# Ok, so my boyfriend is working up to posting here. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 22, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516 "2009-11-22T12:31:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/1 "2009-11-22T12:31:35Z")
And we already have the perfect user name for him! He’s a little nervous about the posting standards because he’s a bad speller, but I think he’d be a great addition to the boards. (He just informed me that the first use of “disrespect” was 1614.) So, can I “reserve” his username with a password he can access? I’m not a very prolific or argumentative poster so it’s not like I’m trying to form a sock. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/2 "2009-11-22T13:47:27Z")
No, you may not. Have him create his own account. He doesn’t have to post from it if he doesn’t want to. twickster, moderator. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/3 "2009-11-22T14:09:51Z")
> [@MerryMagdalen](#): > > And we already have the perfect user name for him! He’s a little nervous about the posting standards because **he’s a bad speller** , but I think he’d be a great addition to the boards. (He just informed me that the first use of “disrespect” was 1614.) > > So, can I “reserve” his username with a password he can access? I’m not a very prolific or argumentative poster so it’s not like I’m trying to form a sock. I use Firefox, and it puts red underlines below misspelled words. It won’t help if the misspelling is actually a different word, but it will get him halfway there. I’d guess most browsers have this feature by now. He could also make his sig be something like “Yeah, my spelling sucks. Sorry.” People will (mostly) lay off. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/4 "2009-11-22T15:08:08Z")
> [@MerryMagdalen](#): > > And we already have the perfect user name for him! He’s a little nervous about the posting standards because he’s a bad speller, but I think he’d be a great addition to the boards. (He just informed me that the first use of “disrespect” was 1614.) > > So, can I “reserve” his username with a password he can access? I’m not a very prolific or argumentative poster so it’s not like I’m trying to form a sock. Tell him to come right along. We’ll lay off on the spelling. Well, we’ll lay off until he’s hooked. . .and by then, he won’t have a choice, will he? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/5 "2009-11-22T15:11:01Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > He could also make his sig be something like “Yeah, my spelling sucks. Sorry.” People will (mostly) lay off. Alternately, he could put every single person who pedantically corrects spelling in the absence of any other conversational input on the Ignore list. It works. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/6 "2009-11-22T15:59:16Z")
Anytime I’m not sure of the spelling, I put the word into google. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/7 "2009-11-22T16:33:43Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Alternately, he could put every single person who pedantically corrects spelling in the absence of any other conversational input on the Ignore list. It works. Hmmmm. Apparently I don’t do that… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/8 "2009-11-22T16:36:27Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Anytime I’m not sure of the spelling, I put the word into google. I’m so pleased someone else does that too. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/9 "2009-11-22T16:39:11Z")
When we first started out, there were lots more pedants making snide comments about typos. We then learned **Gaudere’s Law** : the posts that complain about someone else’s spelling or grammar, almost always have a spelling or grammar mistake of their own. Hence, most of us no longer care much about whether posts have proper grammar or impeccable spelling. And, yes, he does need to register on his own, with his own password etc. It’s relatively painless, and he can email **TubaDiva** or me if he has any probs or questions. ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/10 "2009-11-22T16:44:30Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > When we first started out, there were lots more pedants making snide comments about typos. We then learned **Gaudere’s Law** : the posts that complain about someone else’s spelling or grammar, almost always have a spelling or grammar mistake of their own. Hence, most of us no longer care much about whether posts have proper grammar or impeccable spelling. > > And, yes, he does need to register on his own, with his own password etc. It’s relatively painless, and he can email **TubaDiva** or me if he has any probs or questions. The occasional spelling mistake usually passes without comment, but I’ve seen posts (by posters who usually don’t last long) that are \*full \*of spelling/typographical/grammatical mistakes torn to shreds. There is a certain standard required here. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/11 "2009-11-22T17:15:43Z")
In my experience, spelling and grammar usually only become issues when the poster does one of the following: 1. Starts a thread where the OP is unreadable due to spelling errors, haphazard grammar and extensive netspeak. 2. Criticizes the grammar or spelling of another poster. 3. Posts something incomprehensible, and then gets upset and defensive when someone comments on it. [thread=539587]This thread[/thread] and the ones it references have lots of examples. A well meaning poster who doesn’t go in search of grammar trainwrecks will generally do fine. Tell him to sign on and wade in. Introductory threads usually go in MPSIMS, where the participants are kinder and gentler. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/12 "2009-11-22T17:48:02Z")
I tend to be a spelling and grammar pedant, but as long as it’s not of the egregious “How is babby formed?” variety, I just tend to wince and keep my thoughts to myself. (Most) Dopers are smart enough to judge your boyfriend on the content of his posts, not their spelling. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/13 "2009-11-22T18:45:32Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Alternately, he could put every single person who pedantically corrects spelling in the absence of any other conversational input on the Ignore list. It works. I like to misspell words on purpose after getting that kind of shit. I especially love talking about how they are a pedant for correcting my grammer, and watch how many people jump all over how I spelled grammer. I was a spelling bee champion all throughout school, so I am pretty good at spelling naturally. If I misspell a word usually it’s a typo and I have Firefox’s spellcheck turned on. People who make a big deal out of spelling just can’t deal with substance. Occasionally it’s egregiously bad, but correcting the proper use of its and it’s is really annoying, particularly since most of us know it, we just aren’t going back and editing our posts as if we were a copy-editor. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/14 "2009-11-22T20:03:18Z")
> [@MerryMagdalen](#): > > And we already have the perfect user name for him! I hope it’s not **Capo di tutti frutti** because that’s my next name when I get fed up with this one. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/15 "2009-11-22T20:15:41Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > I like to misspell words on purpose after getting that kind of shit. I especially love talking about how they are a pedant for correcting my grammer, and watch how many people jump all over how I spelled grammer. > > I was a spelling bee champion all throughout school, so I am pretty good at spelling naturally. If I misspell a word usually it’s a typo and I have Firefox’s spellcheck turned on. > > People who make a big deal out of spelling just can’t deal with substance. Occasionally it’s egregiously bad, but correcting the proper use of its and it’s is really annoying, particularly since most of us know it, we just aren’t going back and editing our posts as if we were a copy-editor. You probably aren’t married to an editor then. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/16 "2009-11-22T20:17:33Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I hope it’s not **Capo di tutti frutti** because that’s my next name when I get fed up with this one. I’m dibs on **Crimson Misdemeanor**. ---
**Author:** ![MerryMagdalen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@MerryMagdalen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MerryMagdalen)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/17 "2009-11-22T20:47:38Z")
Thanks for all the responses. Mods, I will have him register his own account; I was pretty sure it wouldn’t be kosher but I had to ask. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/18 "2009-11-22T21:16:56Z")
Let us know his name when he does so we can all [del]stalk him, correcting his spelling wherever he goes[/del] be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/19 "2009-11-22T21:21:27Z")
Posting here can be a great way to work on your spelling (and writing). ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516/20 "2009-11-22T22:24:32Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > You probably aren’t married to an editor then. 🙂 Actually… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-so-my-boyfriend-is-working-up-to-posting-here/518516.md?page=2)