Poll: What's your religion (or lack thereof) and does someone's grammar and spelling...?

Question

affect how seriously you take that person?

I'll go first.

Atheist. I ignore most small mistakes, but misspelling "atheist" is just too over the top. I also chuckle at the computer-translated questions by Middle-Eastern proselytizers that read, "Why western women Islam convert?"

Answer 1

Islam.

Everybody has strengths and weaknesses.
I don't judge like that.

Answer 2

*Giggles* I do try to be fair as I know some people are just not born with the spelling gene. If it is obvious that English is not someone's first language I will read that person's contribution with that in mind. It is usually easy to glean the message without full and correct sentences. However, once someone begins misspelling and says something completely ignorant or shows themselves to be completely bigoted and ridiculous I will call them out on it. This also holds true for the moment I see anyone spewing Bible or Qua'ran quotes. Unfortunately, many of our poor spellers often tend to be religious fundamentalists (which says quite a bit about their education oftentimes). These people have been indoctrinated so deeply that their parents and community never allowed them any real education. I feel pity for a short time, at least until they begin to become insulting. If the question/answer is written entirely in teenage short-hand, however ("Wuz G-d spose ta do fo U peeps? *** out da sky n wave hello? R U dum er wat?"). And that is not at all an insult to just teenagers - far too many adults utilize that writing 'format'.

In all honesty, the spelling doesn't bother me unless it's attached to a ludicrous statement - and it most often is. I do understand, however that many who cannot spell can be infinitely intelligent yet just not a master in how to string certain words together. Oh, and I am an athiest, by the way. ;-)

Answer 3

Sane, with a healthy respect for science and utter disdain for superstition. If that makes me an atheist, so be it. All organized religion is about the money, control and power anyway. Those propounding it know this, but the ones buying into it apparently do not, which allows them to indulge in sanctimony.

As far as grammar goes, it comes as no surprise to me that on average those with a poor command of the English language, presumably their native tongue, will be the first to tell you that they know what's on the mind of the creator of the universe. To be fair, all those that have died believing in a sky fairy have yet to return from the dead to demand all their tithe money back. Ergo, there must be an afterlife and people are satisified with what they bought. This should give some comfort to all those that think when they die they're going to "get" something.

Answer 4

Atheist.

A person's spelling and grammar does affect how seriously I take them. I'm not talking about the occasional typo (which we all make), but the vincible ignorance that seems to run rampant amongst most Y!A users.

Well spoken (or written) people have made an effort to become and remain educated, and this generally indicates an open mind. People who can't spell, who use improper grammar, or who write everything in abbreviate "txt msg" format are either stupid, lazy, or ignorant. How seriously should such people be taken?

Answer 5

I am a free agent, as someone said, but knocking on the doors of atheists to ask questions. It's the only thing that explains it all to me so far. But I'm still learning.

The grammar thing used to bother me a lot, but I am older, wiser, and more patient than ever before. We have a whole world wide range of community here; tolerance is essential.

It is the mean ones that use bad grammar as "style" that I have a problem with. Is that just an American thing?

Answer 6

I am atheist.

Someones spelling and grammar certainly determines how seriously I take them. Of course there are typos and misspells that happen here and there and we all make mistakes. But it someone 'talkz lyk dis' it is impossible for me to take them seriously. If the person is clearly foreign and having a problem articulating what they are trying to say, I understand that conpletely. Howver if a native, English speaking person cannot string together a comprehensible sentence, I'm not usually interested in what they are saying.

Answer 7

Christian, and as for grammar and spelling. I don't judge a person that way unless I can't understand the question or answer at all. I make typo's all the time, as at times my mind and thoughts go before my fingers do.
And as for saying people of certain faiths are uneducated, that is a misnomer and shows a lack of wisdom. Just because a person might not be able to articulate what they want to say doesn't mean that they are dumb.

Answer 8

I believe each person has to find their own path to Gods and Goddesses. I do not accept that only one way is the right way. Too many wars are fought in the name of religion. I have been following a pagan path for the last two years.

Our education system is suffering from over-testing and a lack of learning basic skills of writing and grammar. I can understand some confusion from computer translated questions but I agree with many about the use of a shorthand (b4) showing the limitations of one's written expression. For texting, it's fine. For something like this, please write it out for the rest of us.

Answer 9

Agnostic. I am apt to think that is a lazy day kind of a thing.
Or, some people seem to think that any any answer longer than two sentences is too much. So taking the time to make sure of the spelling would be way out. What makes me sad, are the few who cannot spell, don't know it, and really don't seem to know that the page will do it for them. You feel that
they might have a hard life ahead of them.

Answer 10

Atheist.
I have to say I'm pretty annoyed when someone has no grasp of proper grammar or sentence structure.
Typo's don't bother me, as I make them as well...I know people, like myself, often type too fast and hit submit without proofreading carefully.
The most annoying are those who try to use big words, are trying to "prove" an argument, and the whole thing is just a bloody mess. If an atheist does it, I just want to smack them through the computer screen for being such a bad example.

Answer 11

You know something, sometimes people just type fast and make a typo. FORGIVE- some people are more educated then others, however, the question is what should matter. I see many Atheists misspell but rarely someone corrects them. However, the first time I left out a letter in a word, guess what i got- "let us correct this mistake, before I will answer".Interesting isn't it.