Why can't people use even basic grammar in emails?

I just received this is response to a query about incubators a guy was selling:

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Yeh i have did severl ball clutches man im a big in too herping and make me a offer on both on is modifed to circulate air and i will take 60 that one and 30 for basic and that was my ole lady that email so im sorry man both work and hold heat

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I may not respond back solely based on it looking as if written by a 5 year old.

Not everyone can be a master of grammar but i wouldn't let it deter me from getting what I want.

There is a difference between being a master of grammar and the craziness that email. Unfortunately, it was probably written by an adult.

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Originally Posted by Kyle1989

Not everyone can be a master of grammar but i wouldn't let it deter me from getting what I want.

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Yeah. I am in need of a bigger incubator than what I have so I may have to at least look regardless.

It just makes me think the guy is an idiot.

That always upsets me. Some of the worst grammar I've seen is from people on craigslist. It's amazing. How can you send a business reply without a shred of professionalism?

Why would you not try to be clear and polite to someone who is going to buy from or sell to you? I understand that not everyone is lucky enough to have great education and knowledge of grammar and spelling rules. But, I feel that there's a huge difference between lack of education and negligence of clarity.

A few mistakes are okay as long as it's still understandable, but anything like the example you showed, that just represents apathy and disrespect. That's what spell check is for!! Read over it a couple times! :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I may not respond back solely based on it looking as if written by a 5 year old.

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Respond back with I am unable to make the transaction because I am unable to understand you

if enough people did that we might get something close to readable. I'm not expecting formal writing, but that... wow

I'm unsure of what he was even trying to communicate...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:weirdfaceThat is a big pet peeve of mine! I would talk about that for days! LOL!

I think I may have figured it out...

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Yeh i have did severl ball clutches man im a big in too herping and make me a offer on both on is modifed to circulate air and i will take 60 that one and 30 for basic and that was my ole lady that email so im sorry man both work and hold heat

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roughly translates to...

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Yeah, I have had several ball python clutches. Man, I'm big into herping too. Make me an offer on both. One is modified to circulate air. I will take 60 for that one and 30 for the other basic one. And that was my old lady (wife? mom?) that emailed before so I'm sorry, man. Both work and hold heat.

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And still, it's lacking a lot of important and helpful details about the incubators. Also politeness and professionalism is a factor... one that this guy didn't consider. Unless "man" is a formality that I wasn't aware of! :P

Whoops, looks like I have too much free time. Don't mind me...

lololol
Tht guy rite dur were lerned prety good in skool man!

My seven year old brother can write better than that... Im not trying to be mean but even if he didnt graduate highschool he should still be able to write better than that.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I may not respond back solely based on it looking as if written by a 5 year old.

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People who write like that are a huge pet peeve of mine. I love it when I jump on the punctuation or syntax train and people say they don't care how they write on a forum because it not like it's an English class or anything...

Yeah, here's a simple truth for you, people perceive you based on how you dress, speak, and yes, even write. If you want to be perceived as a window licking idiot, by all means, write 57 likes of crap with narry a capital letter or comma in sight.

I dnt c what ta prblum is tHis Iz amricka ware y dontt hav 2 speeek ora tipe rite all yous needds 2 bee iz POlitikly corekt#.........Doont ofends mee

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Originally Posted by luvmyballs

I dnt c what ta prblum is tHis Iz amricka ware y dontt hav 2 speeek ora tipe rite all yous needds 2 bee iz POlitikly corekt#.........Doont ofends mee

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A true LOL! Well done!

Laziness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by rebelrachel13

That always upsets me. Some of the worst grammar I've seen is from people on craigslist. It's amazing. How can you send a business reply without a shred of professionalism?

Why would you not try to be clear and polite to someone who is going to buy from or sell to you? I understand that not everyone is lucky enough to have great education and knowledge of grammar and spelling rules. But, I feel that there's a huge difference between lack of education and negligence of clarity.

A few mistakes are okay as long as it's still understandable, but anything like the example you showed, that just represents apathy and disrespect. That's what spell check is for!! Read over it a couple times! :rolleyes:

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Exactly. Im the same way with Craigslist people. Iv sold things on there before and i get the most stupid replies via texts like "StIlL hAvE SnAkE?" and im like really dude? Idk if its just me but im not going to sell any animal to someone who cant even spell, call me cruel or mean, thats just not my thing.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Yeah. I am in need of a bigger incubator than what I have so I may have to at least look regardless.

It just makes me think the guy is an idiot.

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OMG. I would think that too. I know a lot of the Android phones have an auto correct (that has got me before), but that was way more than that. I would question his intelligence to, and wonder what I was getting from such a smart fellow......

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Originally Posted by Slim

People who write like that are a huge pet peeve of mine. I love it when I jump on the punctuation or syntax train and people say they don't care how they write on a forum because it not like it's an English class or anything...

Yeah, here's a simple truth for you, people perceive you based on how you dress, speak, and yes, even write. If you want to be perceived as a window licking idiot, by all means, write 57 likes of crap with narry a capital letter or comma in sight.

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Lmao, window lickers are entertaining!! :sweeet:

Ok maybe because i live in Ca but to me it looks like a english as a second language. Some of the messed up plurals make me think probably asian based language. Being married to an ESL guy I get how hard it can be to have someone check every little thing you do so that you "dont sound like an idiot"

Most of the time, when I post anything for sale on Craigslist, I put at the bottom of each post the following. " When responding to this ad, I will not reply to any email that is unreadable. So, don't bother to send me something that says 'I wud lik ths itm plz.' "

Surprisingly enough, I still get emails like the one you received. I delete those.

Gale

Maybe for fun, reply back in his style? :P


"Surez I is entrestid n the 60 dalar incubator. @)*#$&)!*$*!_*%(&8-0M)C_)*_*@%"

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Originally Posted by lizlopez

Ok maybe because i live in Ca but to me it looks like a english as a second language. Some of the messed up plurals make me think probably asian based language. Being married to an ESL guy I get how hard it can be to have someone check every little thing you do so that you "dont sound like an idiot"

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In my experience ESL indviduals are better at expressing themselves through the written word than many EFL individuals.

English is not my first language...we spoke redneck in the home where I was raised. I had to learn English later :rofl:

It really makes me lose faith in humanity when I get emails from Craig's list like that. Is it a lack of trying to sound literate? Maybe they were driving while writing the email? Sadly enough that is probably the way they talk. SMH

Ugh, I am by far perfect ( I tend to lick windows on occasion, especial when I forget my helmet ) but I can't stand when people text or email me with something like [B]that[B]. In all honesty, with how slack people have become with something so fundamental as basic english/grammar, I don't want to try to deal with them. The emails/texts going back and forth with someone like that would truly give me a headache!

Someone on another forum I frequent came up with a term for lingual constructions of the ilk received by the OP: grammarchaos. I thought it was so apt that I asked permission to use it in the future. :)

Oh, don't even get me started: I am an English Literature major. I try not to be a grammar Nazi, but if someone communicates to me in that way, they may as well be swearing at me, I find it downright offensive. I really understand that for some people, grammar is to them what math is to me. You don't have to know where every comma goes, but COME ON!! I think people just don't read anymore, reading improves all written communication skills. But when all you read are text messages, Facebook statuses, and "Twilight," your brain dies. :P

Actually, Twilight has reasonable grammar, punctuation, and spelling...it's a published work, after all. So, that's no excuse.

Excuses seem to be all these types of folks make, too...don't they have any pride, self-respect, or shame? I'm married to a fellow who also has English as a second language, and HE cares. His English is better than that of the majority of Americans. How sad is that?

I think they reinforce one another's apathy. "Oh, spelling doesn't matter, you shouldn't criticize people for their spelling, what if they have ADHD or dyslexia". What if they do? Dyslexia might cause some letter or word transpositions, but that's not what we're seeing, is it? Did you pass 6th grade? Ok, then, you should be able to use basic punctuation, regardless of learning disability. If you can't, then obviously your teachers shouldn't have passed you.

I apologize for the rant, but HONESTLY...that trend really does tick me off. I hate having to grope for meaning through a pile of broken textual rubble. These folks do need to understand that, yes, they look STUPID. Not ignorant, not 'intellectually disabled'--stupid.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

I think they reinforce one another's apathy. "Oh, spelling doesn't matter, you shouldn't criticize people for their spelling, what if they have ADHD or dyslexia". What if they do? Dyslexia might cause some letter or word transpositions, but that's not what we're seeing, is it? Did you pass 6th grade? Ok, then, you should be able to use basic punctuation, regardless of learning disability. If you can't, then obviously your teachers shouldn't have passed you.

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Actually, this was my first thought when I read this thread, but in a different direction - In the past I've worked with "higher" functioning mentally handicapped people (not dyslexia or ADD that can be "worked around.") They hold down sheltered jobs and, in my mind, should be allowed the hobby of their choice if they can accomplish what is required. Can't they use craigslist too?

Sure you can argue that, perhaps, they could have someone look over their emails and "translate" them - but maybe they are really, really, excited about their hobby and sent the email off as soon as they received it? However we are talking about a business transaction - if you don't like it, don't bother.

On the other hand: a slick talking, nicely dressed, friend of the family sold me a car. Supposedly all fixed up after his daughter used it for a year. I got it with 5% braking power, starter went dead in weeks with the battery, driver's seat didn't adjust, and when the whole thing went kablooey 10 months later- I also found out I never had emergency flashers. I just don't trust anyone now - equal treatment that way.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

Actually, Twilight has reasonable grammar, punctuation, and spelling...it's a published work, after all. So, that's no excuse.

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HAHAHA. True, it may have the potential to help grammar skills, but it still kills your brain in other ways. ;)

(Honestly, I mean no offense to Twilight lovers, to each their own. I personally have a seething hatred for it so passionate that my friends find it very amusing. But read away, Twihards. Reading is good:))

I am all for correct spelling and grammer. I am constantly correcting my 13 year old. I homeschool my 9 year old, she will not be learning that slang from me. Although when I had her at a private school in second grade, she wrote down her homework from the board and put da instead of the and I went off. I told her absolutly not, I know the teacher did not write that on the board.
Another thing that gets me is the usage of homophones. Some people just don't know how to use words correctly. Don't get me started on some of the posts I read on FB (ridiculous).

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Originally Posted by snakemomma77

I am all for correct spelling and grammer. I am constantly correcting my 13 year old. I homeschool my 9 year old, she will not be learning that slang from me. Although when I had her at a private school in second grade, she wrote down her homework from the board and put da instead of the and I went off. I told her absolutly not, I know the teacher did not write that on the board.
Another thing that gets me is the usage of homophones. Some people just don't know how to use words correctly. Don't get me started on some of the posts I read on FB (ridiculous).

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I am trying my best not to make a joke here. Willpower...failing...

I prefer to use heterophones myself.

*rimshot*

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Originally Posted by sleepygeckos

Actually, this was my first thought when I read this thread, but in a different direction - In the past I've worked with "higher" functioning mentally handicapped people (not dyslexia or ADD that can be "worked around.") They hold down sheltered jobs and, in my mind, should be allowed the hobby of their choice if they can accomplish what is required. Can't they use craigslist too?

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Sure, they can. They usually don't, but they can. These posts weren't written by folks who are intellectually handicapped, they were written by people who simply don't care.

Sometimes, there is entertainment to be had. I saw a post somewhere the other day from a fellow selling a snake. He said it had 'great regime'.
Quite a feat, isn't it? lol...

You'd think it would be harder to write like that. I mean, you have to think of things that sound like the real words. To write this took about 45 seconds. If I had 2 thnk of difent stf i wud tak longa.

Someone on a Minecraft server I was playing on wrote all their signs like that. Being an admin, I 'corrected' them. xD

Just leaving work, no time to read through the entire thread, but I laughed at the first post, and thought I would try to help....

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Yeh i have did severl ball clutches man im a big in too herping and make me a offer on both on is modifed to circulate air and i will take 60 that one and 30 for basic and that was my ole lady that email so im sorry man both work and hold heat

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Translation -

Yes, I had several ball python clutches, sir. I am also rather enthusiastic about herping. Make me an offer on both. I am willing to accept $60 for the incubator that has been modified to circulate air, and $30 for the standard, or more basic incubator. The previous email was my wife (or girlfriend, or possibly mother), so sorry about any confusion or inconvenience. Both incubators work and hold heat.

There are many, MANY illiterates all over the place out there. I talk to government and military employees all day, so I get a nice sample. :)
It's very surreal when you encounter an authentic idiot.

So after a week of trying I've given up on this guy. He would ask if I was gonna get them and then I'd say I need to see them first. I asked for pics at least by email because my phone has too small a display and he wouldn't send any.

Looks like I'll just bite the bullet and spend a couple hundred setting one up myself.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

So after a week of trying I've given up on this guy. He would ask if I was gonna get them and then I'd say I need to see them first. I asked for pics at least by email because my phone has too small a display and he wouldn't send any.

Looks like I'll just bite the bullet and spend a couple hundred setting one up myself.

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It shouldnt cost you a couple hundred. There are people getting rid of broken fridges ALL the time. Pick one up, add some flexwatt, a fan, a light and you should be good...
And you obviously need tubs to put the eggs in and a t-stat...

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Originally Posted by RyanT

There are many, MANY illiterates all over the place out there. I talk to government and military employees all day, so I get a nice sample. :)

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As a military retiree, and current employee of the government, I feel like I should be offended by this comment. Sad truth is, it's more true than not...

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

It shouldnt cost you a couple hundred. There are people getting rid of broken fridges ALL the time. Pick one up, add some flexwatt, a fan, a light and you should be good...
And you obviously need tubs to put the eggs in and a t-stat...

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Not here. I've been watching CL like a hawk for months. I've gone to appliance repairs shops to see if they had some lying around. Nothing less than 200 for one.

So today I went to Home Dept and got a 150qt cooler for $90. Big enough for 5 clutches or a little more.

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

Not here. I've been watching CL like a hawk for months. I've gone to appliance repairs shops to see if they had some lying around. Nothing less than 200 for one.

So today I went to Home Dept and got a 150qt cooler for $90. Big enough for 5 clutches or a little more.

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Oh nice. Thatll be good for you

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Originally Posted by MasonC2K

I just received this is response to a query about incubators a guy was selling:



I may not respond back solely based on it looking as if written by a 5 year old.

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I haven't had a chance to read this whole thread, but your best bet might be to email back and ask for his phone #.

My boyfriend is dyslexic, and was never really able to grasp language, spelling, and grammar. He's 30 years old now, and he still types sort of like what the person in your email typed. However, he's actually very intelligent and can use "big words!" in speech, he just cannot for the life of him spell anything or use proper language in text.

Give the guy a chance and maybe you'll have better luck talking to him over the phone.