Correcting people's grammar - acceptable?

missbiggles1

Mupette wrote: »

yes quite a few of yours were removed too, weren't they.

I don't think so because I didn't post anything offensive or personally abusive..

maman

missbiggles1 wrote: »

No it isn't, which is why I wouldn't correct anybody on a forum.

However, if those people who can write correctly continue to do so and don't devalue the skills on threads like these - those who have (non health related) problems with it will be helped without any effort on anybody's part.

Nothing helps correct writing more than reading it, just as nothing makes it worse (as most teachers will know) than reading poor English on a regular basis.

I also don't think there is a "poor s/g/p must be corrected brigade" on here. IIRC, only one person (possibly two) have said that they actually do this.

Exactly. Instead, we have posters who try to find good reasons for using poor language which (with the exception of those with health issues) I can't agree with. However putting the point seems to elicit such responses:

fierystormcloud wrote: »

Wow, patronising much? :rotfl:

Who made YOU the grammar police? Why do you think you have the right to attack people's grammar and spelling? Why do you think YOU should be 'teaching' them?!

Seriously? Who do you think you are?

Mupette

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I don't think so because I didn't post anything offensive or personally abusive..

you did and they were removed you know they were, what is it with you, it's almost like your stalking me, I've not made any accusations of you reporting me, and yet you keep coming back to do you like praying on vulnerable people or something.

coolcait

Mupette wrote: »

Well apparently i am allowed to be ridiculed on here for my errors of grammar and spelling, even to be told that i have been nasty in a private message. But if i point the finger to tell someone that their view is way off the mark, i have posts removed :rotfl:

Mupette wrote: »

you did and they were removed you know they were, what is it with you, it's almost like your stalking me, I've not made any accusations of you reporting me, and yet you keep coming back to do you like praying on vulnerable people or something.

I completely disagree with both of the above posts.

I think you have misunderstood something which missbiggles1 said, but your reaction to that misunderstanding was (and is) to go down the route of personal insults and accusations.

I made the same point last night/in the early hours of this morning.

There are better ways to deal with a misunderstanding.

The worst thing about this episode, in my view, is that there was nothing offensive in missbiggles1's post(s), yet your unfounded accusations are left on the thread.

Hence my challenging those accusations.

Mupette

coolcait wrote: »

I completely disagree with both of the above posts.

I think you have misunderstood something which missbiggles1 said, but your reaction to that misunderstanding was (and is) to go down the route of personal insults and accusations.

I made the same point last night/in the early hours of this morning.

There are better ways to deal with a misunderstanding.

The worst thing about this episode, in my view, is that there was nothing offensive in missbiggles1's post(s), yet your unfounded accusations are left on the thread.

Hence my challenging those accusations.

her posts have been removed now and so have mine, that's it, obviously the pm she sent me was not something i misunderstood, she knows this and it doesn't need bring up again.

Twopints

coolcait wrote: »

The worst thing about this episode, in my view, is that there was nothing offensive in missbiggles1's post(s), yet your unfounded accusations are left on the thread.

Hence my challenging those accusations.

For someone whose posts are inoffensive, she seems to offend a lot of people.

coolcait

Twopints wrote: »

For someone whose posts are inoffensive, she seems to offend a lot of people.

She isn't afraid to disagree with people, and she certainly doesn't do hearts and flowers, tea and sympathy, or hugs and muffins! :-)

That doesn't go down well with some people - especially if they've posted looking for agreement, hearts and flowers, tea and sympathy and hugs and muffins.

In those circumstances, the people may feel offended - that doesn't mean that a lack of agreement or tea and sympathy is, of itself, 'offensive'.

There's also a huge leap from that kind of circumstance to saying that someone posted offensive remarks about people with disabilities or illnesses. Especially when the accusation is wrong.

It's another aspect of communication on the boards. Sometimes a post is misunderstood or misinterpreted. That's fair enough, as long as clarification is sought.

However, the longer the 'misunderstanding' continues, the more it starts to look like 'misrepresentation'. That's more worrying.

missbiggles1

Mupette wrote: »

you did and they were removed you know they were, what is it with you, it's almost like your stalking me, I've not made any accusations of you reporting me, and yet you keep coming back to do you like praying on vulnerable people or something.

If you look back, the posts I wrote that you were so rude about are still there.

I'm going to put you on ignore now because you're deliberately trying to provoke me and I'm not going to rise to it. Being ill isn't the only way of being vulnerable, you know.

ETA
I sent you a very polite and well wishing pm which I'm unable to quote as it's against forum rules - please don't try to make out that I've been abusing you by pm, because I haven't.

Mupette

missbiggles1 wrote: »

If you look back, the posts I wrote that you were so rude about are still there.

I'm going to put you on ignore thank you now because you're deliberately trying to provoke me and I'm not going to rise to it. Being ill isn't the only way of being vulnerable, you know.
erm i did say it was all put to bed, not in those exact words..

ETA
I sent you a very polite and well wishing yes it was pm which I'm unable to quote as it's against forum rules - please don't try to make out that I've been abusing you by pm, because I haven't.

I didn't but it you want to see it that way go for it, just for the record you may not know MS is incurable so telling me get well soon was a punch in the face.

Pollycat

missbiggles1 wrote: »

However, if those people who can write correctly continue to do so and don't devalue the skills on threads like these - those who have (non health related) problems with it will be helped without any effort on anybody's part.

Then I will continue to do my bit to uphold s/g/p on this board.

I've not seen any devaluation of skills on this thread, just a discussion about s/g/p and whether it is appropriate to correct it.

And I'm not sure I agree with your use of 'will'.
I would be more inclined to use 'may'.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Nothing helps correct writing more than reading it, just as nothing makes it worse (as most teachers will know) than reading poor English on a regular basis.

If you say so.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I also don't think there is a "poor s/g/p must be corrected brigade" on here. IIRC, only one person (possibly two) have said that they actually do this.

There we will differ.

maman wrote: »

Exactly. Instead, we have posters who try to find good reasons for using poor language which (with the exception of those with health issues) I can't agree with. However putting the point seems to elicit such responses:

Am I one of those posters you refer to who 'try to find good reasons for using poor language'?

I will remind you that I've posted - numerous times -

Pollycat wrote: »

I do think correct language matters - and have said so several times on this thread.
Posted on 30/12/2015 (post #8 page 1):

Pollycat wrote: »

I like to pride myself on using apostrophes in the right place, spelling words correctly, using the right word (there/their) - not only on public fora but also in my texts and emails - but I don't expect anyone else to be as meticulous (or pedantic) as I am.
I do make mistakes but often it's my 'dicky' keyboard that sometimes sticks or auto-correct.

I would never dream of correcting someone on a public forum who gets it wrong.
I think that would be rude.

And it doesn't upset me - it's far too insignificant to get all hot and bothered about.

I think as long as you can understand what is being posted, it's not important to put your 'grammar police' hat on.

On the thread you mention, the first post could do with full-stops and paragraphs to make it easier to read but when that OP posts 'too' and it's clear she really means 'to' - is it really that big a deal to you?

As long as a post on a public forum is understandable, I can see past any errors.
I hold a different view on the use of s/p/g in other circumstances.