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Grammar jerks. I just don't get it.

by barbling
14 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
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I run a moose fangroup over at Facebook (one of my rescue dogs is huge, hence the name, moose, and it just grew from there). And one of the group members posted how they just lost their snowdog and were grieving bigtime.

One individual chose to respond:

"Sorry for your loss, but really, you need to learn how to use punctuation."

????

Now, I'm one of the biggest sticklers for grammar (not talking the goodest is something up with which I shall not put!) but WOW.

Color me speechless on such callousness.

There's a time and a place for good grammar... and a time for recognizing and honoring grief without focusing on how it was shared.

Have you noticed such things becoming more common? Or is it just my group that's the lucky recipient?
  • Profile picture of the author JohnRyserson
    Banned
    I hate when a client tries to rip into a copywriting piece about bad grammar.

    I was taught that you write copy how you talk not like an English class essay.

    I guess grammar nazi's are everywhere...
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
      Banned
      Originally Posted by JohnRyserson View Post

      I hate when a client tries to rip into a copywriting piece about bad grammar.

      I was taught that you write copy how you talk not like an English class essay.

      I guess grammar nazi's are everywhere...
      Well, I'd rethink that. If I'm paying for a piece of copywriting to be written for me, I want it written the way I want it written, not the way you talk. I would be a client that wants good grammar and a conversational tone, and if you can't do that, you shouldn't accept clients like me.

      In the example in the OP, being a grammar nazi is inappropriate.
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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Originally Posted by JohnRyserson View Post


      I guess grammar nazi's are everywhere...
      That's nazis.

      .
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        Color me speechless on such callousness.
        Barb - that should have been the response to the comment!
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  • Profile picture of the author stoltingmediagroup
    Originally Posted by barbling View Post

    One individual chose to respond:
    "Sorry for your loss, but really, you need to learn how to use punctuation."
    Any individual who chooses to respond to bad grammar in a post, when instead condolences would be more appropriate, is obviously missing a few crayons in their box.

    They may also simply not be mature enough yet in age, or mind, in order to realize how insensitive their responses can be. Karma however, has a way of fixing that eventually. Either way, such members in my opinion should be shown the exit.
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    Originally Posted by barbling View Post

    One individual chose to respond:

    "Sorry for your loss, but really, you need to learn how to use punctuation."
    Barb, that wasn't a grammar jerk - it was just a jerk.

    Don't let it get to you.


    .
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      I'm a grammar jerk, but not in circumstances like that! That's worse than just "insensitive": it's plain nasty.
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      Barb, that wasn't a grammar jerk - it was just a jerk.

      Don't let it get to you.


      .
      yes! I totally agree with Frank - that person is just nasty, Barb - wow!
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  • Profile picture of the author David Maschke
    You did put him in his place, right?

    I hope so, because bitching about it in here will accomplish nothing.

    We live in a society where people feel they have the right to say and do anything they want. And they get away with it, because too many of us keep our mouths shut.

    I was teaching my kids about Memorial day, and I told them the only thing that will stop a bad guy is a good guy.

    This world needs more good people like you who care to take a stand.

    As for bad grammar in copy, I'll do the best I can, but that's it. If they're going to bitch about the sales copy, they'll find more to bitch about when they're a customer. One or two mistakes intentionally left in place may weed out the trouble makers.

    Of course, that isn't an excuse to be lazy and not reach for communication excellence.
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    • Profile picture of the author barbling
      Originally Posted by David Maschke View Post

      You did put him in his place, right?

      I hope so, because bitching about it in here will accomplish nothing.

      We live in a society where people feel they have the right to say and do anything they want. And they get away with it, because too many of us keep our mouths shut.

      I was teaching my kids about Memorial day, and I told them the only thing that will stop a bad guy is a good guy.

      This world needs more good people like you who care to take a stand.

      As for bad grammar in copy, I'll do the best I can, but that's it. If they're going to bitch about the sales copy, they'll find more to bitch about when they're a customer. One or two mistakes intentionally left in place may weed out the trouble makers.

      Of course, that isn't an excuse to be lazy and not reach for communication excellence.
      Love what you teach your kid.

      And yep, 'course I did - removed him from my group. I don't tolerate nastiness in my moose group.
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      • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
        Barb,

        My response to people like that is to ignore them. Totally.

        Unless you're responsible for the products they promote (clearly not the case here), just delete their comments in areas you run and treat them as if they don't exist.

        Anywhere. Ever.

        If anyone asks you for a comment about them, just send them the link, or a summary.

        That sort of thing will cost them to exactly the proportion they repeat it.


        Paul
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        Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Q: What do you do when your car starts with a jerk?

    A: Throw him out.





    One of those jokes my Dad often repeated when I was little.
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I had to give a speech in my technical writing class once. It was high charged and the class stayed way after the prof dismissed them to ask questions. One woman remarked "you wore jeans to give a speech"? I told her "if that's what you got out of this, I wasn't talking to you anyway". She was never treated well in class after that - by anyone.

    If someone has that low caliber an IQ that they would push someone who is grieving, they will sooner or later become ostracized by the rest and the only responses they will get will be justly kurt or rude.
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    Sal
    When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      One woman remarked "you wore jeans to give a speech"? I told her "if that's what you got out of this, I wasn't talking to you anyway".
      I like it.

      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      the only responses they will get will be justly kurt or rude.
      I thought for a minute you were going to say that the only responses they'd get would be kurt or steve. :p
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