Why... in such a great community, do we still have people that insist on making others feel small or ignorant? (Spell Check)

Well, in a place like this, it’s usually because people are showing off their knowledge, and answering questions.
People who answer wrong look like fools, so a heightened sense of security is almost essential. I guess it’s a sign of elitism tbh.
I agree the spelling thing is sometimes taken too far. And I hate it when I see people asking questions about “do you know the difference between their/there/they’re just so they can say “I DO” just to look clever (and elitist).
I mean, I appreciate it when the spelling is correct, and I much prefer questions when they’re using their/there/they’re correctly.
I will correct people if the mistake is obvious, or they are trying to offend me and be clever, then they get something wrong themselves.
Then people deserve it.

what a stupid fucking question…

joke :D = GQ

Good question, mean spirited people.

In general, I think it is rude to point out errors. It is elitist.

It seems to be a way for others to feel superior and embarass and humiliate someone…..not so nice.

If you feel someone has phrased something poorly or misplaced punctuation, let it speak for itself…..

No one can make you feel
Small or ignorant except yourself. If you don’t like someones response ignore their answer. Move on to bigger issues and resist the urge to try to change someone elses actions that you think are not needed. Be yourself. Good luck.

@srtlhill “Move on to bigger issues and resist the urge to try to change someone elses actions….”

That is excellent advice. Perhaps those who feel the need to correct people will do the same….

I, for one, have a hard time ignoring it when someone goes out of their way to hurt me. Easy to say, harder to do.

It could be a beautiful world….. if it weren’t for people :)

I do admit, misspelling Barack probably is above a minor offense, but, still….. :)

@srtlhill, while I agree that one must take a criticism to heart in order to be affected by it, I do think it is inappropriate for folks to point out – in a public way – honest mistakes made by others. I’m not sure why they do it, I think it is the same reason the guy I accidentally cut off a couple of weeks ago slammed on his horn, flew me the bird, and glared at me, he had forgotten that he has done the exact same thing – probably more than once.

While I am a huge fan of grammar, I tend to cut people a bit of slack unless the misspellings and errors are blatant, frequent, and seem to come from an obvious lack of proof-reading.

Welcome Pekenoe, you will find most Flutherers are friendly and patient, stick around, I think you’ll like it.

You must be a mind reader if you know people are just trying to hurt you. Sounds paranoid
Not anything to do with spelling. This site to my understanding is to help each other even if it is my spelling that someone starts with don’t take it so personal. If you don’t want to fix it you don’t have to. Is someone knocking on my door oh oh it’s the fluther mods
I gots to go now. By the way I’m joking I had no intention of answering the door they’ll go away.

i don’t think it’s paranoid to think someone is trying to be hurtful if they’re insulting. they’re certainly not trying to be helpful, kind and considerate.

Not paranoid, just po’d. Haven’t taken my Prozac yet this am, I’m sure I’ll look back on that incident in a few hours and laugh…. ha ha

By the way, I did a spell check on Barak/Barack, wonder if Bark would have elicited the same response?

It’s a cruel world and some people just like to rain on the parade. It’s not being paranoid, it’s just hard to swallow for those of us that have a kind heart. I have found the majority of people here on fluther to be very kind and helpful, just a few bad apples, but that’s life. Hope you stay pekenoe!

I love this site, and the majority of the members. Will take more than a couple of bad apples to spoil my barrel.

Just felt the need to vent a bit this am, feel better now.

I got tore into the other day for saying something in jest, & someone jumped on me big time. Note to self: stay away from THAT person!!!

Sometimes, I find it laughable. I think there is a big difference between an obviously intelligent person who, occasionally happens to misspell a word or get their puncuation wrong and someone who consistently and carelessly posts that way. When others feel compelled to point it out, it says a lot more about them that the so-called offender. My husband likes to say “There is no such thing as a perfect asshole”.

LOL, I don’t know about that, SoapChef. I’ve met many perfect assholes!!!

I notice people just get on their high horse and feel like they are some kind of moral auhtority. And then that justifies them to belittle other people. When it comes to grammar its even more annoying. My reply is usually something like, next time I write an essay I’ll be sure to check my spelling for you.

I think, sometimes, that when some people do it it is to compensate for how they are in real life. Almost as if they got pushed into one to many lockers in high school.

There are a lot of teachers here, who have spent their working lives correcting spelling and grammar. I don’t think they mean to harm. I think they have this inbuilt reaction to such problems, and don’t know how to resist it, or see through it to what the person is trying to say. Of course, they are not the only ones who behave this way.

I also think it’s a status thing. If you know how to spell and use correct grammar, then it shows you have more education, and may even be smarter (and therefore, presumably, more worth listening to).

I think it is offputting; maybe even against what this place is about. However, I have not seen all that much of it, so either I’m looking in the wrong places, or it really isn’t much of a problem.

Go Eagles!

I like being corrected if I screw something up – keeps me humble.

That being said, I always thought a polite PM to the offender would be more effective, or even using whisper mode at the end of the post.

@Snoopy: If no one points out your mistakes, how do you learn? I for one appreciate gentle reminders, and have received them many times on this site. I don’t get what all the fuss is about.

@asmonet I am not writing a thesis on here…I am not asking for correction or education. The few times I have been corrected, I already knew the “proper” way to phrase something, correct spelling, etc.—-it was just a typo.

Personally, I feel that it is rude to correct people (with the exception of close friends and family) in this fashion.

I do not have my undies in a wad and am not making a fuss…(and I am not implying that you directed your comment at me only….). I just answered the question.

Honestly, when I see these little “helpful” remarks, I just roll my eyes and think that the person who is being “helpful” looks like an ass.

I wouldn’t believe that this question would get people to cease this silliness….I would hope, however, that those who feel the need to provide unsolicited corrections would realize that not everyone thinks the corrections are clever or welcome.

@Snoopy: I see your point and it’s a valid one, I just don’t think it’s that hard to ignore someone correcting another – that’s what I meant by the fuss. Thanks for expanding on your viewpoint though.

Could we see the particular “correction” that provoked this question in the first place?

For me (a correct though long-winded writer), correction seems pointless. Usually either someone is totally not interested – you can tell from the frequency of missteps – or we’re just seeing a typo by someone competent.

But I don’t understand the extremity of outrage on the part of people who think clear writing shouldn’t matter. Writing is what we’re doing here. It’s our only shared medium.

This question comes up about once a month. Just ignore it and move on. There are many reasons people do it: to chastise or belittle, or to seem superior, or to fit in with a certain faction of flutherers, or to just be helpful or playful. There is really no way to determine so try not to take it offensively. And welcome to fluther.!

@susanc I appreciate your point….and those questions/comments that are so poorly worded, phrased etc., I simply skip…...I just don’t acknowledge them….

@90s_kid: Uncalled for, and immature. You need to learn how to deal without people without resorting to mildly insulting statements. If you have a problem with me, send me a PM. Otherwise, cut the crap.

@tinyfaery: I think you put it best, GA. :)

I think tinyfaery hit it on the head. Well said.

I reacted the same way to gail at first and she is one of my most treasured friends here. She rules.

@susanc: I think this might be it.

@asmonet you know what is weird…? Check out the amazon widget thingee in that question. The name is spelled Barak there as well….

@Snoopy: Oh lord. Haha, good catch. :)

@Snoopy: Now that’s funny, thank you.

because ther are stupid people everywhere, so….