How accepting are we as the Fluther community?

I can only speak for myself in explaining how I respond to poorly structured, spelled, or posed questions.

I’m terrified of Fluther turning into this. Or this.

So I’m not shy about telling a poster that their queston (a) is not a question, (b) is poorly asked, or ( c) is illegible.

< < notes that yet again he has clicked on links to Yahoo! Answers™ and been reminded that there’s a reason he never goes there.

@robmandu, exactly! that’s why I have such a low tolerance for those kinds of questions. Call it exclusive, or snobbery, or whatever. I call it stewardship.

Good points, all!

Being somewhat of a newbie here, I wanted to understand the culture a bit more.

I am in agreement with what you’ve said.

My personal feeling is that reprimanding should be left to our mods. Some gentle suggestions from the community about how to better fit into the Fluther culture may be occasionally in order, but I wince when I see a newbie get trounced for not meeting our standards in some way (I’m not talking about spammers, who deserve the full flaming wrath of the collective, IMHO).

When I see a questionable post, I typically just flag it and move on. The mods are well versed in what passes and doesn’t pass.

I agree, Harp. I find it funny how I can usually tell whether a user is new to the collective or not just by reading their question, before even looking at their lurve or profile. It’s quite intriguing the way we evolve here to comply with the terminology, responses, and interrogations deemed acceptable and even rewardable.

I think we’re all adults and can choose what we answer and why.
I’ve noticed a few very young ppl on here with some not-so-bright questions, ususally those are answered quickly and that’s the end.
I would NOT like to see this site become a NAZI-like police state…some questions asked may be poorly worded or the answer may be found easily on the internet, but if the person that’s asking the question doesn’t have the tools to find it, I see no reason for it not to be asked here.
And the people that insist on correcting everyone’s grammer and spelling need to lighten up. No one intentionally means to sound like an idiot. Why make them feel like they have to have everything perfect and look up all their spelling before they post? Life is way too short.
I have actually not answered certain questions for the simple reason, I was sure my answer would be picked apart for spelling errors or for wording it incorrectly—then I realized, that’s YOUR PROBLEM (THE PPL WHO FEEL THEY KNOW BETTER AND NEVER MAKE MISTAKES) and not mine. Now I answer whatever and could care less what typos I make.

If I were trying to repair my car or fix a plumbing problem (which would be a tragic event), I’d welcome the advice or counsel of an expert.

The guidelines (which are well-thought out) define and relate directly to the evolution of the members or, occasionally, the outright ejection.

I respond much better to questions that I can understand on the first reading.

I don’t see what’s wrong with correcting grammar….

Correcting grammar is acceptable, to a point… Is there a requirement that all Flutherites speak/type perfect English?

I think it’s enough that the majority of us post in proper English. We’re leading by example. When I first joined, I was ready to see answers lyk dis okaiiii? cuz thats how the ppl on otha sitez talk! Once I saw the level of intelligence (and intelligent use of English) required on here, I had to step up my game.

IMO, it doesn’t have to be perfect English. But it also shouldn’t sound like the person has only learned English up to the 5th grade. As for spelling, I don’t see why people don’t take the extra 2 seconds to make sure they spelled a word right. Of course, we all make typos every now and then i have been guilty of this on occasion. But doing it consistently reflects a certain disrespect for the people you are conversing with. Now I understand that life is short, but come on, it’s not THAT short that you cannot spare the few seconds to type coherently. And what’s the point of living life, if you don’t focus on quality right? Finally, I am a firm believer in “if you are going to do something, do it right” (be it Fluthering or cooking or studying etc)

I guess spelling and grammar just aren’t that big of an issue to me. As long as your response is understandable, it’s fine by me. I don’t get hung up on whether you used the correct form of their/they’re/there or not. I know this bothers some people and I think that if you know the difference between the three, then using the correct form isn’t an issue for you. Congratulations, you know English. If it’s a typo, fine; if you mess up a few times then oh well; if you mess up a lot, as long as I can still read it without getting that wtf feeling, I really couldn’t care less.

i don’t think i’ve ever had my grammar or my spelling corrected here. i try to keep it simple. if i did have it corrected, i’d probably be annoyed, like i’m a child in an elementary class. sometimes i see terrible grammar but i try to focus on the content, not show the person that i have superior grammar.

I think most people don’t have a problem with a few typos or a few misspellings. But there does come a point when it gets hard to read through multiple nested errors. At that point I figure the asker can’t be bothered to make their question clear. If they can’t be bothered when asking the question then I can’t be bothered to answer.

We’ve got people who react all sorts of ways here. Some people can come off sounding like snobs in some responses. Others come off as helpful people taking pride in the community. I couldn’t make one blanket statement about all posts and all posters, here or anywhere. Ultimately, we each decide as we read.

Great answers everyone! I think several good points have been made.

i’ve had stupid typos pointed out to me more than once. yes, i reread stuff, but at times I’m in a rush to get my thoughts down. i, and I’m sure others, (oops error i will not correct) feel certain ppl are here feel they are better than others. Possibly becasue they have been here longer or for whatever reason. Granted, i have little tolerance for kids that ask questions and phrase them in silly ways. But, unless the question is totally misworded, I would never correct them. I would never presume to know what they were trying to say and take it upon myself to correct it. I would try a little joke and see if they take it from there.
I’ve been made to feel stupid on here by ppl correcting me,
when in the big picture; it has nothing to do with whether or not a person understands my question. I just some ppl juist have nothing better to do than to jump on others.
so be it.
I don’t like slang either, but haven’t noticed too much of it on here. That should be a mods job to correct.
This should be a discussion site; it’s not for wannabe teachers or teachers to point out the things they feel are worded or spelled wrong.
If it annoys you…here’s an idea don’t read it.

@deaddolly… just wondering why you would go to the trouble to write something that you’d want/expect people to ignore?

Just a note about the typos and grammar…I use my iPhone and many times my fat fingers are the culprit. Also, I have yet to figure out how to scroll back to make any needed corrections before I send my message. So, even though I hate seeing the mistakes in my own work, it is sometimes hard to make the necessary corrections.

Not wanting them to ignore posts—the ppl that spend time correcting don’t need to answer everything. There are enough ppl on here to answer questions.

@basp, put your finger on the screen in your block of text and slowly drag it to where you want to make a change. While doing so, the iPhone will provide a handy magnifier glass aid to help ensure you get to exactly where you want to be.

@rob: I think part of the point may be this: if all someone is going to do is correct my spelling and grammar and not answer the question then maybe I’d want that person to just ignore my posts. If you ask a question you probably want answers to your question.

@deaddolly, is that what you meant?

@cyndyh, ah, indeed. Some might argue that disrespect (poor grammar & spelling) breeds disrespect (non-informative replies).

I agree with you—although I admit to having failed at times in practice—that those who know better should help set a better example.

Maybe rob is worried about posterity?
These posts will be around for a long time on this here internets thingy.

Personally, I correct what i can, but I never took typing classes and just learned how to hunt and peck very quickly for work, so i definitely miss some things.
Oh well, sorry future peoples.

oh and I’m always posting and then finding more typos that i have to go back and correct, or not

Yes, Cyndyh. Thanks. Exactly what I meant. This is a very sore subject for me. Almost left this site a few times becasue of it and other things. I’m trying to ignore those ‘special ppl’.
Thank you!

Maybe they would be able to focus on answering the question, if it didn’t have so many errors in it?

I’m not saying that’s how I feel, I’m just throwing it out there.

I hardly think some of the posts I’ve seen with spelling errors would prevent ppl from understanding the questions.
I’ve only seen one person who has trouble communicating and I think his native language isn’t English.

< < can’t help but lurve pathfinder.

Rob, thanks for the tip! I have seen that magnifying glass pop up now and then but didn’t know how to use it.
Thanks again!!

(I just tried it and it works great!!!)

I haven’t personally seen distracting errors -or errors to the point of distracting me – coming from you, deaddolly. But I have seen them from more than one poster. Sometimes English is the issue and sometimes it’s youth and sometimes I can’t tell.

I think it’s fair to help people out with grammar if they seem to need it, but I think those efforts would go farther if the question was also answered and the “correction” was done in a respectful way.

My items were more spelling errors. When i get hot about a subject i type fast and I’m ususally at work. Since I’m not writing a thesis, i don’t proof read more than just a glance.
When i’m on at home, I’m ususally watching TV or on the phone.
Damn us multi-taskers!

One easy test is to see whether you have to rephrase the question dramatically in order to understand it. Sometimes I haven’t a clue – even when I put in my own punctuation, sentences, breaks and usage substitutes.

Questions are a bit different, I ususally read mine out loud to see if I’m making sense. I’ve read a few on here I had to read over; I guess I just think it’s the way a person thinks. Who are we to correct everything? Ask for clarification, yes, but not to deconstruct every phrase. Tha’ts all I’m saying. See, that…tha’ts…I’m typing fast…I see no need to correct it. You all know what it should be. Why sweat the small stuff? Why should I feel compelled to change it (i don’t lol)....I’m not getting graded!

You’re watching TV while you’re talking with us? For shame, you. :^>

Did you look in the frizzer?

Yep! I’m a TV addict. It’s on right now at work…watching Dr.Phil. lol I’ve a 6” LCD on my desk. My boss has one too in her office. Got mine after 9/11.

And I’m a language addict. . Having been paid to write the Queen’s English for decades, I am constitutionally incapable of not treating each sentence as tho I were the ghost of Gustav Flaubert. But that’s me (or should I say “I”?) Typos are fnie, ESL is grate if you mention it, Nobel Prize prose is not necessary…

And I personally almost never watch TV. Different strokes, of course. That’s what makes it uberetc.

LOL! gail. Are you watching Different Strokes or was “different strokes” your way of agreeing to differ? LOL!

Don’t you love English. I am definattellelly not watching Different Strokes.

A fellow Flutherite recently pointed out that we all like the attention we get from our participation here. I laughed because it it so true. I think some take that a step further by jumping on others errors as if to say “Look at me, I know more than you!”.

I don’t think it’s a matter of “I know more than you”.....I think of it more as a ”cough spelling cough**cough…...”

@deaddolly – I can relate, truly. Some people on here do seem to think they’re better than others, and use that position to poke fun at newer members. It seems to take a lot of posting before respect is earned. I guess it’s only natural, since we never know how long a member intends to stick around.

@soap – Good point. We all want attention. And maybe that’s why I don’t feel like part of the Fluther community yet… Too often, I feel ignored. It makes a Flutherite want to fluther away…

I vote for more private messaging.

@cheeb Do you need a lozenge? That seems to be a bad cough there.

I have a great deal of difficulty with spelling. I have gotten much better because of Fluther and my question regarding “How do I become a better speller?”.

I would suggest that it is no more appropriate, however, to make the first post about grammar or spelling corrections than making it a joke. The exception would be if the corrections help clarify the question so as to be more accurately answered. Or, in the case of the joke, when the question asks for jokes as an answer.

In conclusion, we all have our areas of expertise. We happen to be in a venue that favors the written word. There are others that might favor other flutherites who are frequently corrected by masters of the english language. Please be kind and helpful.

That said. Thank you all for always being so kind and helpful to me.

@ Bri-L – I’m surprised this isn’t your pumpkin

Fire: I was thinking the same!

You guys are my heros!

Thanks

my spelling has never been an issue for me…it’s more the typos.
And,yes, Shadling21, there are some unfriendly ‘i post more than you, so i know more and and better than you’ ppl on here. Ignore them! There are enough other ppl to even it out.
@bri l I would never make a joke to embrass or riducule someone…rather, if I didn’t know what the question was really trying to say, my post would be “huh?”

And @ gailcalled: TV rocks!

DD: For you, it does. What happened to being tolerant towards the television disabled?

Hi, I’m Gail and I rarely watch TV. Some ppl think that is not frizzer.

Just curious, Gail, why do you not like TV? With cable, there’s something for everyone.

I accept everyone, but not every thing.

Sometimes I purr, sometimes I scratch, but I’m still cuddly and pet-able.

Well, dolly, out here in hicksville there is no cable (and very few cell towers). The 40 channels available from DishTV include wrestling, kiddie shows, evangelical hours, infomercials, shopping channels and programs of that ilk – all for a lot of money. So I stick with the three networks, PBS, Fox, reruns of Star Trek and something that used to be the WB – now is filled with pretty, immature non-actors in nonsensical shows.

Very little there that lights my fire. Tonight however, I saw a glorious sunset, 8 wild turkeys and a possum pacing back and forth outside my sliding doors. And don’t forget; I have the live-in act of Milo and his toys and your bug escapees. Plus a truly odd but riveting novel called “Geek Love” by Katherine Dunn I’m in the middle of.

I did watch a lot more TV when I was younger, but having small sets at work would have been unthinkable. Times change, obviously.

My TV is so unfashionably old (like me) that it cannot support the electronics of a DVD player, even with a converter box. I will have to face the music in Feb., but I am not happy about it.

Ahh…I understand now, Gail. I would go insane, I’m not a country or nature type gal. And I read while the Tv is on….lol I agree “regular” TV is very silly. I love the Travle Channel, Dicovery Channel and the like. Tho, I am also a reality show junkie.
Beleive it or not, one of my dogs (Oliver) sits are watches TV with me. He loves it.

@DD; when I have the TV on, Milo sits on top of the sofa staring at the wall. It may be just as riveting. In the interests of truth, I watch some PBS, Jeopardy! (while I’m on the treadmill,) and I tape Survivor, The Amazing Race and Grey’s Anatomy. I can then zoom through them w/o the commercials. Half the time, I forget to watch the tapes.

And I do seem to spend the hour or so before bedtime here, on Fluther and catching up with email. (How can you read and watch TV? What do you remember? That would drive me mad. I think it also has something to do with age and the modern age of multi-stimulation. The toddlers in my family have no toys that just sit still and wait for the imagination to hold sway. The toys sing, squeak, move, jump, change colors.)

Oliver sounds like a nice dog.

I remember all of what I read…I think I just need background noise.

Oliver is a maniac. He figured out how to open the power windows in the car on the way to the vet yesterday. I almost had a heart attack. He’s my
terror terrier baby!

Well Gail, at least you can always watch the Daily Show online

I remember living in the Catskills and we almost never watched tv. There was always so much to do outside and yes, there were definitely lots of dogs.

@Fire; Thanks for sharing :-(. Lead me not into temptation. I’m not a TV nut but I sure am crazy about the computer; however, watching TV on the computer is too much. At least at Fluther, I get to think and write.

I don’t mind being corrected on spelling…even though it is sometimes embarrassing!

xcssv txt spk = lzy cmunic8r = ltl n’sntv 4 me 2 wnt 2 cmunic8 w/ sum ppl IMHO lol ttyl
definately

Um. sndfreQ, that might be funnier if I could actually work out what you said :P

Actually, I’m a little concerned that I could read it. Goodness!
I found it funny…in a disconcerting sort of way.

It took me forever to get “little incentive”!

ahhh, that was the part that i didn’t get. good job, A

ahhh I see now, thanks :P

“the people that insist on correcting everyone’s grammer and spelling need to lighten up. No one intentionally means to sound like an idiot. Why make them feel like they have to have everything perfect and look up all their spelling before they post? Life is way too short.
I have actually not answered certain questions for the simple reason, I was sure my answer would be picked apart for spelling errors or for wording it incorrectly—then I realized, that’s YOUR PROBLEM (THE PPL WHO FEEL THEY KNOW BETTER AND NEVER MAKE MISTAKES) and not mine. Now I answer whatever and could care less what typos I make.”

Bravo!