The importance of Grammar

The importance of Grammar

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Quote from Aweb team:

"Just seen your message regarding the removal of your profile from the site. Apologies that you have not received a response to this. Can you please let em know if you would still like to discuss this and I will outline the steps needed to take."

I have been asked to let you guys know that I would still like to discuss this - I'm not sure why though

Replies (65)

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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 11:22

'em

I think it means EM - ie. Ernest Moss. Fine fellow who should be consulted on anything of importance and who will in turn give grounded common-sense advice.

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By cheekychappy
28th Jul 2015 11:23

EM - Ejit Management

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
28th Jul 2015 11:56

Sometimes
When I type really fast, I get the letters in the wrong order. Why be such a konb?

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By johngroganjga
28th Jul 2015 11:56

The EM is clearly a typographical not a grammatical error.

The grammatical error is right at the end - "the steps needed to take".

Should be "the steps needed to be taken".

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By User deleted
28th Jul 2015 12:04

.

Hi-fvie Protia

 

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By User deleted
28th Jul 2015 12:10

If I'm being honest, I genuinely thought that it was a derogatory reference to the members collective

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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 12:24

Industry

If it is OK for journalists and editors to get their letters in the wrong order, I guess it must be OK for accountants to get their numbers in the wrong order.

Apart from having a bit of respect for the industry that employs you, the advice is just slow down and give yourself a bit of time to think.

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
28th Jul 2015 13:03

Journalists?

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By mrme89
28th Jul 2015 13:04

Yes, those people that copy and paste extracts from other sources.

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By MrotsylliD
28th Jul 2015 13:59

A grammatical error can be helpful.
It indicates you are conversing with an actual human being, and probably one that is rushing to please as many people as possible. It means also that they are returning your communications and not sitting proof reading everything to be perfect.

 

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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 14:01

Yes

Why bother checking anything when there are 100,000 people here to do it for you. But a pity if nobody aspires to a standard beyond 'slipshod'.

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By MrotsylliD
28th Jul 2015 14:30

What if someone just makes the occasional error in a message and everyone is kind about it?
What if we are as nice to other people about their grammatical imperfections as we would have them be to us?
I used to work in customer services.
To survive people moaning all day I used to assume they had just lost something, or crashed their car, or got sand in their folds on a jiggly bus.
It made it easier to be kind and gracious when people went over the top about something not being as they felt it should, or them screaming in pain that they did not understand something.

By the same token, when someone forgets something or drops a clanger, or is imperfect, I assume that their reactions are due to something far more important than my trifiling need for immaculacy. I would always assume that while I could be ungenerous to someone because they got grammar wrong, or malapropped, I could be giving extra crappiness to someone whose pet/parent/boiler-system had just died.

This system of thinking has gone on longer than that 18 months employment all those years ago. I try to remember to think the same way now.

So basically, I may be wrong in all those allowances for others, but it feels good to be  wrong sometimes. They may be total duffers or even nutjobs or rotters, but I went away happy.
I better go back to where I belong.
Enough of my nonsense.

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Replying to paul.benny:
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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 14:41

Sorry

MrotsylliD wrote:

What if someone just makes the occasional error in a message and everyone is kind about it?
What if we are as nice to other people about their grammatical imperfections as we would have them be to us?
I used to work in customer services.
To survive people moaning all day I used to assume they had just lost something, or crashed their car, or got sand in their folds on a jiggly bus.
It made it easier to be kind and gracious when people went over the top about something not being as they felt it should, or them screaming in pain that they did not understand something.

By the same token, when someone forgets something or drops a clanger, or is imperfect, I assume that their reactions are due to something far more important than my trifiling need for immaculacy. I would always assume that while I could be ungenerous to someone because they got grammar wrong, or malapropped, I could be giving extra crappiness to someone whose pet/parent/boiler-system had just died.

This system of thinking has gone on longer than that 18 months employment all those years ago. I try to remember to think the same way now.

So basically, I may be wrong in all those allowances for others, but it feels good to be  wrong sometimes. They may be total duffers or even nutjobs or rotters, but I went away happy.
I better go back to where I belong.
Enough of my nonsense.


I stopped reading your comments when on another thread you used 'awesome'. It kind of gave you away.

Imagine a site that used to work pretty well. Then for some reason it didn't. Then the management were reluctant to engage in any meaningful way to explain let alone correct things. You too might then get to the position of groaning at mistakes that seem to confirm your suspicions.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
By MrotsylliD
03rd Aug 2015 23:34

AWebsome.

Awesome gave me away?
What does that mean?

I hope that you find happiness again.
I hope that aWeb can maybe allocate a moderator to interact with you one to one and make the forum how you want it and help you get over this bump in your road You seem very sad at the moment. No one likes to see that.

I guess you probably think I am some old adversary that you haven't stopped thinking about, and that I must be whoever they are because of the 'telltale' use of the word "awesome". Forum fever will give you people lurking in the shadows when it strikes.

I am not anyone that has ever had any conversation with you before.
I was trying to cheer you up but can tell it isn't possible.
I should know that trying only works about 75% of the time.
It never works when someone thinks that there is significance in odd words and uses phrases like "You gave yourself away when..."
 

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Replying to IANTO:
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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 22:13

Another one

MrotsylliD wrote:


I stopped reading your comments when on another thread you used 'awesome'. It kind of gave you away.

Imagine a site that used to work pretty well. Then for some reason it didn't. Then the management were reluctant to engage in any meaningful way to explain let alone correct things. You too might then get to the position of groaning at mistakes that seem to confirm your suspicions.

[/quote]

Awesome gave me away?
What does that mean?

You didn't stop reading... you didn't stop replying either.
I hope that you find happiness again.
I hope that aWeb can maybe allocate a moderator to interact with you one to one and make the forum how you want it and help you get over this bump in your road You seem very sad at the moment. No one likes to see that.

I guess you probably think I am some old adversary that you haven't stopped thinking about, and that I must be whoever they are because of the 'telltale' use of the word "awesome". Forum fever will give you people lurking in the shadows when it strikes.

I am not anyone that has ever had any conversation with you before.
I was trying to cheer you up but can tell it isn't possible.
I should know that trying only works about 75% of the time.
It never works when someone thinks that there is significance in odd words and uses phrases like "You gave yourself away when..."

<insert love hearts and googly faces>

[/quote]
Another prat who flatters themselves. Sorry I didn't get to read your whole post, but you sound bugged that you are not being treated with the importance that you reserve for yourself. I'm afraid I don't react so well to being patronised. Just like most people, no better, no worse.

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Portia profile image
By Portia Nina Levin
28th Jul 2015 15:00

In other news
I understand that they are going to do a remake of "Grumpy Old Men" Andy, and they are looking for people to play the leading roles.

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Replying to memyself-eye:
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By andy.partridge
28th Jul 2015 15:04

@ Portia

Portia Nina Levin wrote:
I understand that they are going to do a remake of "Grumpy Old Men" Andy, and they are looking for people to play the leading roles.

At least my message is consistent. What is your opinion today, this hour, this minute . . . . ? Kisses and less of the 'old', please.
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By Portia Nina Levin
28th Jul 2015 15:08

A woman's prerogative Andy

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
28th Jul 2015 15:35

Nans

Pfft and there was me expecting a discussion about peoples Grandmas

Then again I am illiterate

 

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Replying to NH:
Quack
By Constantly Confused
28th Jul 2015 17:14

Seconded

ireallyshouldknowthisbut wrote:

Pfft and there was me expecting a discussion about peoples Grandmas

Then again I am illiterate

I'll discuss Grandmas, mine is right good.

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By Fizzy
28th Jul 2015 16:01

Sand?

What exactly does 'got sand in their folds on a jiggly bus' mean? To start with I thought it was referring to people who'd been on a beach and got sand in places they'd rather not. But then I couldn't work out where the jiggly bus came into it. So now I'm confused.

I'm all for (well sort of) letting people off a spelling error etc. but typing 'em for them isn't an error. It's abbreviating in an unprofessional way. 

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Replying to lesley.barnes:
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By Ben Lauritson
28th Jul 2015 16:16

Me vs Them (like Me vs The World but on a smaller scale)

Fizzy wrote:

I'm all for (well sort of) letting people off a spelling error etc. but typing 'em for them isn't an error. It's abbreviating in an unprofessional way. 

In the context of the original quote and given the lack of apostrophe, I think it's more likely that "em" was a misspelling of "me" as opposed to an abbreviation of "them".

Put another way, if the original quote did say "them" instead of "em", to whom would "them" refer?

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By MrotsylliD
29th Jul 2015 09:12

Personal insults.

Well done. (Not awesome though.)
No hard feelings from me and hoping you find a way to cope with all your forum problems.

P.s. Its obvious you read the post. You quoted it, and were upset by it... so yes, you read it.

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Replying to DJKL:
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By andy.partridge
29th Jul 2015 09:52

This one I have read

MrotsylliD wrote:

Well done. (Not awesome though.)
No hard feelings from me and hoping you find a way to cope with all your forum problems.

P.s. Its obvious you read the post. You quoted it, and were upset by it... so yes, you read it.


It was short and concise. No problem. Truly, the others were like wading through treacle. I think you said you were a moderator for a large site? I am not convinced you are suited to it.

I have had a great passion for this site, but it is waning . . . rapidly. But it's not a tragedy and I am already over it, so no need for the cod psychology.

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Replying to Slim:
By MrotsylliD
29th Jul 2015 15:18

Apologies again.

Apologies again that my other posts that you did not read have been such a problem to you.
Glad to hear the last one was not a problem.
Thank you for the feedback.
I value all your posts.

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By andy.partridge
29th Jul 2015 15:24

I withdraw my comment

You now sound much more like a moderator, although more synth than human.

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By MrotsylliD
29th Jul 2015 20:09

Thank you very much.

You are very clever and always right.
There is no perspective on forums and contributors that you cannot help  with.
Now that you have let me know what your needs are it has made it much easier to make things right for you. You are very intelligent and without you this site and any others you are not on  suffer. Thank you so much for letting everyone know what is what.
Your winning perspective is a game changer in every respect.
I would invite your awesomeness over to where I moderate, but we are not worthy enough. It would be unkind of me to ask our long standing members to tremble inadequately in your shade. Thank you again.
Apologies for my perspectives earlier.
It was before you helped.

Well done.

P.s. You sorted it all.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By andy.partridge
29th Jul 2015 15:39

You are in need

MrotsylliD wrote:

You are very clever and always right.
There is no perspective on forums and contributors that you cannot help  with.
Now that you have let me know what your needs are it has made it much easier to make things right for you. You are very intelligent and without you this site and any others you are not on  suffer. Thank you so much for letting everyone know what is what.
Your winning perspective is a game changer in every respect.
I would invite your awesomeness over to where I moderate, but we are not worthy enough.
It would be unkind of me to ask our long standing members to tremble inadequately in your shade.
Thank you again.
Apologies for my perspectives earlier.
It was before you helped.

Well done.

P.s. You sorted it all.


Of a reboot.

Size 12 should do it.

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By User deleted
29th Jul 2015 15:35

Oh ...

... I thought Em(ma) must be one of the new team, Sift seem to get through staff quicker (or should that be more quickly) these days  than SAGE change my account manager!

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By User deleted
05th Aug 2015 16:33

Dame Judy!

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... I thought Em(ma) must be one of the new team

 

I can still see Dame Judy's blood boiling when the Scottish chap calls her Emma on James Bond!

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By MrotsylliD
29th Jul 2015 16:35

Thank you very much.

For your constant support of this thread.
And for being you.
You are essential.

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By Portia Nina Levin
29th Jul 2015 16:37

Another pointless thread
With pointless comments (mine excepted) from pointless people (me excepted). When will it ever end?

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By ShirleyM
29th Jul 2015 16:37

Which forum do you moderate, Dillys?

Does it have many members? 

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By MrotsylliD
04th Aug 2015 00:17

In response to Shirley M.

Thousands of active members.
Contributions 24 hours a day.
International although mostly UK US Australia, European Union.
 

 

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By ShirleyM
29th Jul 2015 20:08

I guessed as much ... the US part anyway

I hope the members are all trembling inadequately in your shade.

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By MrotsylliD
29th Jul 2015 21:01

Why?

Why would the members tremble inadequately?
I am positive, supportive and advocate for generosity of spirit.
I don't do that here then run off there and be unpleasant.

I have never posted anything along the lines of *nar nar nar I am not reading you, but have decided what you wrote, which is different from what you wrote, but I know from not reading your words that you are a prat*.

If someone is having a bad day I don't behave resentfully but would attempt to help them. If someone posts with a typo no one would attempt to belittle them and turn it into a big deal.

I am sorry for my suggestion earlier in this thread that it can work if we are nice to  others and let stuff go. I appreciate that for some this makes no sense and is a problem.

When people ask our community questions no one that I have seen would be derogatory to them for their ignorance. I am often humbled by the might of their expertise, their professionalism and how much I can learn from them. There are experts in their field that seem to enjoy inspiring others on that site, just as the great ones here do.

There is one expert that I think may have a touch of genius, who sometimes gets taken the wrong way just for being straight forward. They are always immaculately informed and correct. Never actually rude and not intentionally snarky. I think a few recipients of their responses might panic when they engage because of their towering intellect and get a bit of adrenalin. But it isn't a big problem as yet and we have been going for five years.

I am not here to complain about the members of that forum, the members of this forum, or the moderators of this forum. One or two malcontents do not a forum make.

I like the duck.
The link to this is in our forum.
Everyone likes the duck.

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Replying to Rgab1947:
By ShirleyM
29th Jul 2015 21:12

I don't know!

MrotsylliD wrote:

Why would the members tremble inadequately?

I was hoping you would explain. It was your comment originally.

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By MrotsylliD
03rd Aug 2015 23:32

By the way.

I wrote international because we are not xenophobic. Nor is it a local tennis club. The geographical locations are not in quantity order.
Next weekend there is a get together in California and people from the UK are flying out. 200 meeting up. Business will be done, fun will be had. Right now several Americans from the site are travelling through the UK and Europe.
Photographs from meet ups appear regularly and have for some years.

We do random acts of kindness, but that isn't the primary focus, the forum is for business and passion about the business we do.

 

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Replying to Tax Dragon:
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By andy.partridge
30th Jul 2015 09:44

Yes

MrotsylliD wrote:

Do you Webbers meet up?
 

Yes, but you could soon put a stop to it.
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By andy.partridge
30th Jul 2015 00:27

Part
I thought I called you a part. Seems you have got upset over a mere typo. Isn't this where you came in?

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By MrotsylliD
30th Jul 2015 07:04

Uh huh.

Dear Mr Partridge.

Re; Standards and Pro-tips.

Some of us are watching the internet meltdown, not having it.
If you want emotion for any insults you type, try someone that isn't indifferent to you.
Maybe not a seasoned moderator?
.
The internet has shown over time, that if someone wants to troll others, they need to not run around whining and throwing their mojo out the window. It impacts negatively on forum gravitas.

Even a previous legend like yourself will find their stock crumbling after a protacted tantrum. Failsure devices such as: declaring you are leaving then not going, or that you want to leave but don't know how to, will ungarner support from your audience and have your thankers dwindling.
This stuff you are doing is so hackneyed it has spawned memes since the 90s that haven't needed to be updated

Please up your game forthwith.

Yours sincerely.

Mr & Mrs Passerby et al.

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By ShirleyM
30th Jul 2015 07:30

I am so glad .....

... on second thoughts ... never mind. I couldn't take the resulting verbal diarrhoea (meaning you say a lot but none of it seems relevant ..... but maybe that's because I understand very little of it anyway). I am still puzzling over the phrase 'trembling inadequately'.

All we need now is the US style AWeb, and then I'm done for good.

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By MrotsylliD
30th Jul 2015 07:58

Why wait?

Do you think aWeb will fall apart if you stop coming?
Do you feel responsible in some way?

 

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Replying to Tax Dragon:
By ShirleyM
30th Jul 2015 08:42

Responses as follows:

MrotsylliD wrote:

Do you think aWeb will fall apart if you stop coming?
Do you feel responsible in some way?

 

1. No

2. Yes, the same as I would if a clients business had danger signals and I did nothing to help or advise. I want to help. Is that wrong?

Many members are questioning their continued membership, and a few of the regulars have disappeared quietly and some not so quietly. I consider that to be a danger signal, don't you?

The ones that stay are staying because of the current membership and the help they provide, so how many more would question their continued membership if the regular helpers disappear, or stop helping?

EDIT: Why wait? That's the sort of comment that implies 'we want you to go'.  Are you a spokesperson for AWeb?

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By User deleted
30th Jul 2015 09:40

Kudos Shirley ...

... I see you have have forsaken rule 14 and adopted the braver but more successful approach advocated by Sun Tzu.

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Replying to JGM:
By ShirleyM
30th Jul 2015 09:55

Good point, OGA

Old Greying Accountant wrote:

... I see you have have forsaken rule 14 and adopted the braver but more successful approach advocated by Sun Tzu.

Although I had to look up Sun Tzu to find out what you were talking about. I still can't understand Dillys phrases and comments. I guess I'm not supposed to, nor am I expected to receive an explanation. I had not considered Rule 14 at all!  :(

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By andy.partridge
30th Jul 2015 10:00

Interesting case study

Stranger arrives and lectures us on how to behave. Claims superior knowledge through moderating a non-xenophobic site (whatever that is). When challenged is unable to live up to the standards that he preaches for the rest of us and resorts to goading and sarcasm.

A false prophet. I think you have been rumbled, sir. 

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By User deleted
30th Jul 2015 15:39

Shirley ...

... I had to look it up first so that you could second :o)

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The triggle is a distant cousin of the squonk (pictured)
By Triggle
30th Jul 2015 15:37

I see Portia's gone again.

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Replying to Shane123:
Quack
By Constantly Confused
30th Jul 2015 17:04

#Sigh#

Triggle wrote:

I see Portia's gone again.

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