Tweets,
I am concerned about all of the recent dialog regarding grammar, usage and vocabulary. I myself am generally a stickler for such things and can become irate at poor English (I'm talking to you Tacoma News Tribune, The Olympian). However, surely the reason we all subscribe to this service is to gain topical knowledge of bird activity within Washington and, perhaps, to enjoy the occasional anecdote from others. It seems counterproductive to these goals to fuss over grammar, spelling, or usage and it disrupts the sense of community that I gain from being connected to all of you.
I am not trying to invalidate the frustrations of those who are bothered by such things, but surely kvetching about the writing of others will not encourage them to post. You do not have to be poorly educated to have be poor at English; are we trying to discourage immigrants who could be birding geniuses but not nuanced in English, for example? (I myself am an immigrant, though I grew up in England. The language there is now used so haphazardly that I don't necessarily consider that an exception!) Am I the only one concerned about creeping elitism here? If we truly care about the fate of birds, shouldn't we make every effort to encourage peoples' interest? If not, what is the point?
I hope I do not come across as a scold. I only wish to make an appeal for some latitude for those who might not be as skilled in language as others. It does not have any correlation with one's birding skills or birding knowledge.
Please, let us have a moratorium on all this.
Rupert GroveTacoma, WA
p.s. I proof read this, which seems funny to me, somehow.
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