After 12+ years of browsing forums...

[RobbyZ5001]

. [

[Gone_Phishin]

and when you're a drooling old fart wearing depends these kids will be in positions of responsibility... think about it.. they'll be typing out your prescription label for the pills that keep your butt from leaking, typing out the Social Security letter that explains why your benefits are getting cut if you don't respond soon enough, typing out the directions on how to plug your electric car in correctly so you don't blow the house up...

scary thoughts...

Amen!  I think about this quite often, and it scares the crap out of me.  Hopefully I'll be senile by then, or off the grid in the northwoods.

[Gone_Phishin]

Sure, your presumption may perhaps be accurate, but this has always been true about the American education system. The reality is that the American government has the ability to create an exemplary education system, similar to our European friends across the pond, but the American government choses to keep their citizens handily ignorant, as to keep them away from revolting. This is not an ill-considered theory, but a fact, and it would not be good if everyone went to college. I for one am an example of how our public education system works, and can initiate a college education enabling one to succeed in the world. Unfortunately, many people think the system is unfair and that only "rich" people can go to college, neglecting the fact that no matter your financial or social situation, all can go to college. It is only a matter of ambition and paperwork. Paperwork for applications, registration, financial aid, loans, transcripts, and resumes, leads many to b/s their way into saying that it was out of the question. Oh yeah, and on the internet people do not use proper grammar, and don't need to.

The use of paragraphs sure would be nice. 

Construction is everything.  Proper structure alone can turn a mundane statement into one with lasting power.

Let's not forget the semicolon.  I've always thought it is the most powerful form of punctuation available.

[Glenn]

The written form is the written form, regardless of media or technology used to transmit or display it. I do not buy into the "I dun't hafta rite gude on da inta-net 'cuz it's da inta-net" baloney. That's simply a poor excuse.

Text messaging has garnered it's own form of "shorthand" due to limited character space. Chat rooms have their own form as well, in order to facilitate rapid discussion. Neither are an excuse for purposefully using bad grammar, spelling, and writing skills outside of those channels.

[Long Mike]

It all boils down to two things.  When it comes to the use of the English language, one is either ignorant or lazy.  Ignorance is the result of circumstances usually beyond the control of the individual, and that's fine by me.

Laziness, regardless of the situation, is unforgivable.  There is an old saying; "You have only one chance to make a good first impression."

Those of you who choose to be lazy with your grammar and punctuation will be perceived as such. i.e. lazy.

[RoLo]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs. I used to think that Jaywalk was a spoof, but now I'm beginning to wonder.

I'm not sure I'd blame the school system though, it might be a concoction of laziness & stupidity. ;D

Roger

[burleytog]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs.

Roger

And each time I get increasingly disgusted.  The number of mispelled words in the two local newsrags I read has increased at an exponential rate over the last 15 years.

[Tin]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs.

Roger

And each time I get increasingly disgusted. The number of mispelled words in the two local newsrags I read has increased at an exponential rate over the last 15 years.

I was always told to never start a sentence with "and". 

[burleytog]

Laziness, regardless of the situation, is unforgivable. There is an old saying; "You have only one chance to make a good first impression."

Those of you who choose to be lazy with your grammar and punctuation will be perceived as such. i.e. lazy.

Been to a court room lately LM?  Laziness isn't exclusive to the internet world.  My last trip to a court room was rather eye-opening.  When did it become acceptable to go to court and wear jeans, T-shirts, shorts, etc.?

[burleytog]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs.

Roger

And each time I get increasingly disgusted. The number of mispelled words in the two local newsrags I read has increased at an exponential rate over the last 15 years.

I was always told to never start a sentence with "and".

Acceptable at times. 

[Tin]

Laziness, regardless of the situation, is unforgivable. There is an old saying; "You have only one chance to make a good first impression."

Those of you who choose to be lazy with your grammar and punctuation will be perceived as such. i.e. lazy.

Been to a court room lately LM? Laziness isn't exclusive to the internet world. My last trip to a court room was rather eye-opening. When did it become acceptable to go to court and wear jeans, T-shirts, shorts, etc.?

Wow, that is not acceptable in a court room that is in Virginia and near the Tennessee and West Virginia border? ;D

I would have figured you guys go in there with overalls, no shirt under, barefoot, and with chew.

[burleytog]

Laziness, regardless of the situation, is unforgivable. There is an old saying; "You have only one chance to make a good first impression."

Those of you who choose to be lazy with your grammar and punctuation will be perceived as such. i.e. lazy.

Been to a court room lately LM? Laziness isn't exclusive to the internet world. My last trip to a court room was rather eye-opening. When did it become acceptable to go to court and wear jeans, T-shirts, shorts, etc.?

Wow, that is not acceptable in a court room that is in Virginia and near the Tennessee and West Virginia border? ;D

I would have figured you guys go in there with overalls, no shirt under, barefoot, and with chew.

I've never been to court without wearing, at the very least, a tie.  Poor clothing choices aren't exclusive to the southern Appalachian region.

[Dan:]

I saw the same thing here in Northern Virginia. I was in court for a district that has one of the highest per-capita incomes in the country and I saw jeans, shorts, and even one of those short sleeved, button down Hawaiian type shirts with anime drawings instead of flowers....I think the whole state is affected!

[=Matt 5.0=]

People that use "of" in place of "have" really irk me.

[burleytog]

People that use "of" in place of "have" really irk me.

Of/have, accept/except, brake/break...I could go on all night.

[Tin]

there, their, they're

your, you're

dear, deer

[burleytog]

I saw the same thing here in Northern Virginia. Maybe it's the whole state!

As I said above, poor clothing choices aren't exclusive to the hillbillies.  I have often seen someone I know in a courthouse wearing clothes that I would have never imagined that they owned.  People who can usually be seen in dirty work clothes, yet have the respect to show up before a judge wearing their Sunday best.

While growing up, I remember hating funerals because it meant I had to 'dress up'.  Granted my memory of such events isn't the best, but I don't recall seeing T-shirts & jeans at funerals.  I attended two funerals two weeks ago and saw a great deal of jeans/T-shirts. 

[burleytog]

there, their, they're

your, you're

Two of the instances sure to make my blood boil.

[Stasher1]

Let's not forget about its and it's and the misuse of the apostrophe when making things plural, such as "I have a box of crankbait's for sale".

[fourbizz]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs.

Roger

And each time I get increasingly disgusted. The number of mispelled words in the two local newsrags I read has increased at an exponential rate over the last 15 years.

I was always told to never start a sentence with "and".

Acceptable at times.

^ sentence fragment

[Root beer]

I've come to an earth-shaking conclusion.

The public school system in the US has failed. People can't spell or construct a basic sentence.

I am amazed by the number of people who struggle to spell even basic words.

I see misspellings today where I've never seen them before, in newspapers, magazines,

even street signs.

Roger

And each time I get increasingly disgusted. The number of mispelled words in the two local newsrags I read has increased at an exponential rate over the last 15 years.

Have you ever read the Citizen Tribune? It's a local newspaper for Morristown, Tennessee. I can spell better than them.

[dave]

It all boils down to two things. When it comes to the use of the English language, one is either ignorant or lazy. Ignorance is the result of circumstances usually beyond the control of the individual, and that's fine by me.

Laziness, regardless of the situation, is unforgivable. There is an old saying; "You have only one chance to make a good first impression."

Those of you who choose to be lazy with your grammar and punctuation will be perceived as such. i.e. lazy.

What I love about these threads are those that come to the defense of the lazy and the ignorant. Bravo

[farmpond1]

I like turtles.

Perfect comedic timing!  Genius!

[Hammer 4]

there, their, they're

your, you're

Two of the instances sure to make my blood boil.

Life is to Short..no sense in adding to it..

[burleytog]

there, their, they're

your, you're

Two of the instances sure to make my blood boil.

Life is to Short..no sense in adding to it..

You just added to my rage.  Too, not to