Population Control

[hustler730]

[billynomates]

Anybody who writes a sentence like this

. My bad.

must surely have their tongue in cheek to lecture others on grammar.

[featherlou]

Originally Posted by Niccivan

Well, if you read what I wrote, I did say people also have a difficult time with spelling. I know I am one of these people, which is why it doesn't bother me when I see people misspell something every now and then. Just because our only method of communication is the written word, doesn't give you the right to be persnickety.

No, my being a human being gives me the right to be "persnickety." And you have the right to not like it - isn't the world a great place?

[voodoo1215]

hmmm

[motherfunky]

To be honest I was hoping my typos would go unnoticed

[calgaryjimbo]

Originally Posted by Kellieintx

Ok, I can not stay quiet any longer...

I think anyone is entitled to an opinion, and a point of view. Just because they can not type/spell/formulate their thoughts, does not mean they are ignorant, nor incompetent.

From Merriam-Webster:

incompetent:
1: not legally qualified
2: inadequate to or unsuitable for a particular purpose
3 a: lacking the qualities needed for effective action b: unable to function properly

ignorant:
1 a: destitute of knowledge or education <an ignorant society>; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified <parents ignorant of modern mathematics> b: resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence <ignorant errors>
2: unaware, uninformed

Actually, I used the word incompetent very precisely and accurately, although your alternate choice, "ignorant," also fits. If a person repeatedly demonstrates an inability to spell a particular word, in this case "fluoride," they are "lacking the qualities for effective action" insofar as spelling that word is concerned. A person who demonstrates incompetence in a particular subject, again in this case "fluoride," will rarely be taken seriously -- if you can't even spell the subject of your point, how can the veracity of anything else you're saying be accepted?

I have met quite a few doctors who tend to misspell. Does that make them uneducated? They can perform brain surgery, heart transplants, but sometimes confuse their "too, to and two's", or their "there/their/they're". Does this mean I should see them as incompetent, as well as the rest of the world?

I didn't say uneducated, you did. Let's be clear on that first. Second, as has been noted repeatedly on this board, a lack of skill in one area does not automatically imply a lack of skill in other areas. That is a big, and illogical, leap. Third, while a doctor mixing up their "two's" might not be a big deal, mixing up the spelling (or dosage) of prescriptions certainly would -- it might kill someone. I operate on the assumption that the doctors you speak of take extra care to ensure their 'scripts do not have spelling errors on them. Finally, rest assured that any doctor trying to get a paper published will take the time to ensure it is written in precise, unambiguous, grammatically correct, spelling-error-free language.

We all have things we are good at, and things we could improve upon, sitting there behind your computer screen pointing fingers at "the incompetent" doesn't make your actions acceptable in my eyes. I see it as bullying those who may not be quite as educated, calm or articulate as you.

Identifying someone's lapses here and there can be amusing if done in the right way, and not to offend others. Pointing out people who mistype or misspell in a thread where people are usually typing rather quickly and rather fervently, is quite rude IMO.

I disagree, but YMMV.

As a group, we truly want to encourage and welcome people to feel free to debate all topics at hand, especially if it is something they feel quite passionate about. By pointing out everyone's mistakes, aside from making yourself to look holier than thou, you are deterring people from feeling comfortable to post a reply.

I mean seriously, who wants to be ridiculed or humiliated by grammar/spelling nazis? It truly doesn't help prove your point in the argument, just as it doesn't deter the point someone else had to make but accidentally mistyped, or misspelled.

So far in this thread, my only point has been that repeatedly writing a particular word wrong, even following correction, is incompetent. So I think my previous post very aptly and accurately makes my point.

Per Merriam Webster:

Debate: a: the formal discussion of a motion before a deliberative body according to the rules of parliamentary procedure b: a regulated discussion of a proposition between two matched sides

It doesn't say anywhere that spelling or typing is a must. So how about we agree to overlook the obvious errors, or if you truly feel there is a serious issue at hand, how about private messaging them? Making a mockery of the post because they misspelled "there" won't hold up in a courtroom, and it won't hold up here either.

That definition really doesn't apply in any meaningful way to anything that goes on around here. There is no deliberative body, there is no parliamentary procedure, the discussion is not regulated and the sides are certainly not matched. Having said all that, typical face-to-face communication, such as the debate noted in your definition, can include as much as 93 percent non-verbal cues.

One study at UCLA indicated that up to 93 percent of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. Another study indicated that the impact of a performance was determined 7 percent by the words used, 38 percent by voice quality, and 55 percent by the nonverbal communication.

If one takes away 93% of one's communicative abilities by giving them only their written words on a message board to express themselves, how much more critical to the process is it to use precise, understandable language? IMO, it is absolutely essential.

[calgaryjimbo]

Originally Posted by bluffmanxx

well said kellie...but for the sake of irony i wish you would have thrown in a couple typos

<snip>

I counted three, but I didn't point them out due to the potential ironic possibilities to which you refer.

[motherfunky]

Jim are you being serious or did you forget to pay your brain bill this month?

[motherfunky]

[WinJStar]

Originally Posted by calgaryjimbo

I counted three, but I didn't point them out due to the potential ironic possibilities to which you refer.