I'm not comfortable nor am i happy here

[caz]

It's the lack of care, time taken, and respect for one's readers, on the part of posters who claim to be reasonably well schooled and well read, that often results in a complaint that the readers needs to be more tolerant.

Ooh lordy, look at me here - it should of course be 'the reader needs' or 'the readers need'. I couldn't make up my mind which sounded better and ended up making a balls-up.

Love,

Caz
X

[caz]

Hi Rubes,

I would never attempt to correct you or anyone for 'enormus' - it's obviously a simple case of missing out an o while typing quickly, something we all do. Besides, it's not funny enough.

I have a theory that we are probably all dyslexic to one degree or another, hence the difficulty with proofreading our own work. I have what I like to call east/west dyslexia. I have no trouble at all with left/right or north/south, but whenever I come across east or west, spoken or written, it's like a foreign language. I have to really think about it and I've always been the same. With east I have to think of India and with west it's Cornish cream teas, or I just can't get my bearings.

I'd make a horrible weather girl.

Love,

Caz
XX

[Rubyretro]

[yes, Caz ..and I see that I wrote 'enormus' in the post to Garry (despite reading it back several times!!!!).

I take it that everyone does know that I can spell 'enormous' ?..and it's very strange that I can't even see it when I read the text back !

Can you 'catch' reverse -dyslexia ? -I have a dyslexic child but never showed any symptoms before Casebook !!!

[caz]

I completely respect your view Bob and I agree that it is important to make the effort to get things right on an academic site such as this.

However, it is also important to remember that some people have real problems with proof-reading in that they cannot always identify mistakes. Other people cannot always read very closely what they have typed. i come into the latter category. I have to have the zoom facility on but I still don't notice mis-types and therefore make a lot of error, especially if I'm in a hurry.

I think it is important to set the standard but to be tolerant when people have something important and valued to express.

Hi Limehouse,

I rarely if ever see intolerance towards posters who have 'something important and valued to express' but obviously have 'real problems' doing so coherently - for example if English is not their first language or they genuinely struggle in this medium and are happy to admit it.

It's the lack of care, time taken, and respect for one's readers, on the part of posters who claim to be reasonably well schooled and well read, that often results in a complaint that the readers needs to be more tolerant.

There's a world of difference between making an effort to make up for one's lack of ability, and having (or claiming) the ability but not being arsed to use it because it's 'just' a message board. And that difference is usually very clear to anyone reading carefully.

So it's actually a bit shabby to put the blame on the long-suffering reader while implying that the posters singled out for attention are those with genuine literacy problems, when in fact such posters are generally left alone and treated with respect, regardless of what importance or value is attached to their contributions.

I think some people are getting their knickers in a twist unnecessarily. If an automatic red pen were to highlight every little error in every post, we would instantly see how lightly we are all getting off if only the odd 'howler' attracts attention.

There's a good reason why they are called howlers.

Love,

Caz
X

[Rubyretro]

If you're using Word, Ruby, the toolbar contains a drop-down menu which allows for the changing of language. Once this is set to 'English' (either 'UK' or 'US'), Spell Checker changes accordingly. As soon as you're done, reselect the French language from the toolbar drop-down menu. Likewise, I would also recommend that you download WordWeb, a free and extremely useful dictionary/thesaurus that sits in your system tray.

Best wishes.

Garry Wroe.

Thanks Garry -I will try and download 'Wordweb' -although I used to have
a dictionary/thesaurus on the computer (which I used alot) and my brother
(interfering as usual !) got rid of it; he said that it used an enormus amount of memory and clogged up my ancient laptop.

I know about the settings for Spellcheck on Word, but my computer seems to 'reset' things all by itself (!). Also my children use my computer behind my back, and regularly change all the settings, and it all becomes an enormous chore.

There is also the problem which Pirate once mentioned, which is that words which actually exist do not show up as errors. So when I made a typo
of 'pouring' for 'poring' (it was only a typo -which is why it stung), then it wouldn't have been corrected by Spellcheck anyway.

[Bob Hinton]

Pat on the back for Richard.

Hi,
I have been quoted many times for spelling mistakes/grammer/punctuation, however I put that down to the passion I feel when writing on the subject of the Whitechapel Murders.
Well thats my excuse anyway...
Regards Richard.

But Richard your posts now are way, way above what they used to be. When you first started posting it was an uphill task to try and decipher what you were trying to say, but now, well look at your above post.

Well done and kudos to you.

[richardnunweek]

Hi,
I have been quoted many times for spelling mistakes/grammer/punctuation, however I put that down to the passion I feel when writing on the subject of the Whitechapel Murders.
Well thats my excuse anyway...
Regards Richard.

[Garry Wroe]

I can't use 'Spelling Check' easily because I'm writing
on a french computer, also used by my french family -the spelling check is set for French (most needed by me !) and EVERYTHING shows up as a mistake when I type in english.

If you're using Word, Ruby, the toolbar contains a drop-down menu which allows for the changing of language. Once this is set to 'English' (either 'UK' or 'US'), Spell Checker changes accordingly. As soon as you're done, reselect the French language from the toolbar drop-down menu. Likewise, I would also recommend that you download WordWeb, a free and extremely useful dictionary/thesaurus that sits in your system tray.

Best wishes.

Garry Wroe.

[Phil Carter]

Hello dear namesake no relation Sara,

Your contribution is valuable, as others have pointed out before me...
Spelling can be difficult for some, and I frequently edit and re edit before the time limit goes, by tinkering with grammar and poor spelling etc.

You are very welcome to stay or leave of course as is your whim.. I echo others when I say... Casebook is a better place WITH your contributions.

best wishes

Phil

[Rubyretro]

I'm just going to rejoin this debate for a second :

I have been on the receiving end of some of the petty nastiness of this site regarding spelling and grammar recently, and therefore I had great sympathy
for the point of view of the starter of this thread when I read her comment; indeed I have written to Admin in the past, predicting that lots of people
would simply be too afraid to participate on their boards due to the attitude of a minority of aggressive dolts -and without 'new blood', these forums
simply become plain boring.

I know that I felt humiliated, jeered at, and made to feel an illiterate laughing stock -all in public on the internet. Simply put, it made me feel very small and bad about myself. I like to come on the boards for pleasure (well it isn't for money) and so I too, asked myself the question 'WHY am I here, if it makes me feel so bad..?

There is also the fact that I have talked to friends about what I've learned on the boards, and several have expressed interest in visiting the site, but I avoided giving them the name of the site, because I couldn't bear for them to witness my being put down and sneered at on the site- so there are now interesting and intelligent people lost to Casebook, who won't be getting the toolbar, seeing the publicity, buying the periodical nor ordering books.

I stayed with Casebook because the people whose opinions I REALLY value
on Hutchinson (my favourite suspect) -like Bob Hinton and Garry Wroe (the people who know what they're talking about), have been nothing less than charming and polite - and I feel priviledged to benefit from their time and knowledge.

(an aside to Bob here -I can't use 'Spelling Check' easily because I'm writing
on a french computer, also used by my french family -the spelling check is set for French (most needed by me !) and EVERYTHING shows up as a mistake when I type in english. If I change settings all the time, I get problems. I also get carried away with enthousiasm, and don't see obvious errors when I read back).

finally, I think that -psychologically speaking- the bullies ultimately only point up their own Superiority Complexes, aggressiveness and lack of generosity of spirit ...and the abscence of genuine 'argument'..

[Limehouse]

I’m afraid I’m going to be cast as the big Blue Meanie here. It does irritate me when people post on the boards (any boards) without taking even the most basic care to write as well as they can. You end up with a load of unintelligible rubbish that you just can’t decipher. U no wat i men.

Language is a wonderful and precious thing; it enables us to communicate our thoughts and ideas with others. Just stop for a moment and consider why it is so important. If we didn’t have a common language we would have to resort to cave drawings and hand signals. Surely we have progressed a bit further than that? Now I’m not saying that everyone should be an expert in the written language, I most definitely have trouble with spelling and grammar, but the distinction is that I try to get it right.

I compose what I want to say in a word processing package then read and re-read until I am happy that anyone reading it will get my drift.

Just imagine you have hired a painter to paint your house. You go outside and find he has just slopped the paint on all over, missing bits, painting over windows and so on. Would any of the people who advocate that ‘the meaning is what’s important not the style’ be happy with that? Of course not they would want it done properly, so why when it comes to the written word are some of us happy to accept untidy and sloppy work?

If there is a right way and a wrong way to do something – why settle for the wrong? Why not strive for the right – you may not always get there but your efforts will be appreciated.

I completely respect your view Bob and I agree that it is important to make the effort to get things right on an academic site such as this.

However, it is also important to remember that some people have real problems with proof-reading in that they cannot always identify mistakes. Other people cannot always read very closely what they have typed. i come into the latter category. I have to have the zoom facility on but I still don't notice mis-types and therefore make a lot of error, especially if I'm in a hurry.

I think it is important to set the standard but to be tolerant when people have something important and valued to express.

[Bob Hinton]

I'm at it again!

I’m afraid I’m going to be cast as the big Blue Meanie here. It does irritate me when people post on the boards (any boards) without taking even the most basic care to write as well as they can. You end up with a load of unintelligible rubbish that you just can’t decipher. U no wat i men.

Language is a wonderful and precious thing; it enables us to communicate our thoughts and ideas with others. Just stop for a moment and consider why it is so important. If we didn’t have a common language we would have to resort to cave drawings and hand signals. Surely we have progressed a bit further than that? Now I’m not saying that everyone should be an expert in the written language, I most definitely have trouble with spelling and grammar, but the distinction is that I try to get it right.

I compose what I want to say in a word processing package then read and re-read until I am happy that anyone reading it will get my drift.

Just imagine you have hired a painter to paint your house. You go outside and find he has just slopped the paint on all over, missing bits, painting over windows and so on. Would any of the people who advocate that ‘the meaning is what’s important not the style’ be happy with that? Of course not they would want it done properly, so why when it comes to the written word are some of us happy to accept untidy and sloppy work?

If there is a right way and a wrong way to do something – why settle for the wrong? Why not strive for the right – you may not always get there but your efforts will be appreciated.

[Limehouse]

lol, seconding that comment of Ruby's (after finishing laughing at naughty, naughty Robert and Suzi...)...and to add that, in general, the bloody editors are just as bad as the authors

What d'you mean you're off? When I first came on here, I was done for in no uncertain terms by a couple of people (ironically I came to love their posts, but that might be the masochist in me [enough on that]). Because I'm a bit stupid, I didn't take the hint; it's not like I'm Mrs Popular round here, or that anyone even reads most of what I have to say, but I'm fascinated as hell in what others have to say and for that, alone, it's worth staying.
So, flip the bird and stick around.

I've always been impressed with your contributions Claire, and Sara's too. We all make mistakes and most people can cope with understanding what has been written. I am not keen on reading posts written in text language or similar, but those are few and far between.

People are rarely deliberately careless and I think it's bad manners to comment on people's punctuation and grammar. Everyone should be valued for their contributions as long as they're respectful.

Julie

[c.d.]

Hi Suzi,

I'm glad I was able to help. If you have any more questions regarding obscene gestures or vulgar expressions, feel free to ask.

c.d.

[Graham]

Hey Suze! What G&S are you listening to?

Graham