From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!npois!cbosgd!djb
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: Spelling and Grammar
Article-I.D.: cbosgd.2804
Posted: Thu Nov 11 18:10:22 1982
Received: Fri Nov 12 12:05:58 1982
Reply-To: djb@cbosgd.UUCP (David J. Bryant)
References: utah-gr.628

How's that again? I posted an article saying that I don't favor
public flagellation of those that commit spelling and/or grammatical
errors.  And that I, for one, am willing to give the miscreants the 
benefit of the doubt by classifying such acts as the product of zeal 
and enthusiasm, provided the guilty parties are not chronic abusers 
of our lovely language.  Even though I personally take the time to
compose articles using an editor, and check uncertain words with my
ever-present dictionary.

Then I followed up with a short, silly quote that pokes fun at the
immense variability of our spelling rules (such as they are).

Suddenly I'm labeled as someone who cares not a whit for grammar and
spelling, and have been black-marked twice for my two articles espousing
this position.  This "information" is dispensed into mainstream of the
net, passed off as a summary of the "debate".  Follow-up articles indirectly 
point their finger at me, jeeringly suggesting possible newsgroups
of banishment and other well-deserved punishments.

It is obvious to me that I, and likely others, have been wronged.
Those of you that have done so (and you know who you are) most certainly
owe me (us) a public apology.  I do not object to your position, if fact,
I can in many ways sympathize.  Nonetheless, you are in no way entitled
to misrepresent me, my opinions, or my articles to anyone.  Let them read
for themselves and decide.

If proper treatment of language is so important to you, should you feel 
any less devoted to proper treatment of information?  And any less concerned
for the accuracy of what you say, and those you libel in the process?

						David Bryant
						 cbosg!djb