MeFi Spelling Standards January 5, 2004 8:23 PM Subscribe
picking on someone's spelling is always the last refuge of a scoundrel.
posted by crunchland at 9:05 PM on January 5, 2004
posted by crunchland at 9:05 PM on January 5, 2004
Does it bother me? Sure, which is why I spell check before most of my posts. But to hold others, namely strangers, to my personal standards seems rather ridiculous, wouldn't you say?
posted by BlueTrain at 9:11 PM on January 5, 2004
posted by BlueTrain at 9:11 PM on January 5, 2004
There are lots of people here for whom English is not their native language.
Get a hobby.
posted by bshort at 9:16 PM on January 5, 2004
Get a hobby.
posted by bshort at 9:16 PM on January 5, 2004
But to hold others, namely strangers, to my personal standards seems rather ridiculous, wouldn't you say?
Therefore, you, as the initial communicator and "seller", need to understand my dispositions, my history, my ability to learn new concepts, my ability to understand you.
posted by y2karl at 9:46 PM on January 5, 2004
Therefore, you, as the initial communicator and "seller", need to understand my dispositions, my history, my ability to learn new concepts, my ability to understand you.
posted by y2karl at 9:46 PM on January 5, 2004
Context, y2karl? Or are one-liners enough to prove your superiority over everyone?
posted by BlueTrain at 9:49 PM on January 5, 2004
posted by BlueTrain at 9:49 PM on January 5, 2004
Do pigeons have compasses in their heads? Not really, but pigeons, especially those bred for their homing instincts, seem to be able to detect the Earth’s magnetic fields. Cornell University pigeon researcher Dr. Charles Walcott says that magnetic sensitivity, along with an ability to tell direction by the sun, seems to help pigeons find their ways home.
Cool pigeon facts.
posted by y2karl at 9:51 PM on January 5, 2004
Cool pigeon facts.
posted by y2karl at 9:51 PM on January 5, 2004
Or are one-liners enough to prove your superiority over everyone?
Those are your lines, not mine. Nice slur, though.
posted by y2karl at 9:53 PM on January 5, 2004
Those are your lines, not mine. Nice slur, though.
posted by y2karl at 9:53 PM on January 5, 2004
I repeat, between just us two--who has the grudge here? He was not elected the judge here, he shouldn't be allowed to get away with these vendettas. He should mind his own business and stop constantly sniping at people he's picked fights with previously. His constant attacks on people on his shit list does this place no good. Everyone on his list leaves him alone except when he keeps bringing the same shit up over and over. Why should we have to turn the other cheek at his gratuitous attacks? Why are we at fault for not taking his shit silently? - y2karl
Hmm...I smell hypocrisy again. And I'm tiring of it.
posted by BlueTrain at 9:54 PM on January 5, 2004
Hmm...I smell hypocrisy again. And I'm tiring of it.
posted by BlueTrain at 9:54 PM on January 5, 2004
If I'm acting like an asshole towards anyone, it's up to other people to call me out on it now. - y2karl
He can't leave me alone, he can't or won't even promise to leave me alone--wanting to keep the option open--and he keeps on with the bad mouthing. - y2karl, same thread as above
He has taken anything I have said to anyone else ever since and described it as pejoratively as possible, willfully distorting everything I have said. - y2karl, same thread as above
Here's a thought, Karl. Quit picking personal fights with people you disagree with, because it's tiring and detracts from the value of this site. I don't want anything to do with you, personally. Quite frankly, I don't know you, nor do I want to know you. I am tired of your assumptions. I tire of your personal battle against me. Either learn to live and let live, or learn a modicum of respect for the community and take it to e-mail.
One last thing...
mcd--I'm a gasbag. But I'm done with this. - y2karl, same thread as above
::drops mic::
I'm out.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:30 PM on January 5, 2004
He can't leave me alone, he can't or won't even promise to leave me alone--wanting to keep the option open--and he keeps on with the bad mouthing. - y2karl, same thread as above
He has taken anything I have said to anyone else ever since and described it as pejoratively as possible, willfully distorting everything I have said. - y2karl, same thread as above
Here's a thought, Karl. Quit picking personal fights with people you disagree with, because it's tiring and detracts from the value of this site. I don't want anything to do with you, personally. Quite frankly, I don't know you, nor do I want to know you. I am tired of your assumptions. I tire of your personal battle against me. Either learn to live and let live, or learn a modicum of respect for the community and take it to e-mail.
One last thing...
mcd--I'm a gasbag. But I'm done with this. - y2karl, same thread as above
::drops mic::
I'm out.
posted by BlueTrain at 10:30 PM on January 5, 2004
Either learn to live and let live, or learn a modicum of respect for the community and take it to e-mail.
Take your own advice.
Quite frankly, I don't know you, nor do I want to know you. I am tired of your assumptions, too.
posted by y2karl at 11:02 PM on January 5, 2004
Take your own advice.
Quite frankly, I don't know you, nor do I want to know you. I am tired of your assumptions, too.
posted by y2karl at 11:02 PM on January 5, 2004
I swear, if you kids don't stop all this tomfoolery, I'll turn this car around right now.
posted by Dagobert at 12:35 AM on January 6, 2004
posted by Dagobert at 12:35 AM on January 6, 2004
cbrody: the stupidest post I ever made was orthographically obsessed but y6y6y6 and others put me right. Some of us can spell (or care about spelling); some of us can't and don't. The truth is that there's no relation between the ability to communicate and to spell. Many great writers were careless spellers. Most careful spellers can't write, i.e. communicate, for toffee.
This is specially pertinent on spontaneous websites such as this one. Professional writers rely immensely on proof-readers and (unfortunately less and less, as they're a dying species) on proper editors. On a website such as MeFi, it's all about conveying meaning - not an easy task at the best of times.
Simple spelling mistakes are details. Pointing them out is just silly and, I imagine, may be inhibiting. Spelling has very little to do with writing, communication or proper syntax and grammar.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:01 AM on January 6, 2004
This is specially pertinent on spontaneous websites such as this one. Professional writers rely immensely on proof-readers and (unfortunately less and less, as they're a dying species) on proper editors. On a website such as MeFi, it's all about conveying meaning - not an easy task at the best of times.
Simple spelling mistakes are details. Pointing them out is just silly and, I imagine, may be inhibiting. Spelling has very little to do with writing, communication or proper syntax and grammar.
posted by MiguelCardoso at 1:01 AM on January 6, 2004
I guess it's been a while since bluetrain and y2karl duked it out. I'm sure that deep down inside, they both enjoy it.
My pet peeve is when people spell "then" instead of "than". Drives me nuts when I see it, and I see it all the time.
posted by ashbury at 6:37 AM on January 6, 2004
My pet peeve is when people spell "then" instead of "than". Drives me nuts when I see it, and I see it all the time.
posted by ashbury at 6:37 AM on January 6, 2004
cbrody - I like it when people spell things right. It looks better, reads better, feels better.
posted by vito90 at 7:51 AM on January 6, 2004
posted by vito90 at 7:51 AM on January 6, 2004
Well said, Miguel.
And y2karl, you do seem obsessed with this feud. It ain't worth it. Let it go. Smell the flowers. Play some good music. Life is short.
posted by languagehat at 8:48 AM on January 6, 2004
And y2karl, you do seem obsessed with this feud. It ain't worth it. Let it go. Smell the flowers. Play some good music. Life is short.
posted by languagehat at 8:48 AM on January 6, 2004
What feud? he took a cheap shot yesterday and I teased him today. Apart from that, we've led separate lives for months. I know it's his propaganda that I'm persecuting him but c'mon--he takes it far too seriously. I should have thought about how it would derail this thread but I'm not the one who went on and on and on here. Boy, what a way with the first person pronouns: ai-yiyiyi!
Kind of hard to take it to email, though, when he posts a bogus address.
Don't preach, listen to good music, smell the flowers, life is short.
posted by y2karl at 9:01 AM on January 6, 2004
Kind of hard to take it to email, though, when he posts a bogus address.
Don't preach, listen to good music, smell the flowers, life is short.
posted by y2karl at 9:01 AM on January 6, 2004
Hey! It's snowing here, it's freezing and there's an Anna's hummingbird at my feeder! I am so jazzed!
Where does it sleep? That's what boggles my mind. We have wild parrots here, too.
It almost never snows or freezes here is why... This is such a novelty for us in Seattle: a real winter storm.
posted by y2karl at 9:08 AM on January 6, 2004
Where does it sleep? That's what boggles my mind. We have wild parrots here, too.
It almost never snows or freezes here is why... This is such a novelty for us in Seattle: a real winter storm.
posted by y2karl at 9:08 AM on January 6, 2004
Miguel, I can spell AND write.
but can you do them both at the same time while rubbing yr belly and patting yr head?
posted by danOstuporStar at 9:31 AM on January 6, 2004
but can you do them both at the same time while rubbing yr belly and patting yr head?
posted by danOstuporStar at 9:31 AM on January 6, 2004
The truth is that there's no relation between the ability to communicate and to spell.
Yes and no. Taking the time to make your comment accurate and presentable goes a long way toward fostering communication, and failing to do so tends to indicate a certain disregard for your audience as well as for your own appearance. It is quite reasonable to think that such carelessness might extend to other aspects of commenting, such as accuracy and thoughtfulness; therefore I think it is fair to devalue posts by people who habitually post carelessly, and I do. The fact that this is a more casual type of forum than some does not invite chaos, and indeed, the debate over just how casual the forum should be is ongoing (which is as it should be).
posted by rushmc at 11:04 AM on January 6, 2004
Yes and no. Taking the time to make your comment accurate and presentable goes a long way toward fostering communication, and failing to do so tends to indicate a certain disregard for your audience as well as for your own appearance. It is quite reasonable to think that such carelessness might extend to other aspects of commenting, such as accuracy and thoughtfulness; therefore I think it is fair to devalue posts by people who habitually post carelessly, and I do. The fact that this is a more casual type of forum than some does not invite chaos, and indeed, the debate over just how casual the forum should be is ongoing (which is as it should be).
posted by rushmc at 11:04 AM on January 6, 2004
t...ends to indicate a certain disregard for your audience as well as for your own appearance.
Does this sentence make my butt look too big?
posted by y2karl at 11:20 AM on January 6, 2004
Does this sentence make my butt look too big?
posted by y2karl at 11:20 AM on January 6, 2004
spelling doesn't bother me as much as plain old ignorance. "could of" or "should of" drive me wild. it must be my "low self of steam", per "say".
posted by quonsar at 11:49 AM on January 6, 2004
posted by quonsar at 11:49 AM on January 6, 2004
Well quonsar, it's a doggie dog world from what I've heard.
posted by tr33hggr at 1:53 PM on January 6, 2004
posted by tr33hggr at 1:53 PM on January 6, 2004
I always feel better when I've pointed out someone else's minor failings; y'know - superior like.
It's all about the love, people.
posted by Blue Stone at 1:55 PM on January 6, 2004
It's all about the love, people.
posted by Blue Stone at 1:55 PM on January 6, 2004
Does this sentence make my butt look too big?
Ha ha, y2karl. I cast about for 5 min trying to find a better term there, but gave up.
I always feel better when I've pointed out someone else's minor failings; y'know - superior like.
As opposed to sitting back and letting them go on their way in error? One could paint that as rather callous...as if you didn't even deem them worthy of helping, or assumed they were just too stupid to care or understand anyway.
posted by rushmc at 3:13 PM on January 6, 2004
Ha ha, y2karl. I cast about for 5 min trying to find a better term there, but gave up.
I always feel better when I've pointed out someone else's minor failings; y'know - superior like.
As opposed to sitting back and letting them go on their way in error? One could paint that as rather callous...as if you didn't even deem them worthy of helping, or assumed they were just too stupid to care or understand anyway.
posted by rushmc at 3:13 PM on January 6, 2004
I would usually just spell the word correctly, rather than point out the error, rushmc, in any response.
posted by Blue Stone at 4:33 PM on January 6, 2004
posted by Blue Stone at 4:33 PM on January 6, 2004
I am just trying to understand my fellow human being.
posted by vacapinta at 4:51 PM on January 6, 2004
posted by vacapinta at 4:51 PM on January 6, 2004
Yes, I was the idiot whom used 'mediation' instead of 'meditation'- at least I didn't use 'medication' As I explained, I was looking four mental exercise practices, as I obviously knead them.
Irregardless, I object strenuously to you're inference that eye knead spelling help; the issue is obviously grammer. Wee knead a grammer checker, in addition to the cromulent metafilter spell checker. So their.
( Anyway, I don't think it has much to do with AskMetafilter. Just a brain fart that could have occurred in the blue. My only complaint about AskMetafilter is that it's posts appear as MetaTalk posts, which I assume will be switched when/if the feature goes alpha. )
posted by superchris at 5:22 PM on January 6, 2004
Irregardless, I object strenuously to you're inference that eye knead spelling help; the issue is obviously grammer. Wee knead a grammer checker, in addition to the cromulent metafilter spell checker. So their.
( Anyway, I don't think it has much to do with AskMetafilter. Just a brain fart that could have occurred in the blue. My only complaint about AskMetafilter is that it's posts appear as MetaTalk posts, which I assume will be switched when/if the feature goes alpha. )
posted by superchris at 5:22 PM on January 6, 2004
Just to contradict my earlier post, though: quonsar's absolute refusal to use capital letters at the beginning of sentences (though willingness to use them properly within sentences) is something that I strongly feel needs to be addressed.
He's doing it on purpose.
posted by Blue Stone at 5:33 PM on January 6, 2004
He's doing it on purpose.
posted by Blue Stone at 5:33 PM on January 6, 2004
I would usually just spell the word correctly, rather than point out the error, rushmc, in any response.
Which some would interpret as a sly cut, implying that the person was too thick to catch your clever attempt to humiliate them.
Okay, not many. But some would. My point is that different people interpret things differently. What gives offense to some is appreciated by others.
posted by rushmc at 6:29 PM on January 6, 2004
Which some would interpret as a sly cut, implying that the person was too thick to catch your clever attempt to humiliate them.
Okay, not many. But some would. My point is that different people interpret things differently. What gives offense to some is appreciated by others.
posted by rushmc at 6:29 PM on January 6, 2004
I don't understand something, rushmc. You say:
My point is that different people interpret things differently.
But then, above, you said:
therefore I think it is fair to devalue posts by people who habitually post carelessly, and I do.
So what are you saying, exactly? Are you suggesting that it's okay to judge others the way you do, or just the opposite, that you oppose being judgmental, and therefore disagree with yourself.
posted by BlueTrain at 7:07 PM on January 6, 2004
My point is that different people interpret things differently.
But then, above, you said:
therefore I think it is fair to devalue posts by people who habitually post carelessly, and I do.
So what are you saying, exactly? Are you suggesting that it's okay to judge others the way you do, or just the opposite, that you oppose being judgmental, and therefore disagree with yourself.
posted by BlueTrain at 7:07 PM on January 6, 2004
Oh, come on rushmc: straw man - straw man!
Since when is leading by example, humiliation?
Someone make quonsar stop!
posted by Blue Stone at 7:11 PM on January 6, 2004
Since when is leading by example, humiliation?
Someone make quonsar stop!
posted by Blue Stone at 7:11 PM on January 6, 2004
Are you suggesting that it's okay to judge others the way you do, or just the opposite, that you oppose being judgmental, and therefore disagree with yourself.
I don't see the conflict in the quotes you cite. I think it's perfectly okay to judge others the way I do, and to judge them differently as well. And I frequently disagree with myself, especially on Metafilter.
Since when is leading by example, humiliation?
Why, when you are vastly superior, of course!
posted by rushmc at 8:16 PM on January 6, 2004
I don't see the conflict in the quotes you cite. I think it's perfectly okay to judge others the way I do, and to judge them differently as well. And I frequently disagree with myself, especially on Metafilter.
Since when is leading by example, humiliation?
Why, when you are vastly superior, of course!
posted by rushmc at 8:16 PM on January 6, 2004
Good answer, superchris! It's hard to blame a soul when it's something the spellchecker cannot understand as an error. And I'm sure we've all had the experience of proofing something we (or even someone else) has written and persisting in seeing the incorrect word as correct, simply because we have the correct word in mind and it's what we expect to see.
posted by taz at 1:25 AM on January 7, 2004
posted by taz at 1:25 AM on January 7, 2004
>>Since when is leading by example, humiliation?
>Why, when you are vastly superior, of course!
Your recognition will be rewarded.
posted by Blue Stone at 11:06 AM on January 7, 2004
>Why, when you are vastly superior, of course!
Your recognition will be rewarded.
posted by Blue Stone at 11:06 AM on January 7, 2004
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posted by cbrody at 8:27 PM on January 5, 2004