I know this may seem like an odd post coming from someone who watches as much reality television as I do, but I have to wonder if Americans are becoming increasingly stupid. I'm not just talking about the things we see on a daily basis on the news or in real life (um, hello Massholes...your driving is AWFUL. AWFUL may actually be too kind of a word. I'm surprised Paul hasn't pulled someone from their car and beaten them to into a coma yet.), but rather the fact that I am appalled on a daily basis by things that I read online.
I get texting. I love to text. I do think it helps us to have a basic lack of human connection because no one is forced to pick up the phone anymore and have an actual conversation with someone, but I do like that it's quick and easy to get the information you're looking for. Texting is the new email. It's a faux connection...a way to make contact without really have to give up any of your own time. And I do use all the acronyms and short cuts and what not when I text although I am sure there are a lot that today's teenagers use that I would have no idea what they are talking about.
The real issue I have is people's inability to spell, use punctuation, use capital and lower case letters in the correct sequence, and just a basic lack of correct grammar. I admit that I am something of a typing fiend. I love to type and take great pride in the fact that I can type quickly with minimal errors (not to brag--ok I'm bragging--but I can type almost 90 words per minute with little to no mistakes). I get that not everyone can type, but everyone CAN and SHOULD read over what they've written before hitting that all magical send or submit button. This isn't even taking into account that most computer applications whether it's email, blogger, or an online board of some kind have a spell check feature. How hard is it to spend an extra 15 seconds to hit spell check and double check all the highlighted words that show up? Heck, how hard is to make sure you have used capital letters correctly and put a period in the correct spot? If you write in run on sentences, use capital letters in weird places, and don't use any punctuation (or use weird abbreviations) then I don't know what you are talking about. Reading some things that today's younger generation puts on FB baffles me. I feel like you need a super secret decoder ring to decipher what people are talking about.
I think a lot of it comes back to the fact that people don't read anymore. I've felt that reading has helped me increase my vocabulary and have a better understanding of basic writing skills. No one seems to read novels anymore (and no, OK and Us Weekly do not really count as reading, as much as I love them, because you are reading the same article in every magazine). Perhaps if people read more they'd write better. Our children will be readers.
I guess what I really want people to do is take some pride in what you are writing and write in a way so that people can understand the point you are trying to make. Tons of mistakes makes you seem ignorant. Use spell check--it was invented for a reason. Double check what you've written before you send or submit it. And for God's sake if you aren't texting then take the time to use real words instead of abbreviations!
Disclaimer: in no way do I think I'm perfect and I do occasionally make mistakes in my writing, but I try hard to avoid that. So don't judge me too harshly if you find a mistake in this! lol
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