320 Years of History
Gold Member
I’m beginning to think that this forum is populated by more than a small number of either adolescents or non-native speakers of English. So much so that I’m genuinely curious if there is a way to find out? Time and again, I see folks post remarks that indicate they did not understand what they have just read. For example:
Call me crazy, but the above examples illustrate such a basic level of miscomprehension that I am forced to ask not only whether this forum has a good number of adolescents or non-native English speakers, but also how prevalent is the illustrated level of poor comprehension in the U.S? Also, how prevalent is it among folks who make a point of chastising others' and/or their points of view when they quite probably don't even understand what it is they are criticising?
It may be that I don’t have a lot of interaction with so-called typical Americans, so I really just don’t know. (Note: “don’t have a lot of” is not synonymous with “has none.”) Maybe the folks who posted the remarks above are not typical? I’m reasonably certain that I’m not a typical American. Maybe they aren’t native speakers of English, whereas I am, and maybe that is why the disparity in comprehension? Perhaps some of you have more exposure than I and can somewhat authoritatively comment on the matter?
- Gosh this is a shame and a surprise....I mean Lindsey Graham was doing so well and everything....
This remark appears in a thread titled “Lindsey Graham Drops out of the race...unfortunate, but not unexpected...” What part of “not unexpected” lead the poster to perceive that anyone, but especially the thread’s creator, thought Mr. Graham’s departure from the race was a surprise? Is it asking too much for writers on this forum to expect their audience to understand that “not unexpected” is the opposite of “surprising?” - In this post, I wrote, “OldLady didn't tacitly or directly write or intimate that America (Americans) didn't at any point in time value education. I would think you can tell that as readily as the rest of us can tell you have attempted to put words in her mouth.”
In response, another member wrote:
1. You're a liar.
'Americans do not value education as much as Japan and other countries.'
And learn how to post responses.
When, pray tell, did “not as much as” become synonymous with “not at all?”
- In this discussion, we find two members, neither of whom understands the difference between qualified and unqualified statements.
Call me crazy, but the above examples illustrate such a basic level of miscomprehension that I am forced to ask not only whether this forum has a good number of adolescents or non-native English speakers, but also how prevalent is the illustrated level of poor comprehension in the U.S? Also, how prevalent is it among folks who make a point of chastising others' and/or their points of view when they quite probably don't even understand what it is they are criticising?
It may be that I don’t have a lot of interaction with so-called typical Americans, so I really just don’t know. (Note: “don’t have a lot of” is not synonymous with “has none.”) Maybe the folks who posted the remarks above are not typical? I’m reasonably certain that I’m not a typical American. Maybe they aren’t native speakers of English, whereas I am, and maybe that is why the disparity in comprehension? Perhaps some of you have more exposure than I and can somewhat authoritatively comment on the matter?