Why do some people correct others?

[FluffX]

I might be over-analising, but I think it's because people like feeling better than other people, and this becomes more and more blatant the smarter (anylising?) and smarter someone gets (not true in all cases), and there is (hopefully) a point where they realise that doing that can make them seem (analysing?) like an idiot (different for different people), but language is a pretty fundamental part of our society, and an opportunity to prove that "UR DOIN IT WRORNG!" can be a bit too tempting for some people. On the other hand, if someone has made it very clear that they don't know how to spell a word, a helpful poke probably wouldn't be unwanted.


...


Or maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about.

(Anilising?)

 

[CuddlyCombine]

If you've been on this site for more than five seconds you may have noticed people correct each other's spelling and grammar whenever they see fit.

I'm not one to do it myself, but apparently everyone else on here is. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It's a good thing in fact, as long as you're not a dick about it, though I'm sure that rule applies to most things.

The question I ask is this: Why do people correct others? It's not like they have to, they're doing it voluntarily, so there must be a reason behind it.

[Note: Yes, search bar Nazis. I did search, but the threads I found seemed to outline the fact that it was a bad thing. They didn't specifically ask why people do it.]

I'm guessing you left those in there for some asshole like me to find. That, or somebody up there loves me to bits.

In any case, why not correct others on the Internet? Technically, you're helping them out, nobody can criticize you for it (unless you're being obviously dickish), and you get that sense of self-gratification that comes from being superior to somebody. Or at least, you get that feeling after you correct somebody's grievous massacre of the English tongue.

 

[Caimekaze]

I don't tend to correct others on The Escapist, unless it is in a tongue in cheek fashion. I tend to correct others in real life more than I do online; I don't think about it, it just happens.

 

[Podunk]

I don't correct people (here on the Escapist), I just tend to ignore people and posts that are embarassingly misspelled or poorly written. If it's a hard word that's another story, but for grammar, typos and spelling errors in words with less letters than the word 'error' they flip the little lever in my brain marked 'care'. The way I see it, if someone doesn't care enough about what they're saying to make sure it's spelled or written correctly, then there's no reason why I should care about what their saying either.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Grammar and spelling should have been mastered in its fullest extent by at least middle school if it's your primary language.

I have to agree, Tabor. And for the people who think it isn't such a big deal whether it's right or not, consider the fact that most people will assume you're probably younger and 14 if your spelling and grammar are terrible. And on the flipside of that, people will think you're older and more mature if you type correctly.

A good example of this: I had a hard time believing that Max and Orannis were both younger than myself because of their penmanship. And I sometimes forget that Metatr0n is older for the opposite reason. (No offense meant to the parties involved.)

I would say that speaking skill IE communication is more important than great grammar and spelling, perfect or even great grammar and spelling is like calculus and algebra its unneeded in common day to day life.

The US school system can barely teach the 3 R's and because no one wants to create an achievement based learning system where if a teacher's can not teach or gets bad grades is fired it they can teach they can be paid as much as they supposedly indispensable administrators who get 80K+ a year.... . (even going as far to fire incompetent administrators IE principles and above who do nothing to make the system better).

But I suppose as long as the nation lusts after sports and not academia that's where all our effort will go into....

 

[alen456645]

Why do people correct each other online? Because they feel it is there job to do it on a daily basis, to make sure that when your posting on a forum you comb over your sentences 15 times to make sure that it is correct.

But in all seriousness I have no idea.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

The "broken windows" theory for websites:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198203/broken-windows

The more bad spelling you allow in, the more people feel comfortable letting other aspects of the quality of their posts slide.

I can say the same thing about letting people speak their own minds.... if you let people think they will say dumb sht but if you force them to remain almost prefect all the time and only posting about specific monotone things everyone has fun and is perfect sharing in their own bland little internet world.....right? RIGHT?!?!!?!

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Zippy... Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for a good chance to use that exact picture? And you go an ninja it in before I even know the thread exists.
*baaaawww*

ANYHOO.
To the OP's question...

English is the ultimate language, because it has pieces of almost every language in it. English, is Voltron. Latin, Spanish, French, German, Russian... Singly these languages are weak. But when they combine together into English, they can defeat any other, such as Japanese. Japanese came stomping into town, and English sent it packing. Now, Japanese has English in it, instead of the other way around.

And when people use English improperly, the powers of light must correct it. Because bad English cannot form Voltron, and would leave us defenseless. Then, just any old tongue could come in and take us over. Do you really want the entire Internet speaking Navajo? I didn't think so. So we must all do our part, and keep English strong.

My apologies I am rarely so on the ball as I am today. *bow*

Heres a odd question/rebuttal to your post, English is an agleam of many languages that was shaped over time to become what we know as English today but its a living language and this able to change and evolve over time. And its because it is a living language with multiple offshoots and slang's or subs there is no improper way to communicate with it because of its multiple heritage and continuing evolution, what I am trying to say so many use it and no matter the...er....dialect of it(English) we all pretty much know what is being said.

Now I will give you in academia there are more proper ways to do it.... but like so much in academia it is to annoying for the layman to stick to such pompous if not snobbish bloviation......


/Incoherent Intellectual

 

[Motti]

English is the ultimate language, because it has pieces of almost every language in it. English, is Voltron. Latin, Spanish, French, German, Russian ... but when they combine together into English,

I couldn't read that without thinking of Captain Planet.

Latin, Spanish, French, German, Russian! With these powers combined I am: Captain English!

 

[headshotcatcher]

The point is that when you write out a whole wall of text in a discussion, often the other person just says "zomg you forgot the capitals in PETA!" instead of actually reacting to what you said..

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

The point is that when you write out a whole wall of text in a discussion, often the other person just says "zomg you forgot the capitals in PETA!" instead of actually reacting to what you said..

What happened to TLR?

 

[headshotcatcher]

The point is that when you write out a whole wall of text in a discussion, often the other person just says "zomg you forgot the capitals in PETA!" instead of actually reacting to what you said..

What happened to TLR?

The retards took it back to 4chan


Heh if only

 

[tomtom94]

I think we all have a right to complain about signs proclaiming "CD's and DVD's £1".
This reminds me of the Apostrophes for Africa comedy sketch by Omid Djalilli. I suggest you try searching for it if you are a grammar Nazi (like I am).

Correcting spelling makes people feel better and more important than those they are correcting. For about nought point five seconds...

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

The point is that when you write out a whole wall of text in a discussion, often the other person just says "zomg you forgot the capitals in PETA!" instead of actually reacting to what you said..

What happened to TLR?

The retards took it back to 4chan


Heh if only

Damn and I just found it..oh well I am always a year/decade late on new trends.....

I think we all have a right to complain about signs proclaiming "CD's and DVD's £1".
This reminds me of the Apostrophes for Africa comedy sketch by Omid Djalilli. I suggest you try searching for it if you are a grammar Nazi (like I am).

Correcting spelling makes people feel better and more important than those they are correcting. For about nought point five seconds...

And the reason they keep doing it pumping themselves up for more.... I dunno who's worse the 4chaners and their warped net speak or the Righteous grammar Nazis 0-o

 

[Sewblon]

It reinforces my confidence. I need all the help I can get on that front.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

It reinforces my confidence. I need all the help I can get on that front.

So you need confidence so badly you have to belittle others with what can be misconstrued as constructive criticism? *rolls eyes*