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Post by Chester PB on Mar 23, 2023 15:44:33 GMT
This is my review of a Kindle book recently purchased from Amazon:
"The author tells us the sources for his information about the flora and fauna to be found at the place and time that most of the novel is set, and also about which ideas are entirely from his imagination. This is very unusual in a novel, and very laudable, but unfortunately he appears to have made no effort to be as careful with spelling, grammar and proof reading (if any). He clearly cannot be bothered to find out the correct use of an apostrophe (he consistently confuses its and it’s, and uses an apostrophe with an s instead of a correct plural). I also don’t understand why he frequently changes from the present to the past tense, sometimes within the same paragraph. Finally, am I the only reader who found that some of the dinosaurs have more personality than the humans?
I’m very glad I only gambled 94p on the Kindle version of this novel."
This was my review of another book from the same author:
"I was so disappointed with the first novel (Nodal Convergence) that I shall not waste time reading this one. My review of that novel explains why."
Both one star reviews were accepted without question.
On the AP Forum I was sometimes chastised for daring to suggest that careful use of correct spelling and grammar were important for clarity and correct understanding of what the author intended to say. Many people refuse to accept that our expectations of the importance of what they say is coloured by the way they say it (which may explain the continuing popularity of Donald Trump).
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Post by zou on Mar 23, 2023 16:13:04 GMT
Reviewing a book you haven't read is faaaaaaaaar worse than spelling or grammar mistakes.
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Post by nickr on Mar 23, 2023 16:59:52 GMT
I'm a grammar Nazi. I do try not to be, but I just can't help it. I have got to the point where my blood doesn't boil over if it really doesn't affect the meaning, but where it does, I will generally mock gently these days by deliberately taking the unintended meaning if it's on a forum or Twitter or wherever. I always tried to rein that in on AP, of course. I know people can't always help it for a variety of reasons, of course.
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Post by willien on Mar 23, 2023 17:32:03 GMT
I'm a grammar Nazi. I do try not to be, but I just can't help it. I have got to the point where my blood doesn't boil over if it really doesn't affect the meaning, but where it does, I will generally mock gently these days by deliberately taking the unintended meaning if it's on a forum or Twitter or wherever. I always tried to rein that in on AP, of course. I know people can't always help it for a variety of reasons, of course. Then misplaced apostrophe's probably really piss you off?  |
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Post by nickr on Mar 23, 2023 18:46:32 GMT
I'm a grammar Nazi. I do try not to be, but I just can't help it. I have got to the point where my blood doesn't boil over if it really doesn't affect the meaning, but where it does, I will generally mock gently these days by deliberately taking the unintended meaning if it's on a forum or Twitter or wherever. I always tried to rein that in on AP, of course. I know people can't always help it for a variety of reasons, of course. Then misplaced apostrophe's probably really piss you off? Not in the s'lightest. You complete bastard.  |
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Post by terrywoodenpic on Mar 23, 2023 20:24:53 GMT
I have never been able to spell with out help.
However I did well in school especially sciences and mathematics.
My O levels were very unbalanced. Maths,additional,maths physics, chemistry, biology, art with church architecture. And English language.
I took the very first O levels and there were no grades. The pass mark for each subject was set at the previous credit levels for school certificate.
Later at college my English and spelling was good enough, with heavy use of a dictionary.
In later life report writing and the like was alway a struggle, but doable.
Not many people were aware of my problem.
This extended, and still does, to my almost total inability to remember peoples names. However I never forget what they do or their jobs. So with the help of a little blue book I always made out.
However I still can not spell. And it is not for the want of trying.
Now at 88 who cares?
When very young I was totally unable to read until I was eight. And then I suddenly fell in. In a single day I managed to read a whole book. But I was reading whole sentences in one lump rather than individual words. At first my mother could not believe it. But from then on reading was not a problem, but spelling remained a serious issue for me.
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Post by willien on Mar 24, 2023 11:47:15 GMT
Ever thought that some of these people simply should not be in any form of academia or at least be in a lower tier? Well I work for an entity that caters to everyone from school pupils to post-grads, and I'm currently supporting students from all levels. There are times when I find this part of my job rewarding, times when it makes me mad and times when I wonder what the point is because someone is so disadvantaged by their condition or life circumstances that there's very little chance they'll ever function in the workplace. They've been bullied at school, have little to no confidence, are not academically up to scratch and are probably not really even interested in the course they are studying. These are the ones whose parents have basically insisted they sign up to college to 'do something'. It's often the case that the parents are working all hours and don't want their child sitting at home watching YouTube videos all day even if they can't work. This is when I feel like a glorified babysitter! It seems to be horticulture students most of the time. I think folk think that it iwll be a very practical, outdoorsy type of course that their non-academic child can do but there's a lot of theory behind it, a lot of learning latin plant names and the like and they struggle. (I tell you what though, I know far more horticultural theory now than I'm ever going to need given I have no garden!) I'm not sure it's academia's fault that there's nothing for these people other than courses they don't really want to do. I am supporting at least one such person now. They are lovely and often want to talk to me about their knitting and cooking projects but can't concentrate long enough to write notes down for their theory class and don't care because it wasn't a course they chose for themselves. However, in last month's 'dry stone walling' class they excelled. That student will leave here with perhaps four or five credits of an 18 credit course. They won't have enough to progress to the next level and they won't have a group award qualification but they will have done *something*, and they probably didn't even expect that. I can only wish good things for them and hope that somehow, they find fulfilment in their lives. Opportunities for that, for a lot of our students are hard to come by. We are geographically spread out and have tiny campuses on islands as well as in fairly remote towns such as Campbeltown. (Not many academic timetablers have to take into consideration the ferry timetables for their students to get home from Oban to Tobermory!) Where I live is, if anything, even stranger. Helensburgh is in the catchment area for Glasgow so most school pupils will gravitate to colleges and universities in that direction. The most able ones do at any rate - or go even further afield. It means our base is those left behind and I think we have a higher than average, even for UHI, concentration of students with learning, social and physical issues. I'm a big advocate of FE colleges as a stepping stone to other things and I don't think these people should be denied those chances! Sorry if I came accross as critical of you and your colleagues Kath. Not my intent I think what you do is very important, and I am very impressed that dry state dyking is on offer. W
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eightbittony
Full Member
[insert witty status message here]
Posts: 111
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Post by eightbittony on Mar 24, 2023 19:50:56 GMT
I was reflecting again recently on how screwed up society is under capitalism. The 'work ethic' of the 1900's and the concept that one must behave in a certain way to even put food on the table. I wish there was another way, where people were free to be what they can and want, and as a society we can still afford to live. I was lucky, I was academically okay. My wife was unlucky, she suffered with undiagnosed conditions that preventing her learning *in the way the school wanted her to* and so has struggled for her whole life. She's amazingly gifted, but our approach to education and preparing for a future working for a living ruined her life.
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Post by JohnY on Mar 24, 2023 20:18:00 GMT
I was reflecting again recently on how screwed up society is under capitalism. The 'work ethic' of the 1900's and the concept that one must behave in a certain way to even put food on the table. I wish there was another way, where people were free to be what they can and want, and as a society we can still afford to live. I was lucky, I was academically okay. My wife was unlucky, she suffered with undiagnosed conditions that preventing her learning *in the way the school wanted her to* and so has struggled for her whole life. She's amazingly gifted, but our approach to education and preparing for a future working for a living ruined her life. Sorry Tony, but what the f*** has this to do with capitalism or socialism? I was initially slightly hostile to Kath's original post but later realised that she was teaching students who were genuinely disadvantaged by no fault of their own. We should cut such students a bit of slack. I have a slight problem myself. Fortunately my parents bought me an education and I have had a very satisfying life. I'm sorry that your wife suffered from our attitude to education. At least she met and married you. Her life was not ruined was it? Please try to get beyond crude politics.
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Post by JohnY on Mar 24, 2023 20:30:10 GMT
Reviewing a book you haven't read is faaaaaaaaar worse than spelling or grammar mistakes. Dunno about that. (Spell checker has not complained about 'dunno') I haven't read 'Spare' but I will review for you. On an almost unrelated topic and in the interests of topic creep , I think that the author of that book and his sprogs should attend the coronation. Suppose they do not attend and ISIS or similar group carry out a successful 9/11 type attack on the venue. Who would become King?
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Post by willien on Mar 24, 2023 20:50:02 GMT
Nighty night John.
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Post by zou on Mar 24, 2023 21:04:34 GMT
Nuuuuuurse!
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Post by peterba on Mar 24, 2023 21:31:20 GMT
Men-in-white-coats might be more appropriate.  |
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Post by gray1720 on Mar 24, 2023 21:32:44 GMT
Definitely green ambulance time.
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Post by spinno on Mar 24, 2023 22:24:58 GMT
Napoleon XIV rides again...
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