People and Society

[cliveant]

Is it just me or are other people noticing as well the fact that people and society in general no longer have manners, can't spell, cannot put together a grammatically correct sentence and generally only care about themselves!! I am noticing this more and more each day and I am certain that standards are getting worse.

Just in the last week........

I look at what my so called friends and family write on facebook....a generation younger than me.....and all I read are comments about sex, drugs and a string of swear words. They can't spell and don't seem to have a grasp of basic grammar. I also wonder if they have put brain in gear before posting - one of these posters is training to be a teacher.

I can walk down a street in nearly any town and hear people swearing in everyday conversation as a matter of course.......this has now become part of everyday language to many people.

An outgoing tenant in one of my rental properties leaves the property without removing their furniture.....so I list this on ebay and the new tenant agrees to keep the items in store. The ebay listing clearly states not to bid unless you can pick up by a set date and have suitable transport. I sell the furniture .....one bidder contacts me to say can they collect after the cut off date I have stated....so I ask them if they have actually read the listing....I never hear from them again. The next winning bidder asks it the furniture will fit in a car...again they have not read the listing....grhhhhhhhhh. The final nail in the coffin is when the third winning bidder arrives to pick up the furniture and my new tenant has spilt paint all over it as they obviously do not care about other peoples belongings...resulting in negative feedback to myself.

I run an online business and constantly get asked the most ridiculous questions by customers but what worries me even more is what I read in emails etc. Even the most basic spelling is dreadful and grammar , in many cases, non existent.

I really despair as to where this is all heading for future generations.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

LOL PMSL Yeah I now wot u meen m8.

 

[Philip Hoyle]

I'm not convinced that things are getting worse. I think that modern living brings more contact with different types of people. There was a time when we kept closely within our own social groups, families, localities, etc but now things are a lot more open. Some people have always been illiterate, swearing, lazy, greedy, selfish, etc., but I think it used to be easier to avoid them. Nowadays, with ebay, facebook, etc., you just can't avoid anyone so we all have to learn to live with and deal with other people that we'd rather not have to deal with.

 

[garytulley]

I'm not convinced that things are getting worse. I think that modern living brings more contact with different types of people. There was a time when we kept closely within our own social groups, families, localities, etc but now things are a lot more open. Some people have always been illiterate, swearing, lazy, greedy, selfish, etc., but I think it used to be easier to avoid them. Nowadays, with ebay, facebook, etc., you just can't avoid anyone so we all have to learn to live with and deal with other people that we'd rather not have to deal with.

I think that clive is right to some degree, it is getting worse and because of sites like facebook people are seeing it alot more and think that it is ok to do it as well, it's like dropping a stone in a pond, it ripples outwards.

 

[papverpoppies]

Several months ago a friends firm was recruiting for 2 new trainees (the job was mainly attracting the 18/20 age bracket.

Apparently they received just over 40 applications along with CV's.
some of the applications never made it past the first opening/reading.

They went something like this.

Hiya mate

I wud like 2 apply 4 etc etc.

Cheers, thanx, give me a bell on.

One I believe wrote, they could not work Satadays!

In many ways it is sad, that some people think this is an acceptable way to apply for a job, and you have to ask what will become of them!

Pops ~xx~

 

[Matt1959]

blame for me lies squarely with the parents. If the kids know no better (which they presumably don't) its the parents job to guide them. The mind boggles at what we're going to have 2 generations down the line

or is it the kids fault?

when I say kids, I'm talking anything up to age 21..

 

[cliveant]

Part must be parents....as children are what they see.....setting an example etc.

With things like spelling and grammar though I wonder what it going on in our schools as no matter what they see at home surely its not that difficult to teach them how to spell. Having said that my brother is a teacher and tells me that quite often some members of staff have to rapidly cover up the spelling mistakes of the younger staff members just out of college!

Last week I wasted 3 hours of my time turning up to meet one of these ebay purchasers.....as arranged at a convenient time to them. An hour after we'd agreed to meet they sent an email saying they couldn't make it but no apology was forthcoming.....instead just a comment about how I shouldn't worry about it as sh*t happens!!!

 

[papverpoppies]

Part must be parents....as children are what they see.....setting an example etc.

With things like spelling and grammar though I wonder what it going on in our schools as no matter what they see at home surely its not that difficult to teach them how to spell. Having said that my brother is a teacher and tells me that quite often some members of staff have to rapidly cover up the spelling mistakes of the younger staff members just out of college!

Last week I wasted 3 hours of my time turning up to meet one of these ebay purchasers.....as arranged at a convenient time to them. An hour after we'd agreed to meet they sent an email saying they couldn't make it but no apology was forthcoming.....instead just a comment about how I shouldn't worry about it as sh*t happens!!!

What happens though if the parents are not able to set the example.

I think I read a few weeks ago, that some families have reached the 3rd generation of never having worked, so what example and chance do some children have?

One family had 25 members ranging in age from 6 to 43 of the working age which was 19 (I think) non had ever held down a job!

Pops ~xx~

 

[BizGurl]

Several months ago a friends firm was recruiting for 2 new trainees (the job was mainly attracting the 18/20 age bracket.

Apparently they received just over 40 applications along with CV's.
some of the applications never made it past the first opening/reading.

They went something like this.

Hiya mate

I wud like 2 apply 4 etc etc.

Cheers, thanx, give me a bell on.

One I believe wrote, they could not work Satadays!

In many ways it is sad, that some people think this is an acceptable way to apply for a job, and you have to ask what will become of them!

Pops ~xx~

That is quite shocking...and sad. The example you give doesn't even attempt to be formal. Still LOL. ....If a cover letter like that had landed on my desk I would have called them in for 'interview', so I could tell them to sort themselves out if they seriously hoped to ever work.

To balance it out a wee bit though, I've seen adverts from recruiters where their own communication skills are just as shocking and leave a lot to be desired.

 

[papverpoppies]

That is quite shocking...and sad. The example you give doesn't even attempt to be formal. Still LOL. ....If a cover letter like that had landed on my desk I would have called them in for 'interview', so I could tell them to sort themselves out if they seriously hoped to ever work.

To balance it out a wee bit though, I've seen adverts from recruiters where their own communication skills are just as shocking and leave a lot to be desired.

Agree with you BG.

I went to get my CV updated several weeks ago, and the person running the session could not spell.


Pops ~xx~

 

[Gillie]

I actually fell over in the street at lunchtime - no I was sober thanks - fell on wet cobbles in Bolton - it would amaze you to see how many people rushed around to help me ... all of them mid 20's, all in suits, and all genuinely concerned - even when I got up feeling foolish started to walk off - two men stopped and asked me if I was ok and did I need anything - to which I merely replied thanks, but the only thing I was now feeling was embarrassed and foolish, to which they gallantly replied - what fall??

The spelling thing - well that does annoy me - facebook etc - bah humbug!! Although to my now delights, my 16 yr old has suddenly stopped with it - he says its inane and childish and now actually puts the correct letters in the correct order - so there is hope for them yet!

 

[Podge]

I may be wrong but I think these days children are trained to pass tests and reach goals, and if these don't require accurate spelling then poor spelling will by and large be ignored in the educating of our children.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

How to improve your CV.From today's Daily Telegraph.

http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/career-..._medium=TD_CVmistakes&utm_campaign=jobs1306pm

 

[GeorgeStrait]

I may be wrong but I think these days children are trained to pass tests and reach goals, and if these don't require accurate spelling then poor spelling will by and large be ignored in the educating of our children.

Spelling and grammar isn't even corrected on kids written work these days in school, probably because the teachers don't know it themselves.

Your right it's all about sitting exams enough times to get a C grade or above, and they will sit GSCE's in year 10 (is it, we used it call it the 4th year? i.e the year before you were the oldest, darned yanks gave us that school year system as well), so the kids have two years of trying. And you don't even need 50% to get a C grade.

Who remembers all that red ink on their course work? Usually with a "see me" at the very bottom :redface:

 

[papverpoppies]

Spelling and grammar isn't even corrected on kids written work these days in school, probably because the teachers don't know it themselves.

Your right it's all about sitting exams enough times to get a C grade or above, and they will sit GSCE's in year 10 (is it, we used it call it the 4th year? i.e the year before you were the oldest, darned yanks gave us that school year system as well), so the kids have two years of trying. And you don't even need 50% to get a C grade.

Who remembers all that red ink on their course work? Usually with a "see me" at the very bottom :redface:

In those days you feared your teacher
Big red x meant stay behind and DO better or ELSE!

Pops ~xx~

 

[GeorgeStrait]

In those days you feared your teacher
Big red x meant stay behind and DO better or ELSE!

Pops ~xx~

Chalk board rubbers flying across the room at the back of your head (head should have been facing forward admittedly!)

You stood up when the teacher walked in the room and didn't sit down until your were told.

The cane....

No calculators (actually there were NO calculators, primary school only for me - were wholly banned from lessons and certainly from exams though in secondary school)

We all know there is a lot more, but just those few points above would improve things no doubt.

EDIT
Forgot the main one, teachers were always Sir or Miss, at a push Mr/MRS XYZ, never by their first name as is the norm today.

 

[LicensedToTrade]

I actually fell over in the street at lunchtime - no I was sober thanks - fell on wet cobbles in Bolton - it would amaze you to see how many people rushed around to help me ... all of them mid 20's, all in suits, and all genuinely concerned - even when I got up feeling foolish started to walk off - two men stopped and asked me if I was ok and did I need anything - to which I merely replied thanks, but the only thing I was now feeling was embarrassed and foolish, to which they gallantly replied - what fall??

The spelling thing - well that does annoy me - facebook etc - bah humbug!! Although to my now delights, my 16 yr old has suddenly stopped with it - he says its inane and childish and now actually puts the correct letters in the correct order - so there is hope for them yet!

If you fall over in the street in my nearest town is is considered to be a sign of weakness and the dredge of the underworld decend on to you.

Before you even hit the curb you are stripped of your watch, wallet and whatever clothing you have on you. Not even a thin strip of cotton between your knees and the pavement so you had a lucky escape.

Although I'm not known for giving out my opinion where is isn't asked for (of course I am, who am I kidding that's all I do!) You really should seek help if you are drinking during the working day Gillie, it is a slippery slope.

 

I actually fell over in the street at lunchtime - no I was sober thanks - fell on wet cobbles in Bolton - it would amaze you to see how many people rushed around to help me ... all of them mid 20's, all in suits, and all genuinely concerned - even when I got up feeling foolish started to walk off - two men stopped and asked me if I was ok and did I need anything - to which I merely replied thanks, but the only thing I was now feeling was embarrassed and foolish, to which they gallantly replied - what fall??

The spelling thing - well that does annoy me - facebook etc - bah humbug!! Although to my now delights, my 16 yr old has suddenly stopped with it - he says its inane and childish and now actually puts the correct letters in the correct order - so there is hope for them yet!

Quite its what people do that counts.


Not what they write or say.

Earl

 

[LicensedToTrade]

Quite its what people do that counts.


Not what they write or say.

Earl

Innit grandad...

 

[FaerieB]

I used to get smiley faces and A's and A plusses ... sadly my brain has a tendency over time to ditch what it doesn't think is important ... hence my spolling and grandma is atrocious ... innit m8 ... It doesn't matter how many times I learn it, I still forget what a verb, adverb etc is x