# why criticise people for poor spelling/grammar **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 25, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907 "2005-10-25T23:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/21 "2005-10-26T01:40:20Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “Spelling challenged?” > > Jesus Christ. touche. ---
**Author:** ![mrrealtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@mrrealtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrrealtime)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/22 "2005-10-26T01:47:08Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Because we’re racist, obviously, as you pointed out in that thread. Maybe you should call up Jerry Lewis’s people and see if you can set up some kind of telethon for the much-maligned “Spelling Challenged”. Starting a Pit thread just doesn’t seem proactive enough if you really want to battle such an injustice. Brilliant response, I am further enlightened and will endeavor to communicate more effectively thanks to your wisdom. Its people like you that make the world a more caring, tolerant, and enjoyable place to be. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/23 "2005-10-26T01:52:50Z")
Sorry, but I don’t buy the assertion that **smartguysmile** is “spelling challenged.” Some of his [earlier](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6644805&postcount=224) [posts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6692137&postcount=44) show that he is capable of spelling words correctly, and **almost** stringing together a coherent sentence. I think he is just being lazy, and not wanting to take the time to compose a proper post. Perhaps he’s been spending too much time “text messaging” his pals. ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/24 "2005-10-26T01:56:02Z")
> [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Sorry, but I don’t buy the assertion that **smartguysmile** is “spelling challenged.” Some of his [earlier](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6644805&postcount=224) [posts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6692137&postcount=44) show that he is capable of spelling words correctly, and **almost** stringing together a coherent sentence. I think he is just being lazy, and not wanting to take the time to compose a proper post. Perhaps he’s been spending too much time “text messaging” his pals. Based on his sentence structure, I assumed that English was not his first language. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/25 "2005-10-26T02:16:41Z")
Words mean things. Go fig. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/26 "2005-10-26T02:32:25Z")
> [@mrrealtime](#): > > Brilliant response, I am further enlightened and will endeavor to communicate more effectively thanks to your wisdom. Its people like you that make the world a more caring, tolerant, and enjoyable place to be. And it’s people like you who make it so easy to mock whiny pussies who use terms like “spelling challenged” and comfort themselves with the belief that they are far more “enlightened” and “caring” and “tolerant” than the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/27 "2005-10-26T03:46:32Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What is “Christian English?” English like what Jesus spoke in the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/28 "2005-10-26T03:53:13Z")
> [@mrrealtime](#): > > If a person is spelling challenged, as in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341092), why the hostility towards him? Why not just request additional clarity if necessary and ignore the typo’s and spelling problems? Because some of us are superior to the rest of you and we like to point it out. We learned how to spell and resent that you didn’t and we’re just jerks. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/29 "2005-10-26T04:00:09Z")
> [@Bob Loblaw](#): > > Because some of us are superior to the rest of you and we like to point it out. We learned how to spell and resent that you didn’t and we’re just jerks. Oh, the [irony](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=6724804#post6724804)! It burns like hygiene! ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/30 "2005-10-26T04:05:03Z")
Because we’re assholes? Seriously, there’s a difference between someone who is making an effort to write properly and someone who just doesn’t give a shit. If someone’s having a hard time, and acknowledges it, and honestly tries to get things right, I’ll be happy to help them out when they need it. If some1 thinks its OK to talk in l33t and use u and ur and all the rest of it, I’m apt to get a little annoyed. To me, this is like saying that someone who walks around with his pants halfway down to his knees all the time is simply belt-challenged and should be pitied. He’s not disabled - he’s doing it because that’s all he can be bothered to do. That’s the statement he wants to make. If we want to respond to it, we can. Look, I’m a snob. The Dope is one of the few refuges I have left on the internet where the grammar and spelling doesn’t burn my poor little eyes. As such, I cherish it, and reserve the right to laugh at the doofuses who try to disrupt it. Besides, the combination of **Bob Loblaw** as the subject of the pit and the massive errors in the O.P. was really damn funny, and ripe for an Arrested Development reference. I’d have been disappointed if there wasn’t one. ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/31 "2005-10-26T04:08:47Z")
Because I like helping people… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/32 "2005-10-26T04:09:46Z")
> [@CynicalGabe](#): > > [nitpick] > typos > [/nitpick] [I think we covered this.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6724085&postcount=8) ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/33 "2005-10-26T08:11:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “Spelling challenged?” > > Jesus Christ. I hope Jesus kicked Spelling’s ass. I have a lot of money riding on the Son of God. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/34 "2005-10-26T12:21:46Z")
When I see one spelling error, I may assume it’s a typo. If I see many misspelled words in a single post, I’ll cringe. But now that I spend time on a lot of pregnancy message boards and see the level of ignorance of spelling and grammar (among other things), it worries me. I mean, these people will be raising children, for Og’s sake! When a post is a _complete_ mess, I get angry. I don’t lash out at anyone, but if I happen to be replying, I’ll use the misspelled words in my reply. For example, if someone talks about loosing weight, I’ll say, “Don’t worry about losing weight, it will come off eventually.” Whether they take the hint, is up to them. > [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > …frankly, if I see something misspelled a lot, I begin to spell it the way I see it. This has happened to me before. Luckily, I notice it before I hit “Submit”. And it’s probably how “lose” has become “loose” for so many people. Galldanged internet! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/35 "2005-10-26T12:28:01Z")
Because it’s easy. Because we compensate for our low self esteem my putting people down. Because we are basically cruel people. Now that you have the answers that you want, will you go away? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/36 "2005-10-26T12:29:14Z")
\ ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/37 "2005-10-26T12:31:14Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > \ Coughing up turds? Get thee to a hospital! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/38 "2005-10-26T13:25:37Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Monty > > What is “Christian English?” > > English like what Jesus spoke in the Bible. Sadly, there are people who actually believe that’s the case, do doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f19dbf/32.png) [@Only\_Mostly\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Only_Mostly_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/39 "2005-10-26T13:36:21Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Sadly, there are people who actually believe that’s the case, do doubt. My blonde haired, blue eyed savior did too done spoke English, just like what’s in that there King Jim’s Bible. Jesus is the greatest American who what’s ever lived! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907/40 "2005-10-26T13:40:14Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What is “Christian English?” The first ever language that doesn’t evolve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-criticise-people-for-poor-spelling-grammar/327907.md?page=3)