General Asylum

And I dismiss your dismissal

66.190.62.23

In Reply to: RE: "I also dismiss......" posted by Chuck Y on May 09, 2008 at 08:19:51

I'm sorry you took such offense at my post. I'm not sure why some are taking this so personally. If someone's writing is superior in a context where writing is nearly the only element we have to evaluate the writer, then that writer's message is likely of greater value. That doesn't mean someone who can't or doesn't care to write well is inferior; it simply means that their post is likely to be held in lower regard than someone who can at least make reasonably punctuated sentences with properly spelled words. Yes, that does raise form over substance, and rightfully so.

Chuck, I don't think you need to waste any time at all to write properly, but merely use your time well and think just a little bit. If you don't want to proofread or use spell check, that's fine. You're still a fine person with fine ideas who might just make a few mistakes. But what someone writes poorly for others to read will not be taken as seriously as something written with at least a passing glance at the basic rules of grammar.

I haven't mastered the English language, but at least I attempt to use it correctly. I don't pretend that I'm superior to anyone who can't or doesn't write well, but I certainly pay closer attention to and put more value in an opinion when it's written well. Based on what I can know about a person by means of this forum, that's all I have to go on. The original topic was about whose posts are held in high regard. If someone writes like a fourth-grader, why should I hold their opinions in high regard? Is that so insufferably snobbish? An adult with important thoughts or valuable opinions should be able to express those ideas in an adult fashion, and that, to me, includes decent grammar. (Warning: sentence fragments ahead!) Perfect? Of course not, but at least decent. This is, after all, merely a forum for conversational exchanges. Posts don't need to be written like magazine articles, but they shouldn't read as though they were written in crayon, either.

Acceptance of such substandard writing is, to me, just one more symptom of the "dumbing-down" of our general population; the saddening "American Idol-ization" of our culture, if you will, where the snipings of some preening, pretentious peacock pass as worthwhile judgment and the embarassing caterwauling of pathetic losers passes for entertainment. You're damn right: that's condescending, and that type of garbage should be condemned. If a few people would turn off the TV crap and look at a magazine or book and set an example for their kids, perhaps we wouldn't see as many semi-literate posts.

Peace,
Tom E

Follow Ups:

If someone writes like a fourth-grader, why should I hold their opinions in high regard? - Halcroman 22:14:31 05/12/08 (2)
- Thanks for pointing that out - madisonears 20:23:17 05/13/08 (1)
  - Hypocracy sits well with you - Halcroman 20:48:41 05/13/08 (0)

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