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Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
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Tchotchke
10/23/09

In reply to Cell Phone "Refuseniks" Are The New Contrarian Assholes
I understand that not having a cell phone annoys people, but truthfully, there are many times that I fantasize about giving mine up. Not being reached IS a luxury, and I don't think it's an affectation of youth. The internet, cell phone, facebook, email et al. are great things (hell, think of how many emergencies are averted because of cell phones), but you also sacrifice a lot because of them.

For example, whenever my family goes on vacation, my father, despite having told his coworkers that he is off and not to be reached, usually spends 2-3 hours a day (minimum) on conference calls. He doesn't have a vacation because of that and it cuts into the very little time we have as a family. People expect things to be done instantaneously, and I think we have not only come to take our own time for granted, but we take advantage of other people's as well.

Similarly, the rudeness courtesy of cell phones drives me to distraction. On the train this morning, a guy sitting across from me spent the entire 2 hours talking loudly on his phone about everything and nothing--at 6 am. Also, how many times have you gone to dinner with a friend and because they spent half of the meal on their stupid Blackberry? I take my job and my relationships seriously, but I would also like to have some times in my day when I can disconnect from work, not answer emails, and phonecalls from that one guy who sits in the office until 2 am. But that's me and maybe I am affected and pretentious.

Again, having the ability to communicate at our fingertips is great, but to deny that it has serious downsides is ridiculous, and I don't think that deeming people who don't have cell phones as affected or annoying is anyone's business. #petpeeves
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boxspelunker promoted this comment Edited by Tchotchke at 10/23/09 10:34 AM Tchotchke was starred Tchotchke was unstarred

DoubleExpresso doesn't know what to think....
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
You know, almost every senior person I've worked around (including those with Ph.D.'s) were bad with grammar and spelling. Some, including some very famous individuals, were just AWE-FUL (Easter Egg for those of you who also read all the comments). I'm big on writing well, including spelling and grammar. I always notice mistakes on signs, menus, on t.v. news crawls etc. However, IMHO (#2!) it is pretty darn rude to correct people, especially in public and in front of others, and I think it is only okay to correct others at all if you are trying to prevent them from further embarrassment. I also think it is a bad idea to just throw away a resume/cover letter for one mistake. I agree that there are ways around it. However, I also know way too many talented and intelligent people who make occasional (or constant) spelling errors to think it is good idea to just 'throw them away.' I think being an ***hole grammar nazi is something you grow out of. That is, unless you want to alienate almost everyone.

And, online and in informal emails/texts to friends, some of us like to write in different ways, like in all lowercase, etc. Just because we can.
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Hiroine Protagonist
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
I'm a stickler for the grammar as much as anybody - but WHY oh WHY does anyone describe grammar snobs/sticklers as NAZIS?

Are they putting dyslexics in concentration camps?
Conducting medical experiments on lolcats?

Forget grammar - let's talk about hyperbole that morally equates the Eats, Shoots and Leaves author with bloody Eichmann.

Which makes me a Nazi-hyperbole Nazi, I know, I know.
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Everything MidnightBikeRide does is a balloon.
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
My mom won't eat Krispy Kreme becuase she thinks that the unneccesary Ks are a covert signal of Klan allegiance. My family is the crazy.
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chritter is a nocturnal feminist mancatfish
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
I have pared my grammar-assholery with my friends down to the point where there's only one thing left that I reflexively correct, and that's "I could care less." I bite and bite at my tongue, but, more often than not, "If you could, why don't you?" comes out. Because, you know, it means the opposite of what you're trying to say.

My friends don't like me very much. I blame the economy.
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RobertaFisk
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
Correcting someone's grammar while talking to them is very rude - for the most part. I would never do it to a stranger/acquaintance/coworker, etc. The one time someone correctede my grammar in a public way (in front of an entire university class) it was humuliating, but I tell you, I have never made that mistake again. Although correcting significant others/family is different, in my head. If have to hear "I'm doing good" from the boyfriend one more time, I will go crazy. I guess that's hypocritical...
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RobertaFisk
02/03/09

@RobertaFisk: that's right, they correctede me good.
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Jamie Sommers
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
I'm reviewing resumes for a secretarial position in my company now. It's astounding how many people misspell words or make grammatical errors on their resumes. It drives me crazy.
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green_ipod
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
I just have to weigh in and say that I can't shake the feeling that it is always rude to correct a person unless they've asked you to proofread for them or you are genuinely asking for clarification i.e. word mispronunciation. The workplace is an exception in many cases, but still, correcting someone IMHO is more often about proving you're right/smarter than offering assistance. And now I feel like Martha Washington, the un-sexy version.
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ellaesther
02/03/09

@green_ipod: A little earlier, I said that the rules on this boil down to: Don't be a dick. You are not Martha Washington - unsexy. You are a kind and perceptive person!
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amazoncowgirl
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
I did a brief stint as a receptionist for a small family owned and run manufacturing business. At the time I was working there, the second generation were at the helm and I've got to tell you, none of them would be employable elsewhere. One of the brothers couldn't even spell his own name.

Anyhoooo..... I used to instinctively correct all the spelling and grammar mistakes in the correspondence I was typing to send out.

I thought I was doing the right thing by making the business seem a little more professional.

I lost my job. True story.
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Red-headed bookworm
02/03/09

@amazoncowgirl: It wasn't in NW Indiana, was it? If so, it sounds like a place I worked.
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RodolfoRabulous
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
Every time my friend posts a picture titled "the boyfriend and I," I bite my tongue. I don't know how much longer I can stay silent.
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chatterboxwriting
02/03/09

@RodolfoRabulous: That drives me nuts! If you have two people in the sentence, you can remove one to see if it would still make sense. This girl I used to be friends with always posts pics of "My boyfriend and I at Hershey Park." Would she caption a pic of herself "I at Hershey Park"?!
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rocknrollunicorn
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
A few years ago, a few friends and I used to email each other all day long while at work. Several funny typos were made, etc., and we began calling any missteps "dongs." (I think this word was based upon one of the original funny mistakes).

Trust me on this -- no one is offended if you point out an error by saying, "NICE DONG!!!"
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5ft of fury
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
This. This is why I am pissed off at ee cummings. He was a brilliant poet and innovator of language, but my boyfriend (a creative writing minor) uses the "I'm just being descriptive" line whenever he sends short stories full of typos to me to proof. I love the fella, but just admit that you can't spell. It's ok, plenty of people have trouble spelling, I have to think Wed-nes-day still when I'm writing it. Just don't say that you're innovating the English language with drunk texting.
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Jamie Sommers
02/03/09

@5ft of fury: I help edit a magazine that is in the middle of a creative writing contest. One of the entries is a fictional story about two co-workers who bond over their mutual love of poetry. The problem is the author writes the poet's name as E.E. Cummings.

*sigh*
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Penny_Esq
02/03/09

@5ft of fury: Seriously! I know I should be taken out and shot for complaining about Toni Morrison's stylistic use of the word "of" in place of "have" or " 've" when her characters are speaking, but every time I read it I want to scream! What is accomplished, stylistically, by having a character say, "I should of gone home," or whatever?

Also, I still think "sub-po-ena," and I write that word several times a day.
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RoseColette (fewer thorns; more coffee)
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
If it's a friend, I usually don't care. If it's a book...

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR SPELLCHECK?!

I'm looking at you, publishing houses. If I'm shelling out $24 a pop (with Amazon's discount) the least you can do is run that puppy through a spellchecker. Don't even get me started on those authors you let pass that believe every speech tag and narrative sentence needs adverbs -- lots and lots of adverbs.
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lilbobbytables
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
My favorite language misstep is misuse of the word Literally. One headline I read stated that Brittney Spears was literally on a rollercoaster to hell.

That sounds both fun AND terrifying.
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chritter is a nocturnal feminist mancatfish
02/03/09

@lilbobbytables: I figuratively exploded with laughter when I read your comment!
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linnyt is a walking cliché
02/03/09

In reply to Sic: Is The Econnomy Creating A Genneration Of Speling Bee-Otches?
my boss capitalizes every. other. word. and it drives me nuts when she argues with me about proper nouns when i have to edit her reports. she also randomly bolds and doesn't understand formatting a report consistantly.
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