Warning: snark ahead

[femkes_follies]

Why, WHY is it that such a large proportion of people on the SCA-related E-mail lists I'm on that aren't focused on a specific topic have so little sense? And by that I mean, ability to understand when a topic is appropriate for a given list, what sort of posts might be deemed polite by the audience, and a basic concept of grammar and spelling. In short, so many of the posts show such blatant disregard for others that I get VERY aggravated. Couch these obnoxious posts in language that is 5th grade level or lower and spelled incorrectly at that, and tell me WHY I should even bother to read it, let alone offer assistance?

Now, some of it can be blamed on a general lack of emphasis on basic literacy skills. Look around your local grocery store. How many products are "lite" or a "delite"? How many of the business vehicles in the lot for home-based companies offer "Kustum" creations? People, it is NOT anything goes! And it DOES matter. Nor is there really any excuse for it in this day and age. Hell, LiveJournal has a spell checking mechanism, for pity's sake. I will grant that it doesn't catch improper use of homophones or other grammatical errors, but STILL. Put a teensy, tiny iota of effort into it. Why, you ask? Because if you send a communication - even one so informal as blogging or E-mail - that is rife with such errors, you look ignorant. Not stupid, necessarily. Ignorant. And that is something you can bloody well do something about.

I will honestly tell you that every resume that crosses my desk with multiple spelling errors hits the circular file. If you can't put any effort into making sure something THAT important is correct, why should I trust you? Not that typos don't happen. They're certainly allowable in other settings. This one, in fact. You'll note any number of sentence fragments and other formal construction errors.

This is, however, a far cry from some of the barely literate drivel I wade through on a daily basis. In all honesty, when I see it, I assume the author doesn't care enough to make an effort and I delete the message.

Maybe my Grandmother has a point when she calls me "spoiled and overeducated." Still, I claim a right to the high ground by dint of sheer effort getting here.

I must be generally cranky, since I had a small Turet's episode, tossed the chemise I was working on over my shoulder and decided I'm going to make myself a @#(*$^ dress for Val Day. The Nurnburg gown , naturally. In periwinkle. I got the pattern drafted and fitted, fabrics selected out of my stash, decided what more I needed and stopped off to get a little velvet and some beads. I cut out the brustfleck and started embroidering it. I might decide I don't have time, but I was quite thoroughly annoyed at the time. Now I'm feeling guilty about not working on the wedding clothes. *sigh*

Comments

[magdollna.livejournal.com]

My journal must make you really want to cry. I write at about a 5th grade level.

mags

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

Nah, that's basically your on-line diary.

You don't, for instance, post a message to a period cooking list without capital letters at all and with about a dozen spelling errors demanding information on the Knights Templars (sic) for the book your writing. (eye roll). That one just put me right over the edge. Dude, work within your strengths. A. The Knights TEMPLAR have been done to death. B. You can't write. Especially about a topic you can't even spell.

Nor are you a college freshman whining about why they shouldn't have to take math/writing/insert other basic subject when it doesn't have anything to do with what their intended degree is for. Um, because the University doesn't want to graduate someone whose lack of basic education will later prove an embarassment? Because a teacher should be able to write in a coherent fashion? And on, and on. One of my assistants had to drop out of the vet tech program because she couldn't pull a high enough grade in algebra. Mixed number defeated her. OK, if that's too much for you, you're darned well not going to be able to calculate the drip rate for an IV. And she leaves me phone messages I can't even understand because the spelling is so bad.

[systemgoddess.livejournal.com]

Spelling errors get to me as well as using too, to, lose and loose incorrectly. And the word "boughten." Where is that in the dictionary? If you can't say bought how about just plain old purchased? Bah!

[femkederoas.livejournal.com]

No kidding. What really grinds me is the offense they take when you suggest that they take a little time to clean up the language before posting. *sigh* I'm not asking a lot, here. Honest. Just make an effort!!