Genealogy Chat

18 odd years ago I worked ( voluntary ) in a school in a very deprived area -

I used to have small groups of children (10 to 11 years of age ) at my home - teaching them how to prepare and cook basic foods

One day the children starting about birthdays - and I asked one 11 years old girl - when her birthday was

She replied she did not know - Do you know what month - I asked her - No I dont -

Well do you know if it is in the Summer or Winter - No I dont

It soon transpired that she did not know -

How many days in a week - how many months in a year - the names of the months - or the order

Neither Easter or Christmas - or her birthday - having never experienced any at her home

Yet she had attended school every day - ( her parents putting her outside the house at 8.00 am every day - school days or not )

Some children have parents, schools and teachers that all fail them

From that time onwards I tried never to judge anyone

Irene

Polly,

At the risk of giving an opinion based on 'subjective experiences and observations' I would venture to suggest that your own opinions may be inaccurate: much is being done to help dyslexics. As far as the educational institution that I work in is concerned all students are tested for dyslexia on entry and can be referred for further assessment at any time. If the problem is diagnosed then they are given individual help at considerable cost to the institution.

I would also like to defend my position that people who do not spell accurately are unlikely to transcribe and transmit genealogical data accurately. As IGP points out, it could be due to carelessness and sloppiness; in that case any information sent to another researcher must be suspect. If on the other hand it is a symptom of one of the forms of dyslexia that makes letter recognition difficult then any names and dates may be inaccurately rendered.

I did not use the term "dyslexia" in my original posting because I do not know the reason for the unorthodox spelling and grammar we see so often, and I believed that they were more the result of carelessness than of a psychological condition. Clearly some people believe that most of the inaccuracies seen here result from dyslexia. They may be right, but as such errors are so prevalent on these boards then we would have to accept that dyslexia in the norm.

Peter

Hi InspectorGreenPen

Whilst I agree there has been a marked increase in poor spelling and grammar I disagree that most is due to laziness and sloppiness. This is your opinion based on subjective experiences and observations.

The fact is that there are many people with literacy problems at varying levels due to developmental problems and/or educational failings. There are still many young people emerging from schools with dreadful experiences including poor support and undiagnosed developmental problems. Most of these failings are a result of the educational system being strapped for cash for either assessing the child or training the staff to recognise potential problems.

For those people who have no problems other than failing to recognise the importance of spelling and grammar I ask you, is it all their fault or is there some underlying problem with the education system?

I think it dreadfully unfair to criticise strangers on a public website whose purpose is to share interests in a hobby. It's not an improve your English website and no one, but no one, should be made to feel inferior by members who seem to portray an air of superiority because they can spell and use a computer correctly.

I too, find reading text in capitals difficult so I don't bother to read them. Happily, you have a choice to read a post or not and no one will even know so no harm done. Like I've already mentioned, I think the original post was polite and friendly, it was subsequent posts and others 'jumping on the bandwagon' that stirred me into action.

1. Fact is text in capitals is NOT easier to read.
2. Whilst there are undoubtedly a small number of people with difficulties, most examples of bad spelling and grammar we see are just laziness and sloppiness.

I am not perfect and do miss-type more as I get older, but if I see a mistake I correct it, and will often go back and edit a post to make it read /better or correct spellings.

Polly, the vast majority of those who have posted here would not dream of commenting personally to someone with poor grammar, spelling or whatever. I suspect your mother might welcome being gently told that capitals are not easy to read. Do buy her that laptop and let her have a go.

In my opinion Derek's post is polite and friendly. What troubles me are the posts that cause possible humiliation to those who may not be able to do anything about their literacy levels.

My mother's school was bombed in WWII and her literacy levels are poor, so much so that I actually think she might be dyslexic. She is absolutely fascinated with the information I have gathered about our family, getting quite excited about anything new I tell her .

I have mentioned to my husband about buying her a laptop for her to use because since having a stroke two years ago she has not been so active and gets depressed stuck at home.

Goodness knows though, there is no way I could introduce her to this site , what with her literacy levels and zero computer skills the little confidence she has would be killed off by the comments I've seen on here.

I've received some good advice and help on GR for which I am always grateful but to be honest it is little reward compared to the anger I feel when I see the judgmental and patronising comments by just a few. It's shameful.

"But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? "

I do confess it worries me less that people use capitals, or that their spelling is poor ( for whatever reason) , than the absence of 'white space' in a post. That is purely because I find it difficult to read and so I often do not try.

But (lol) there is always someone willing to wade through and help. Isn't that the strength of these boards? The immense kindness of strangers :)

Dear me

I don't imagine that Derek meant anything other than to advise people that using capitals throughout can be very offputting and difficult to read. It is probably something that many people have not realised - and it's never too late to learn. Of course people who find it difficult to type in a mixture of cases for whatever reason, are perfectly within their rights to do so.

Let's not start slating the "oldies" for offering advice to "newbies" - that IS one of the purposes of this board and it doesn't mean that such advisors have disregard for other more troubling problems in the world.

I am an old girl now. I was born and raised in S.E.London and I have a real cockney accent but I did learn good written English and spelling in my school. I absolutely hate the written English that our young people adopt now. It really makes me annoyed, they are adding further corrosion to the British way of life. It is not just the young people, when you read newspapers and magazines, you see paragraphs starting with 'And' or 'But' these words should not be at the start of a paragraph, they represent a pause and should be used in that context.

Sorry guys, I have been wanting to say that for a long time time, I want England to be English again.

Why do we have such a little space to write and why does it not becaome visible when we have exceeded the space provided?


Pat

I quite agree with you LindaB, its getting really picky on here lately..
Capitals don't bother me, neither does spelling etc...Everyone is different....

Have a good day
Jules x

I cannot believe how extremely "picky" these boards have become of late.

Do we know why some people type in capitals...I know for a fact some members do so because of a disability.

To say quote...someone who has difficulty spelling correctly is unlikely to record and transmit names and dates with acccuracy....is quite beyond belief!

For goodness sake some empathy would not come amiss. Who or what do we know of other GR members...their disabilities or their short comings.

If you do not like the member's thread just pass it by...there is always someone else who will take the trouble to answer if possible.

Linda

POT KETTLE

Derek Yesterday at 22:03 Request review
hi Gooner your marriage for WILLIAM SNEAP to SARAH ATHERLEY St Alkmund Derby 16.01.1854 is correct..Husbands age 36 Bride 33....bit long in the tooth for as first marriage???????????

Derek.

but that's their problem which they probably already know about and don't need it pointing out on a public website. Besides which just because someone can't spell doesn't mean they can't read or copy accurately. It might mean they have dyslexia though which is something they can't do much about.

I agree with RutlandBelle; someone who has difficulty spelling correctly is unlikely to record and transmit names and dates with acccuracy.

Peter

If anyone is upset by this thread then report it to Genes.

The Rules
Please don't communicate anything that is, or could be considered, abusive, vulgar, offensive or threatening – your behaviour must be polite, patient, and not intended to cause (or capable of causing) trouble or offence to other members.

It's unfair to make assumptions about strangers. As far as I understand it members on this site are equals regardless of background, education, disabilities etc. so judging people in terms of how they write is unfair and condescending.

Personally, I prefer not to read large chunks of text in capital letters so I don't. We have a choice. End of.

Sorry will not add any more as this isn't really what the boards are about.
You have to have a rant occasionally, especially after 2 glasses of red wine and husband watching England play football.

Have a good evening.

It could be that some find it difficult to keep changing from Capitals to small case. Perhaps they suffer from a disability that makes it painful

It really does'nt bother me about using capitals, don't see it as shouting or being rude as some people find it easier. Not really bothered about spelling either as there are alot of people with spelling difficulties, as long as I can work out what they are trying to say. The long paragraphs are annoying though without punctuation.
Hilary

Quite So,
IGP,

was it James May? or Jeremy Clarkson that met up with the original designer of the modern road signs? primarily it seems it was to accomodate the signage on the new Motorways......
apparently her suggestions for the font and colouring were met with some derision at the time, but as you say.........

IT WORKS!

Bob