropped pronoun perfectly acceptable in conversational English.

And the other is an argument between possessive and plural. Either one work in the context of the sentence.

You lighten up.

[timtom]

55. Uh...that would be GRAMMAR checker...

[Bongo Prophet]

46. Controlling compulsions can be important, but I have another angle to consider.

As you acknowledged, you made mistakes and often do, and yet you feel compelled to correct the mistakes of others. You resist, for various reasons, in order to not be a language nazi.

That shows good character, but it bothers you a bit, leading to your questions.
The good news is - they are easy to answer!

1. ...why should I consider an opinion that can't be presented in an intelligible fashion?

You should do this if you are interested in getting new ideas from people of a wide variety of backgrounds and communication styles. You posit that you "try not to discount any viewpoints..." -- well, try harder.


2. Is it just me?

Not at all, there are many who feel compelled to correct what they see as mistakes. Is that to see that there are others like you? Do you want to start a club? The easiest way to find them is to mangle some grammar and wait. Even better, start a post about disliking bad grammar, and PUT SOME IN THE POST. Very sneaky.

3. Should I start wearing the thick skin and accept that more people don't read and write but have valid ideas?

You can wear what you like - it's one of the great things about the internet - and the answer is the same as question 1. Why make it harder on yourself by editing in your head while taking in someone's ideas? It is not only disrespectful, it is also inefficient.


Some of the most intelligent people I have known have been dislexic or had limited education or bad spelling or made run on sentences with no punctuation like the one you see here LOL. "So their's that." ;)
Seriously, DON"T make the mistakes of class, or regionalism, formal education, etc; or equating eloquent speech or writing with intelligence or "worthiness" of ideas. Just consider the ideas and respect people.

Another main point.
IT IS NOT THEM. IT IS YOU.

Languages are always evolving, and English is practically roiling with innovation and variations.
Learn to enjoy it and PLAY with it, rather than focusing on "the" correct use. This will give you a greater appreciation for the many ways to say something, and expand your tolerance for variation. One could say it will "widen your stance."
Consider how you listen to the world.
Information can be contained in the most amusing and wonderful ways.
Listen to Bach, to Philip Glass and Steve Reich. Variations on themes.
Jazz. Scat. Hiphop. Breaking up patterns, rearranging.
Then John Cage. ANYthing can be music.
Read Twain, Faulkner and others who celebrate regional dialects and colloquialisms.
Joyce, Robert Anton Wilson and others who reassemble meaning, grammar or concepts to lead you to see in new ways.

Check out Joseph Campbell to see the same basic ideas discovered and explored through history and different cultures.
Appreciate the diversity.

Multi modal learning styles - the KEY to teaching and understanding how different people process data.

Learn to meditate. The main challenge in most meditation technique is to gently push away the thoughts that cloud our mind - all the little subroutines we run in our normal conscioussness that we are trying to take a break from.
Pop quiz. Would that sentence be better with "from which we are trying to take a break"? More correct, right?
Would the IDEA behind it be MORE or LESS valid?


Sometimes sloppy writing can be a sign of sloppy thinking, and you can correct or move on, as you wish.
There are several errors in the above (find them, it's like a puzzle!) but I hope you see some ideas in here that seem valid to you, and perhaps even applicable in some way.

Confession - I LOVE my dislexic partner's neologisms, and they are often quite insightful and delightful.
Case in point - "Dwelve" which is both delving AND dwelling in something. Like an extended exploration of an idea. I love that!

Use it in a sentnece? Sure.
"Don't dwelve too deeply in the errors of others, but rather frolic in the roiling waves of a living language. It is one of the joys of being human."
good luck.

prophet out.

[Snarkturian Clone]

47. I notice some overuse of commas once in awhile, but, I, Snarkturian

Clone, can tolerate them, when necessary.

One of my pet peeves in writing is when people describe things and they go "adjective(comma) similar adjective noun". I know it's perfectly acceptable writing but it sounds smug to me for some reason. Example: The barn is a quiet, silent place.

Cheers

[suziedemocrat]

48. "someones ideas" should be "someone's ideas". eom

[Itchinjim]

50. A few errors that bug the hell out of me;

Improper usage of there, their, and they're. Using "your" in place of "you're". And it's "Martial" not "Marshall" damn it.

[sendero]

51. It's a well known fact..

... that verbal skills are a pretty reliable indicator of intelligence.

Typos and stuff I don't care about but there are all strata of thinkers here and some are not thinking on all 8 cylinders.

Folks who think loser is spelled looser, who can't be bothered with niceties like punctuation, well excuse me if I doubt they have anything of interest to impart.

There's a reason you see much worse grammar and spelling on freeper forums, and it isn't that they are busier.

[B Calm]

53. If problem is the subject of the verb are, try making them agree in number.

Someones... is not in the spelling dictionary!

Is it just me.. Try using I!

[Orsino]

54. Well, lobby harder for a strong educational system.

Decades of neglect have left us ill-prepared to communicate in text media. America does have real problems that need addressing, and we need as many voices as possible to debate clearly.

Being a language Nazi is nearly useless. Be a language FDR instead. :hi:

[CrispyQ]

56. I realize that not everyone is as comfortable or educated with English or writing as others are

& I try not to dismiss their ideas simply because they aren't expressed well.

That said, for all the fun we poke at freepers for their misspellings & poor grammar, I'm surprised that DUers don't use more care in their writing. I've read posts on DU that had mistakes that were just as silly as the notorious "This is hugh!", "I'm series!!!1!", or "Morans!".

The freepers commonly refer to us as DUmmies & I'm sure they've found plenty of errors that make us look just as stupid as the ones listed above.

I realize many people are simply ranting & I don't expect perfection, however, DU has a spell checker - use it! And for posts that are more serious or lengthy, is it asking too much of the poster to put some care into their written word to reflect the passion of their convictions?

You are not alone in your gripe, tech3149.

[legin]

57. There is a slightly mistaken thesis here

that I could write good english if I tried hard enough.

Some of my posts here in the past I've looked at afterwards and thought "why is it such a spagetti junction ?"

And I keep leaving vitial words out.

It just happens naturally even if I am reasonably well educated.

It is like my writing abilities are not capable of being effected by learning but are hard-wired.

[NashVegas]

58. Haha

Nice troll.