where is gnomebreakpad

Joe Zeff joe at zeff.us
Sun Jun 26 16:31:27 UTC 2011


On 06/26/2011 09:15 AM, Gary Waters wrote:
> What got under my skin was the fact that your post was subsequent to Ed
> responding to a question posed by a gentleman from France.

Even though the suggestion was made to Ed, not the gentleman from France?

>
> I'd hate to see the international members clam up and hesitate to post
> out of fear that their posts will be dissected by more Orwellian
> members. You made matters worse with your "cut them extra slack" stance.
> Why not be tactful and consider it a compliment that they are trying
> their best to communicate in YOUR language? Ed did that...

"Orwellian?"  Where did that come from?  And, by "cut them extra slack," 
I mean that I try to remember that their English skills may not be as 
good as mine and make no comment that might embarrass them[1].  In fact, 
the only times I've ever mentioned it is on the rare occasion that a 
poster starts off by asking our forbearance for their poor English. 
I've replied, privately, once or twice to tell them that their skills 
are actually better than they think and I found them quite understandable.

I also understand spelling issues; not just from dyslexic posters but 
from those who (like me) weren't properly taught as children.  In my 
case, it took word processors with spelling checkers to teach me 
(mostly) how to spell, and I still depend on them.  What I don't 
understand, I'll admit, is people who either turn them off or ignore the 
warnings.  Not knowing how to spell is something I can understand, but I 
can't wrap my head around the idea of poor spellers who Just Don't Care.

[1]This was first written as "...make not comment that..." and I always 
have trouble with "embarrass."  This is why I use the spelling checker 
and proof read.


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