[jaguar]

Maggie - You seem to be incapable of differentiating between an internet forum and, let's say, a piece of classical literature.

The former is generally posted after a moment of writing, free from the scrutiny of editors' eyes, written as I think.

The latter, as you must be unaware, is delicately written over an extended time period, often spanning a year or more. Then an editor or two, and at least as many copy checkers, iron out the minor imperfections in its structure and wording, eliminating any typos or misspellings in the process. It becomes a finely crafted beast - its excesses tempered, its weaknesses removed.

As you know, made obvious by your fascination with my age, I am not yet old enough to have written any classical literature, nor am I a professional writer - hence, I lack, and always have, a team of professional editors to temper my posts. What I do have, however, is a pair of imperfect human eyes - and these sometimes fail me. My sincerest apologies for causing your delicate senses to trip over my occasional jumble of letters.

Incidentally, posts on internet forums are fundamentally different from the nature of classic writing because they are structured like conversation and around a community - not like an essay. It may be that my posts are the exemplification of this, but regardless, perhaps it would be wise for you to take them as they are, not as an attempt at a published essay.

Now... since you're fond of using your clearly superior analytical skills and knowledge of the English language to belittle me, I think we should take some time to have a look at them. Shall we?

it's a poor craftsman that blames his tools

I wish I could say I was surprised by your misrepresentation of what I said, but sadly, I've come to expect this from you. Now - I'm not blaming my tools, but rather, providing a factual justification of my poor typing. I just happened to put it in an amusing anecdote, and if you bothered to read my post properly, you would have undoubtedly been able to comprehend this.

But the effort is worthwhile, and I don't think Ben's contemporaries had as much trouble with it as we do.

That being the case, where persons comparable in age at the time of writing would have an easier time comprehending said text, one could then assume that part of your problem with the digestion of my writing could be in the fact that you're less-than-young, whereas I'm still living at home. Rather, maybe your writing and reading styles are ancient, whereas mine are modern. You know. Kinda like Ben Jonson and all.

"Negligent speech doth onely discredit the person of the Speaker, but it discrediteth the opinion of his reason and judgement; it discrediteth the force and uniformity of the matter and substance. If it be so then in words, which fly and 'scape censure, and where one good Phrase asks pardon for many incongruities and faults, how then shall he be thought wise whose penning is thin and shallow?" --Ben Jonson

Well. Firstly, as dhamsaic has stated before, just because someone said something doesn't make it true, and as I have stated before, I am not trying to get published - merely, I am trying to get a point across. Sometimes this is like ramming my head into concrete, or trying to explain nuclear physics to a five year old who is running around, fingers firmly implanted in ears, screaming "YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA". That five year old then, of course, turns around and attempts to decimate my arguments in the most condescending, holier-than-thou manner I've ever been unlucky enough to stumble upon.

Maybe...but as Nic points out, it's fatiguing to have to constantly make up for a writer's laziness in not using actual English words and syntax to begin with

And you return fire with a broad generalization, based on one solitary piece of evidence for the former and typos for the latter. How about you try basing your point in reality rather than exaggerated fiction? Its a pity you don't seem to be able to grasp some of the basics that make a good argument, as I could have spent this time posting about something worthwhile instead of being dragged, once again, into your petty games of personal politics.