"Bullying" on the forum

soappie

MrsE wrote: »

When someone has an issue or worry they need help & advice, NOT an English lesson;)

Well said MrsE! :T:T

MrsE_2

soappie wrote: »

Well said MrsE! :T:T

My English isn't bad & my spellings passable. I still get loads of grammar/spelling Nazis telling me off:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

They should go into proof reading & get paid for it:rotfl:

zippychick

CCP wrote: »

I can see your point here, but my POV (and it is just my opinion, not in any way an implicit criticism of yours) is that this forum isn't necessarily the best place for sorting out what may be long-standing misunderstandings of the use of the English language - people generally post because they have a specific question or need more general advice, and may well not be up for a discussion about grammar / spelling / whatever at that particular time. (Or, of course, it may just be a simple error caused by speed or lack of concentration - my particular speciality is mixing up "they're" and "their" - it's not that I don't know the difference (of course I do! ) but I just seem to have a glitch in my brain that occasionally causes my fingers to type the wrong one. Very odd! )

I totally agree and feel it is derailing the thread a little. I mean there's off topic, and there's off topic

But that's just my own thought on the matter.:D

geordie_joe

momoyama wrote: »

With respect my dear Soappie (God that's so condescending), when I consulted the firearms instructors from whom I learned during my millitary days, a gun required towing behind a landrover.

With the greatest respect etc. When I consulted a very high up Royal Navy type person I was told with great authority that the difference between a ship and a boat is "a ship sails on top of the water, boats go under it".

With regard to your example, it is true, the military (British) refer to "big guns" as guns, rifles as rifles and pistols as side arms. But this is for clarity, when an officer orders the "guns" to be fired at the enemy everyone knows he means those big things the landrovers dragged up, and not the rifles they are carrying.

momoyama wrote: »

The problem with dictionaries is that they take on words that are commonly being used irrespective of accuracy.

The problem with "experts" is they often just repeat what their teacher taught them, or what is commonly acceptable in their particular circle.

Ask any pilot what the left or right side of the plane is referred to as and they will reply with "port or starboard". Except a Navy pilot, they will reply with "left or right"

BusyGirl

I'm pretty sure that most people posting on this site do not really appreciate having their grammar and spelling checked by other posters. I think it is quite insulting and I believe that some posters perhaps feels the need to feel superior to others.
People use this site for 'moneysaving' reasons and should feel welcomed here and not patronised by others.

Zazen999

soappie wrote: »

Perhaps you could explain why weapons such as sub machine guns, gatling guns, and other tubular weapons as explained in this article from gunpedia (but of course, gunpedia is probably not a source to be relied upon) do not necessarily need to be towed behind a landrover.

Oh dear; I would suggest agreeing to disagree with momoyama but I fear that will start another tangent. I have a staple gun and I am perfectly able to maneuver it to my allotment purely in my cycle basket; no towing required thank goodness. Phew!

momoyama

Just what are you trying to achieve by highlighting my typographical error?

soappie wrote: »

So, that was what you were taught in your military days therefore it must be true.

Well yes. I was taught by experts. If I tell you about aspects of Martial Arts then you can be pretty sure it's accurate. For just the same reason.

soappie wrote: »

Perhaps you could explain why weapons such as sub machine guns, gatling guns, and other tubular weapons as explained in this article from gunpedia

Haven't read the article yet (but I will) but my initial thought is "and of course we trust everything that a Wiki tells us :rolleyes:)

soappie wrote: »

With respect to dictionaries - reputable ones at least - they define, in an authoritative way, the meanings of words at the time they were published.

Or do they define the meanings of words as they're being used, irrepective of accuracy? If Joe Public starts calling a car a bicycle then will the dictionary change the definition accordingly despite it being blatantly false.

momoyama

MrsE wrote: »

Because when someone has a problem with a debt/child/husband/mother/cake/hoover/employer it isn't necessary to dissect their grammar & spelling.

So long as its clear & understandable then IMHO its pedantic & nit picking to make an issue of it.

The emboldened part is my point.

patchwork_cat

Well on reading Andrea's post, I though, No OS is friendly on the whole, however this thread has made me change my mind!

No there isn't bullying persay on this thread, but lack of tolerance definately. For crying out loud , first agreeing to diagree over quite a few pages, now grammar! I have a particular bugbear when people say of instead of have, but honestly.

rosieben

momoyama wrote: »

I take your point, but... why not? It's the ideal place. As with anything, sort out the problem as it occurs.

I disagree very strongly with this. This is not the ideal place at all, in fact I cant think of a place that is less ideal. Many people who come to this forum are out of their minds with worry about redundancies, illness, bankruptcy and the like, and the last thing they are going to be concerned with, quite rightly, is whether or not their post will pass the grammar test. I came here on the verge of bankruptcy, at my wits' end to know how I was going to cope and how I would survive financially afterwards. Thankfully I found good advice and a welcome. If I'd met the grammar police I wouldnt have come back. As I said in my earlier post, no one comes here to sit an A level in English. Most of us have other things to worry about.

I won't be posting on this thread any more, its so far off topic as to be useless for its original intent.