Re:More American idiots (Score 1)

Tribute to "Mr. Hunt" and Defense of the "Pitiful Picky Ones" >>>> Tribute to "Mr. Hunt" When I was 16 years old, a very popular English teacher in my (American) high school taught us that it is just plain rude to correct people's grammar. > He pointed out that it is just one way of not listening. > It impedes the flow of impassioned, spontaneous ideas. > It keeps people without training/interest in grammar from speaking up. And with a wink, Mr. Hunt wisely pointed out that you might be excluding the more interesting part of the population that way. I have followed this advice all my life, I'm 40 now, it's led me to conversations with brilliant people that I would have stifled from the word "go" before. In fact, I'm happily married to someone from the "more interesting part of the population." And I occasionally begin my sentences now with "But" and "And"! >>>> Defense of the "Pitiful Picky Ones" You say: > I'm not sure whether to attribute this to the > lack of a life or simply a case of obsessive > compulsive disorder. I would put "grammatical scolding" down to a bad habit. To scold _publicly_ is egotistical for sure. But you have to be trained to it from a young age. Ego alone won't get you there. Pitiful Picky Ones were undoubtedly treated that way by people they admire, their parents perhaps. Then they indulge in it the way some others indulge in first-posting, or flaming. Maybe some believe they are being helpful... They should have had Mr. Hunt. Their lives would be richer for it. >>>> minnimouse