Re: Prime Obsession

johnet123 wrote:
> I wonder how many different ways I can emphasize the fact that
> unsolicited critiques regarding grammar, spelling, or whatever is rude.

It seems to me that cluttering up the newsgroup with "word salad"
like the original poster used is extremely rude.

Pointing out every little error, especially publicly, would indeed
be rude, but I don't see anything wrong with pointing out that
some minimal effort to write clearly should be made.

> Has it not occurred to you that, just maybe, your position is wrong?
> Personally, I have little fear that the usefulness of the usernet will
> drop because some posters are careless relative to using proper grammar
> or spelling when posting. After all, it is supposed to be the content
> of a post that is important, not context.

But in a post like that, it's just too much trouble to figure out
what, if anything, the content is supposed to mean.

> I should add that the originating post in this series was not an easy
> read. However, the poster was able to covey their enthusiasm for a
> book, and a request for help plotting certain functions with his or her
> HP48GX calculator. Instead of offering help, or even a perfunctory
> RTFM, the denizens of this group have gone off on a tangent about the
> usernet going to hell if posters do not write grammatically correct
> post.
>
> Lest you forget, generally, when an adult wants help, they will ask for
> it...especially males. That is just basic psychology.

If an adult wants help, he should try to ask his questions in a
manner that's easy to understand.

I can understand the occasional spelling, punctuation, or
grammatical error; is there anyone who doesn't make them?

I do make a special effort to understand posts where English
appears to be a second language for the poster. After all, writing
intelligibly in any other language is beyond my capabilities, and
I admire those who've gone to the trouble to learn any additional
language.

But I'm not about to waste my time trying to answer any question
for someone who obviously hasn't made any effort to write clearly.

--
Regards,
James
.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: 2 Trends That May Bode Well for a Return to Female Domesticity
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