Why do some people have such an issue with something as simple as which form of "there / they're / their" to use?

~ ~ ~ Because it would be two easy for them too become confused and to bewildered !

They spell what they hear and they don’t know the meaning of the words with the different spellings.

But it’s brought up so often! You’d think they’d get a clue.

I know the difference very well and I make the mistake. In internet conversations I’m not so careful. If I am writing for work, I proofread carefully and catch more errors.

I cot myself doing it once. I corrected it before I posted, but I don’t remember what caused me to err.

I can only think of one Flutheronion who might not understand the difference, and I don’t no if there going to answer this OP. ;-)

I also participate at Next Door, and unlike Fluther, I don’t think they have any writing standards. I don’t recall seeing the specific misuse to which you’re referring, but it only took me about a minute to find this gem their: “me thinks not, but thanks for trying. Political views aside, if your don’t care about others and things around you then you’re probably not a decent human to begin with. No need for labels.” ;-)

I think probably at least partly because of an inadequate and overly-authority-and-negativity-oriented education system.

Education is not it. I sat next to people in my English class and some of them do it. I think the home life has a much bigger impact on people than the school system.

I come from a working class family, and was the first person to go to college. I went to public school, was not a very good student, and my writing is not very good.

That said, I would like to think that people can comprehend my writing, even when I make spelling or grammatical errors.

It happens to everyone, and it’s not a big deal. Professional writers work and rework their writing, only to pass it off to editors who review their work. When we’re communicating here, we’re often just attempting to type our thoughts quickly.

I think you write just fine @hmmmmmm

Search me. All I know is I before E and sometimes C, or something like that. Heavy questions make my head hurt.

And that “could of” rather than could’ve bit agitates me as well. Even I know better than that.

Perhaps other people are like me.
Spelling (and proper grammar) is important to me. I know the difference between there, their and they’re. But I’m a sloppy writer. I make mistakes. When I proof read what I write I may not see my mistake. Later when someone points out my mistake I feel bad and sorry about screwing up.

I’ve been corrected a few times. I don’t mind.

They are homophones for starters. Also English is inconsistent with apostrophes. Sometimes they are used to indicate possession, other time for contractions.

That doesn’t make them inconsistent. The apostrophe is just a handy little thing that has 2 uses.

If you’re thinking apostrophe = possession, then you might be inclined to use they’re instead of their.

I see what you’re saying. So it is basic incomprehension?
However, the most common one doesn’t even have that explanation. The most common one is “your” when it should be “you’re.”

I think the issue is that some people didn’t master it in school, when it was taught, and then maybe they went on to have a career where spelling wasn’t important (for example a construction worker), and so their whole lives, this wasn’t an issue and didn’t matter. Now, with typing things on the internet, their lack of spelling skills is obvious, but never had been before.

GA ^^^