As I was perusing Mashable today I came across a rather awesome article detailing Netflix’s policy of allowing employees unlimited vacation days as long as they keep a handle on their workload. I personally found the article well-written and correctly attributed. Then, I made it to the comments section (a section moste foule indeed), and found someone who apparently felt quite differently.
A user by the name of “BrainyBanter,” a self-proclaimed “glamorous geek,” felt the need to post the following comment:
“Netflix employees have one less thingS to keep track of.” Really? Things? I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for Mashable to find a decent editor.
I must be honest; I was just about speechless when I saw this. Here, an individual wrote an article giving some really amazing information. Actually contributed something. The article was in no way inflammatory, did not discredit anyone, and did not propose some sort of ridiculous solution to an inane problem. Yet, BrainyBanter did not only see it necessary to bring up a typo, she also felt the need to discredit both the writer and the editor. I work in marketing, and have many friends and colleagues that do as well, and this kind of crap can have an adverse effect on people’s jobs.
Now, let me just say that I am all for pointing out major grammatical mistakes, and even smaller ones, if it is done in the spirit of constructive criticism. Here, the mistake is miniscule and obvious, yet it was attacked as though the author had defaced some sort of national shrine. In cases like this, the person pointing out the mistake inevitably looks like a jackass. This case, I am most please to say, was no exception. I was glad to see Todd Olmstead, A Community Assistant as Mashable, respond with grace by saying that he had corrected the typo, and actually thank BB. For future reference, when someone is trolling, kill their ass with kindness.
If it seems like I’m getting a little hot-headed here, it’s because I hate this kind of self-important gesture. That’s all this is. BB is implying that, because she pointed out an erroneous “s,” she somehow has triumphed over a paid Mashable editor. But guess what? The editor didn’t catch it because she has approximately 1,000 things better to do than scour every piece of information for incredibly minor errors. So, BB, you actually just proved that you are good at doing the job of an unpaid intern. Sweet!
Full disclosure: I used to be the dumbass grammar troll all the time, and sometimes I still do that to my friends. Minor corrections made against my friends can frustrate in a most delightful way. Still, this is ridiculous. I would never try and attack someone’s professional work over such a small matter. So that makes me better, right?
…right guys?
Grammar Freaks, You Are Not Cool
As I was perusing Mashable today I came across a rather awesome article detailing Netflix’s policy of allowing employees unlimited vacation days as long as they keep a handle on their workload. I personally found the article well-written and correctly attributed. Then, I made it to the comments section (a section moste foule indeed), and found someone who apparently felt quite differently.
A user by the name of “BrainyBanter,” a self-proclaimed “glamorous geek,” felt the need to post the following comment:
“Netflix employees have one less thingS to keep track of.” Really? Things? I don’t understand why it’s so difficult for Mashable to find a decent editor.
I must be honest; I was just about speechless when I saw this. Here, an individual wrote an article giving some really amazing information. Actually contributed something. The article was in no way inflammatory, did not discredit anyone, and did not propose some sort of ridiculous solution to an inane problem. Yet, BrainyBanter did not only see it necessary to bring up a typo, she also felt the need to discredit both the writer and the editor. I work in marketing, and have many friends and colleagues that do as well, and this kind of crap can have an adverse effect on people’s jobs.
Now, let me just say that I am all for pointing out major grammatical mistakes, and even smaller ones, if it is done in the spirit of constructive criticism. Here, the mistake is miniscule and obvious, yet it was attacked as though the author had defaced some sort of national shrine. In cases like this, the person pointing out the mistake inevitably looks like a jackass. This case, I am most please to say, was no exception. I was glad to see Todd Olmstead, A Community Assistant as Mashable, respond with grace by saying that he had corrected the typo, and actually thank BB. For future reference, when someone is trolling, kill their ass with kindness.
If it seems like I’m getting a little hot-headed here, it’s because I hate this kind of self-important gesture. That’s all this is. BB is implying that, because she pointed out an erroneous “s,” she somehow has triumphed over a paid Mashable editor. But guess what? The editor didn’t catch it because she has approximately 1,000 things better to do than scour every piece of information for incredibly minor errors. So, BB, you actually just proved that you are good at doing the job of an unpaid intern. Sweet!
Full disclosure: I used to be the dumbass grammar troll all the time, and sometimes I still do that to my friends. Minor corrections made against my friends can frustrate in a most delightful way. Still, this is ridiculous. I would never try and attack someone’s professional work over such a small matter. So that makes me better, right?
…right guys?
Posted by stephenpanico on April 17, 2012
http://casualdisagreement.com/2012/04/17/grammar-freaks-you-are-not-cool/