Sorry, I know I shouldn't let it get to me but...

[rh100]

The thread isn't about the quality of education but the quality of written English. I didn't see Debian's post as being snobbish. The use of poor English does not discriminate. It cuts across all social classes and professions.

Isn't that the same? Or just that those that can are too lazy to do it correctly? Even so it does not bother me - although I dislike when txt speak is taken to anything other than phones in a big way. English is 2nd language to many, or education may leave them unable to make a high standard of grammar (as in my case), and so long as they can be understood, surely what you get out of that communication is worth more than admiration for someone's grammar ability.

 

[Muddyfox]

Listening to the radio the other day,the phrase of the moment seemed to be 'off of' as in- "that actor off of Eastenders". Might be correct but sounds wrong.

Potsy ... surely now that we've been educated by Debian it's Off've ?

Simon

 

[MadoneRider1991]

i'm dyslexic.. it all looks wrong to me

+1 im dyslexic so when im typing i find it hard to spot my mistakes

 

[rich p]

+1 im dyslexic so when im typing i find it hard to spot my mistakes

Don't worry about it. Most of us don't.

 

[potsy]

+1 im dyslexic so when im typing i find it hard to spot my mistakes

Yet you can spell dyslexic no problem

 

[rh100]

Potsy ... surely now that we've been educated by Debian it's Off've ?

Simon

with a capital O??

 

[rich p]

with a capital O??

....I'm going overboard, with a capital 'O',

so don't be persistent, baby keep your distance......

 

[Debian]

Well, I am amazed at the level of vitriol now being written in my direction.

I see nothing wrong at all in attempting to encourage good standards of written English, I wasn't aiming at any poster in particular, it was a general observation of how I feel about things. Would you be happy if the same level of indifference was prevalent in schools? On the other hand perhaps it already is from the tone of some of the posts in reply to my OP.

To those who suggest that it's natural evolution of language, it's not, you are confusing evolution with a simple mistake. Language does not evolve by mistake, it evolves through changes of usage and dereliction of terminology, not through plain error.

To those who complain about differing levels of education, second language, etc, that's nonsense. Anyone can learn.

Anyway, to those to whom poor standards of written English don't matter, I simply find that attitude very, very sad.

 

[MadoneRider1991]

Yet you can spell dyslexic no problem

thats because i copied what gaz put

 

[rich p]

I don't see vitriol at all, merely a different point of view.

Well, I am amazed at the level of vitriol now being written in my direction.

I see nothing wrong at all in attempting to encourage good standards of written English, I wasn't aiming at any poster in particular, it was a general observation of how I feel about things. Would you be happy if the same level of indifference was prevalent in schools? On the other hand perhaps it already is from the tone of some of the posts in reply to my OP.

To those who suggest that it's natural evolution of language, it's not, you are confusing evolution with a simple mistake. Language does not evolve by mistake, it evolves through changes of usage and dereliction of terminology, not through plain error.

To those who complain about differing levels of education, second language, etc, that's nonsense. Anyone can learn.

Anyway, to those to whom poor standards of written English don't matter, I simply find that attitude very, very sad.

 

[potsy]

Well, I am amazed at the level of vitriol now being written in my direction.

I see nothing wrong at all in attempting to encourage good standards of written English, I wasn't aiming at any poster in particular, it was a general observation of how I feel about things. Would you be happy if the same level of indifference was prevalent in schools? On the other hand perhaps it already is from the tone of some of the posts in reply to my OP.

To those who suggest that it's natural evolution of language, it's not, you are confusing evolution with a simple mistake. Language does not evolve by mistake, it evolves through changes of usage and dereliction of terminology, not through plain error.

To those who complain about differing levels of education, second language, etc, that's nonsense. Anyone can learn.

Anyway, to those to whom poor standards of written English don't matter, I simply find that attitude very, very sad.

No I wouldn't but you go to school to learn,you go on a cycling forum to talk about cycling(unless you are greedo) very different IMO.

 

[Debian]

Neither am I complaining about, nor do I care about typo's and speed errors.

But basic and easily correctable errors of grammar there's not really any excuse for perpetuating, on a forum or elsewhere. Don't forget there are people who mainly read forums and assume that what they see written is written in a normal and correct fashion and therefore copy it.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

FWIW I agree with the OP, and also the improper use of "we was going" instead of "we were going" irritates me in much the same way. It may be down to the differing standard of education received by the author, although I learnt both of these things back in Infants school so I would be suprised if there were a bundle of bods on here who missed out on such an education.

If you are Dyslexic and or English is not your native tongue then perhaps you could just see this as a learning opportunity and take it on board for the future, rather than just coming out with the rather poor excuses that "it's only a forum" or "it's informal communication and not important". If you know it, use it. If you don't, then now you do.

Simples.

 

[potsy]

Maybe it's this god awful .net address causing all these typo's and spelling mistakes.Sure I used to speak the Queens English when it was .co.uk
I'm certainly not spouting any vitriol towards you debian,just don't think there's any need to correct these things on this kind of forum.Now if everyone starts talking text speak like the kids on Facebook etc,then that might be an issue.

 

[rh100]

People have different priorities to you - my education time is spent on enhancing my technical knowledge for my career - my grammar is acceptable where it counts so would serve little purpose in pursuing it. i feel no social responsibility in being formal and correct on a forum to educate others. What you see as basic clearly isn't basic for others.