For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 12, 2010

I have been reading the comments and commenting on Calvin And Hobbes and others. I have observed that some people raise a hue and cry when they find someone’s comment lacking in correct grammar.

Cannot we tolerate those who are not so proficient in English? As long as someone can get their point across why there should be a need for impeccable grammar and spelling? This is not an English class.

moronbis, well put. I must agree with your point on correcting others spelling and grammar. That kind of critic is unkind and does not add to the dialogue.

ya, wot u said

But, as a foreiner, I learned English by being corrected. I appreciated that. I can be done in a nice way. And I love looking up difficult words on certain other strips.

“Gen’l’men of the Jury,” said Reynolds, when he “summed up”—and every word weighed a pound—”the learned counsel on the other side finds fault with my ritin’ and spellin’ as though the merits of this case depended upon sich matters! I’m again lugging in any sich outside affairs, but I will say, that a man must be a d—d fool, who can’t spell a word more than one way.” The Jury sympathized with Judge R. and rendered a decision in favor of his client.— attributed to one Hon. Nyrum Reynolds of Wyoming Co., New York, around 1855.

voltige, I have nothing against correcting incorrect usage. I am disturbed by the deriding remarks people make. We are here to appreciate comics, not belittle people.

(http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes/2010/07/08/

comments by Travis were not so courteous).

Poor grammar, poor spelling, poor English is a reflection on the user. If he/she doesn’t mind this, neither do I.

To use bad english is regrettable. To use bad scotch is unforgivable.

Always one to be confused so early in the morning, I am wondering why it is we are continuing a discussion from C & H. Alas this *is* a homier place to speak and be heard. The subject matter is interesting and hasn’t turned ugly. Would hate to see it start out a nice Monday badly. As for the strip - all I can say is that John should be thankful they aren’t carting a cat in a cage as well as kids. The yowling is - IMHO - much worse! :)

Sound proof glass between the compartments.

Meanwhile, back to the strip: I was so, so, so disappointed when I discovered the dashboard button marked “EJECT” only popped the tape out of the stereo… I was hoping for something more along the lines of the passenger seat in James Bond’s car…

They are kids and it’s a comic strip for Pete’s sake! Some people don’t have enough to think about.

Believe it or not, some people are known to have learned from having their mistakes corrected, grammatical or otherwise. But let’s not do it in a hostile manner.

Some people who post here apparently do not speak English as their first language. That is just fine. I enjoy their perspective. I was embarrassed by the post (whether here or with C&H) that seemed to criticize a non-English poster. Hope he/she got the message.

As to travel with kids: I once brought ear plugs on a cross-country trip. Sent the kids a message, helped me, and didn’t run afoul of littering laws.

Losers!

In this situation, my husband would say, “Go play on the freeway.” He didn’t really mean it, but I remember being frustrated like that.

Did the grammar discussion stem from the “him’s” in today’s FBOFW strip? It think that’s cute since it comes from a two year old. We still say “wectifity” instead of “electricity” because of how my youngest pronounced it.

As far as road trips go, they just need to pack up some new toys and books, and that’ll keep them amused for a while (and the whining at bay hopefully). But, yes, this is a comic and the idea of an eject button is so much more fun. :-)

I have been corrected thrice (try that on spell check) and was at first embarrassed, then curious, then more knowledgeable after spending a few minutes with my dictionary. No, I don’t like to be corrected, no one does. Thank you though for not letting me walk around with something green in my teeth.

As for Spell Check. Two baseball teams exist with the name SOX. When the Eastern one wins the Pennant, what you going to tell me then Spell Check (Probably built in NY)?

well, yes , but production was halted after the lawsuits that were filed when little screaming bodies were ejected onto the busy highway

English? Duh. These characters only speak Canadian. Problem solved. On to Trenton.

Today this isn’t an issue. Kids bring their portable devices, parents play movies on the portable DVD, and peace reigns.

puddleglum1066: I love your post!

I always wanted to get a limo with a chauffeur’s panel for trips when my two sons were little, instead of the ‘72 Vista Cruiser wagon. However, the Vista Cruiser had two forward-facing rear seats, so each kid had his own space.

Hey Moronbis, that reminds me,

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England nor French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweet-breads, which aren’t sweet, are meat. We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Doesn’t it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend, that you can comb through the annals of history but not a single annal? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? If you wrote a letter, perhaps you bote your tongue?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what other language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and wise guy are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? Have you noticed that we talk about certain things only when they are absent? Have you ever seen a horsefull carriage or a strapfull gown? Met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly or peccable? And where are all those people who ARE spring chickens or who would ACTUALLY hurt a fly? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm clock goes off by going on. English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn’t a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it.

Interesting, I know.

Seems like everybody should be able to find something to laugh about when a couple of kids and pets and all necessities for a few days are loaded up into a vehicle for what is for the kids a long trip.

When I was a kid we (parents, me and two younger brothers) passed the miles in singing. By the time we were old enough to be reasonably civilized passengers we could do a good four and a half hours without repetitions. Five year olds can learn parts and sing in round.

Whining and singing are incompatible activities.

I recommend song.

try using BABELFISH at: babelfish.yahoo.com…

Babelfish and Google translations are highly amusing for those who can read both languages involved. They should not be trusted. Take the advice of a French Canadian on this…

Dear deepfrieddrippingrag,

TOUCHE…….that was an amazing comment. Funny, insightful, and to the point. And, not a “malicious bone” in it. I laughed-out-loud.

Thanks for a fun read.

I’ve felt that way too John. I know my parents did, “Are we there yet?” Must have said that a million times….

Anybody that has cramed a group of kids in a car, along with pets, food & supplies for a long “Road Trip” knows this is just a tipical ride in a car. Heck, the arguing, fighting & questions about “Are we there yet?” normallly start a few blocks down the road.

We’d play road games…’I spy…’—-‘Red car, no return’ (counting red cars that passed us)..and of course, let’s not forget “The Preacher’s Cat”, ‘I’m going on a picnic’…the games where each person had to add an adjective or item with the next letter of the alphabet, then remember everything from A-Z….and everyone’s favorite– 99 bottles of beer on the wall :)

Memories! We traveled to the World’s Fair in Knoxville,TN …family of 6…packed like sardines into a Ford Pinto…no A/C…and my little sis was in diapers, sitting in Mom’s lap.

The part of this that bothers me is the inconsiderateness of correcting a person’s language or grammar, when they’re trying to make a point, and did not ask for such correction. It seems to me to be an attempt to put them down, to humiliate them in front of others. I speak of this as one who knows, thru experience.

So, y’? D’y’all geddit?

Nadine, So true! lol! My French is rudimentary but even I could see how poorly translated some books my children were translating from French to English were on that site. We had a rip roaring good time laughing over that!

As for road trips, we had an overnight trip last night. We were glad to get home. Any vacation that makes you appreciate home is a successful one, even if there was a lot of screaming, fighting and crankiness on it (and don’t even get me started on the kids, lol!! ;) Yes, that’s a wink and no, I’m not looking for correction on my grammer, lol!).

Deepfrieddrippingrag, great posting there. It looks like the only thing you omitted was George Carlin, to which I will only quote half of what he said to get by the censors, but I think you can figure out the rest: “And remember, you can prick your finger, but don’t …”