The Grumpy Old Fart, Really Arsey, Tell It Like It Is Thread...

[Pearlsasinger]

Completely unrelated to my bad day at work:
1. Wear your *****ing hi-viz all the time, not just at RC events - you don't mysteriously become easier to see when you are on your own.
2 For god's sake THANK the drivers who slow down as they pass you, it might be ME that they pass next, after you've totally p*ssed them off, so I get the benefit of their raging temper.
3. Think that possibly the reason your pony 'doesn't like' jumping is because he can't lift your great weight over the bl**dy jumps - shrieking as you approach the jump WON'T help.
4. NO, the reason I give up my time to take entries at ALL the RC shows, is not because that is my favourite pastime and YES, it would be good if YOU could actually give up a few hours of your time, to do something similar and then, you never know, I might actually be able to either enter myself or watch my horse in the ring.
5. No we are NOT 'lucky' enough to own our own place, we work bl**dy hard in incredibly stressful jobs to pay the mortgage and then come home and work bl**dy hard to maintain the fences/walls/land and just occasionally manage to ride our horses.

 

[PapaFrita]

Dictation and spelling is taught in schools, so maybe the teachers aren't good enough or care enough. And I've enjoyed this post as so many people have spoken about what really gets them down. And many of us have given our honest opinions on posts gone bye and been torn strips off and called bullies.

Is grammar taught in schools? I didn't get grammar lessons at all. In fact, I had no idea what a noun, adjective, adverb, preposition, etc, etc was until I started teaching English to foreigners. In any case, that's not what I was asking. I was curious as to why a rant about grammar and spelling is different to any other rant and why people enjoy winding other people up... I wouldn't even go to the trouble.

 

[tallyho!]

Is grammar taught in schools? I didn't get grammar lessons at all. In fact, I had no idea what a noun, adjective, adverb, preposition, etc, etc was until I started teaching English to foreigners. In any case, that's not what I was asking. I was curious as to why a rant about grammar and spelling is different to any other rant and why people enjoy winding other people up... I wouldn't even go to the trouble.

Eh??? Wot u tlkin abt? Grammah?

 

[Echo Bravo]

I wasn't having a rant about Grammer or spelling, just answered a question from a previous post.

 

[PapaFrita]

I wasn't having a rant about Grammer or spelling, just answered a question from a previous post.

I thought you were answering my post which was about grammar and spelling rants and why people say they deliberately use poor grammar and spelling to wind people up.

 

[PapaFrita]

I haven't read any of the posts, saw Grumpy Old fart in the title, am I mentioned anywhere else

Repeatedly

 

[PapaFrita]

Eh??? Wot u tlkin abt? Grammah?

Sorry, me no speako chav

 

[Groom42]

Sorry, I thought better of it.

Not related to anything here so far.

 

[PapaFrita]

Sorry, I thought better of it.

Not related to anything here so far.

I caught it and totally understand where you're coming from.

 

[TinselRider]

I caught it and totally understand where you're coming from.

Same here, unfortunatley it is quite a common problem

 

[tallyho!]

Sorry, me no speako chav

dat woz polish.

 

[prorider]

I can't resist the lure of this one:

- We don't owe you anything just because you are family. The reason we have money and you don't is because we both work damn hard for it and don't waste our money on smoking, drinking etc etc.

- You recently borrowed some money as you were "flat broke" and needed to put petrol in the car, therefore why am I now seeing photos of you on FB on holiday having a "whale of a time". How about getting a job, sticking with it and actually paying back some of the money you have already borrowed before asking for more.

- We worked out you were hinting to borrow more money and ignored it as we are sick of being treated as an ATM. This does not mean you keep repeating the hint and that we will eventually "get it" and give you the money.

- I earn good bonuses at work because I am good at my job. It is not down to luck or anything else and we do the same work so you can be equally "lucky" if you put your mind to it.

- If you post on here asking for advice please listen to it rather than giving excuses why you should ignore it. Especially when you start your post saying you are novice. If you won't want to listen, don't ask.

- My horse is not underweight just because I don't have to roll him to and from the field. He is just about right.

- Tesco, I ordered a face moisturiser. As you don't have that particular branch in stock a suitable replacement when you deliver my shopping would be another brand of face cream. So why on earth did you think eye cream would be the best replacement option. And I ordered Gillette razor blades, so Wilkinson sword blades are not really likely to work out for me are they?

- Just because my horse drunk his entire water bucket overnight does not mean he is going to die of dehydration if I don't get him a bigger one. The size he has is plenty big enough as shown by the amount of wees also found in said stable. It is only 12hrs and then he can go in the field and drink more to his hearts content. If I put 10 buckets in his stable and he drunk them all would you say I should put more?

- Why do you have 6 horses and not ride any of them? It seems awfully unlucky that they all keep breaking at such early ages (ie before 10) or do you maybe think it might be something you are doing?

Anyway I'm sure I have loads more but I feel better already. Must go and pour some wine now!

 

[Groom42]

I caught it and totally understand where you're coming from.

Thank you, Ladies.

 

[*hic*]

Is grammar taught in schools? I didn't get grammar lessons at all. In fact, I had no idea what a noun, adjective, adverb, preposition, etc, etc was until I started teaching English to foreigners. In any case, that's not what I was asking. I was curious as to why a rant about grammar and spelling is different to any other rant and why people enjoy winding other people up... I wouldn't even go to the trouble.

I wasn't taught grammar at school except when learning French and German. My school was one of the top 5 for O level results in the country and I remember the consternation when a maths teacher, shortly before our O levels, discovered that we didn't know our parts of speech. She was horrified and started trying to teach us. I remain uncertain of them (what's a preposition?) despite my A in English.

 

[PapaFrita]

I wasn't taught grammar at school except when learning French and German. My school was one of the top 5 for O level results in the country and I remember the consternation when a maths teacher, shortly before our O levels, discovered that we didn't know our parts of speech. She was horrified and started trying to teach us. I remain uncertain of them (what's a preposition?) despite my A in English.

The few years I went to school in Argentina they did teach us all about how sentences are formed, the subject, object... *snooze* I STILL didn't know what the tenses were until I started teaching.
Prepositions are; in, on, at, between, under, etc...

 

[PapaFrita]

- If you post on here asking for advice please listen to it rather than giving excuses why you should ignore it. Especially when you start your post saying you are novice. If you won't want to listen, don't ask.

Yep, this is my pet peeve! (along with must/should/would of)

 

[*hic*]

What's in it for you? I mean... shouldn't you just get rid? I'll help shove 'em along

There's nothing in it for me other than the pony does so enjoy getting out and about and is wasted at home. She's a little star and deserves to be enjoyed and to enjoy herself. Showing is her favourite thing in the world - closely followed by gymkhana games. Actually food is her number one fave but she's not allowed much of that at all.

When my daughter outgrew her we were asked by her then owners to find another loan home. We'd got what sounded like a lovely home fixed up when we got a warning that the people involved had sold previous loan ponies. Her owners then offered her to us at a silly price to rid themselves of the responsibility.

We've driven her but time (and lack of co-driver) doesn't really allow for that although according to a well-known carriage driver who taught me (and her) she'd make a cracking little trials pony.

She's a very easy companion pony in the field or if you want a travelling companion and of course she lives on air and is unshod so cheap to keep. She loads herself on any trailer which has a ramp down - including flatbeds - and that's a real bonus if you've got a dodgy loader.

She's a superb leadrein pony on foot or mounted and has taken tiny children hunting. She is (or was till this child got her) a very nice first ridden and with a competent rider will produce a very smart dressage test and SJ and XC to 2'9". Her extended trot is to die for - and always surprises people.

She's an absolute treasure and if I wasn't so soft I'd get rid of the rider and send her to my cousin who's children are the right size for her. I just can't face the tears and tantrums if I tell them "No more".

 

[PapaFrita]

Oh what a shame, she sounds absolutely lovely. Shame she and you aren't appreciated!!

 

[The_snoopster]

At no point did I say I wrote with bad grammer on purpose, I think if you have a look at a lot of other posts most of what is said is tongue in cheek, I do believe I wrote "I write like this on purpose". I am sure I also put a at the end, if its not there it should of been as I am sure I pressed the icon for it.
However I do write like this on purpose because this is the only way I know to write, and since I am not writing a letter for a job interview, I do not see the problem with accidental spelling mistakes or unlearnt grammer.
And considering the title of this thread its my right as a forum member to express my rants as any other member, no one as ever pulled me up on my grammer on this forum as it happens. But I have seen other posters torn apart for silly mistakes that I know I have made or could make, but if my spelling/puntuation or grammer in anyway offends you please feel free to just skim over my reply and go onto the next post.

 

[LeneHorse]

No-one expects people who post on here to have a degree in english language but PLEASE, especially if you are writing a long, rambling post that involves multiple characters -

1) Read it through yourself before you hit the send button. If it doesn't make sense to you and you know the story how are we expected to understand it?

2) Please use punctuation. Capital letters at the beginning of sentences also helps.

3) Please don't use text speak and abbreviations.

4) Spellcheckers are a great invention and most computers have them.

Wow, that does feel better!!

......unless you're posting on the 'other' thread of course!

 

[kerilli]

I could rant for Britain, but I'll limit myself to one topic.
If you put a crap stallion on a crap mare, the chances of you breeding something even halfway decent are truly miniscule.
Unless your stallion is a truly exceptional specimen (in the eyes of true Experts, not your own rose-tinteds), do us all a favour and have it gelded.
If your mare is crippled and useless, has a crappy temperament and has never done anything remotely useful in her life, either keep her as a field ornament, or shoot her, she is not qualified to be a 'brood mare'. This is not a miraculous new job for a totally useless mare.
If you aren't breeding from a really good mare, by a really good stallion, please don't breed at all, there's enough crap out there already, far too cheap for its own good. If we had a slight shortage of horses, rather than thousands too many poor bloody worthless things, they'd all have a higher value and be treated better.
If this sounds like hypocrisy because I am breeding from a mare of my own, in my defence I am breeding for ME, not to sell. If my homebreds aren't up to a job, I have them shot, then I can sleep at night without worrying about where the hell they are and how much they might be suffering. Shame other people breed totally indiscriminately and don't seem to have any such qualms.
Here endeth the first rant.

 

[PapaFrita]

At no point did I say I wrote with bad grammer on purpose, I think if you have a look at a lot of other posts most of what is said is tongue in cheek, I do believe I wrote "I write like this on purpose". I am sure I also put a at the end, if its not there it should of been as I am sure I preesed the icon for it.
However I do write like this on purpose because this is the only way I know to write, and since I am not writing a letter for a job interview, I do not see the problem with accidental spelling mistakes or unlearnt grammer.
And considering the title of this thread its my right as a forum member to express my rants as any other member, no one as ever pulled me up on my grammer on this forum as it happens. But I have seen other posters torn apart for silly mistakes that I know I have made or could make, but if my spelling/puntuation or grammer in anyway offends you please feel free to just skim over my reply and go onto the next post.

You're starting to sound defensive and hostile. Is that your intention or have I missed a ? I've not been rude to you. I was just querying what you meant by 'on purpose' and whether it was your intention to wind people up. You led me to believe it was. Then I was curious as to why. If you can't help the way you write, then it's unintentional and not a wind up. Hence my confusion.
I think you'll find that people are 'torn apart' for their grammar and/or spelling only when it comes in combination with post content that is rude/insulting/offensive or idiotic beyond comprehension so the fact that no one has commented on your posts is a compliment to the content of your posts.
As I said; a rant about grammar is much like any other rant, and as you've said, we're each entitled to rant about what we like. I DO like to rant about these things to people who share the same conviction. Luckily you are under no obligation to read these rants.

 

[The_snoopster]

I was not defensive I was just having a rant, on the (grumpy old fart, tell it like it is thread). Where everyone one was having a grumble about what gets on their nerves, and this particular subject is mine.

 

[PapaFrita]

I was not defensive I was just having a rant, on the (grumpy old fart, tell it like it is thread). Where everyone one was having a grumble about what gets on their nerves, and this particular subject is mine.

Ok, well then I have another question. Every year thousands of foreigners come to England to learn English. They pay a LOT of money to learn and they pay people like me to correct their grammar. I myself speak excellent, near native Spanish but I make the occasional mistake and I LOVE it when someone points it out because then I can get better and it is important for me to do things correctly. A lot of English people, on the other hand, not only don't think it important to learn another language, but they say they 'can't be bothered' to write (or speak sometimes) their own correctly. Why is this? Some people say they can write correctly if necessary. Why only then? When I ride, I try to ride correctly all the time, not just at a show. This way it comes more easily. Why do people take correction as a criticism or slight (Ok, on HHO it CAN be!) instead of the chance to improve themselves?

 

[*hic*]

You are keen to "get it right" because it is a skill you are acquiring. Native speakers in most countries don't like to be pulled up on their grammar, pronunciation, use of colloquialisms because, after all, it's something they've been doing since they could talk and they consider themselves expert at it.

 

[PapaFrita]

You are keen to "get it right" because it is a skill you are acquiring. Native speakers in most countries don't like to be pulled up on their grammar, pronunciation, use of colloquialisms because, after all, it's something they've been doing since they could talk and they consider themselves expert at it.

Ah yes, makes sense. Thank you C. Beautiful grammar and spelling BTW

 

[Serephin]

She's an absolute treasure and if I wasn't so soft I'd get rid of the rider and send her to my cousin who's children are the right size for her. I just can't face the tears and tantrums if I tell them "No more".

would you cousin's children look after her when it is raining? From what you have said, I would send the pony to your cousin - the other people sound a bit like too much hard work.

 

[*hic*]

She's an absolute treasure and if I wasn't so soft I'd get rid of the rider and send her to my cousin who's children are the right size for her. I just can't face the tears and tantrums if I tell them "No more".

would you cousin's children look after her when it is raining? From what you have said, I would send the pony to your cousin - the other people sound a bit like too much hard work.

OMG where did that ' in "who's" come from!!

Well my cousin's children are a little small to have sole control (a couple of months, nearly 3 and just gone 5) and they are several hundred miles away. Getting her down there wouldn't be a problem but I'd not really be able to keep an eye on her. Timing (as you can see from the age of the youngest) is not perfect either. However the other advantage they have is that they have recently moved to a new house backing onto a pasture field owned by my uncle so theoretically she could have a little fenced off patch right behind their house. She adores really small children and can be led round by two year olds.

It's difficult though, this family (especially mum) adore the pony, they're just not very practical

 

[Fuzznugget]

A lot of English people, on the other hand, not only don't think it important to learn another language, but they say they 'can't be bothered' to write (or speak sometimes) their own correctly.

This is what irritates me oh so much! I was born in Hungary, moved to the US in 1989 (I was 9) and did not speak one word of English. Of course I had to learn, and going to school helped immensely in that, along with the ESL tutor that i had. HOWEVER....WHY is it that those who are born in an English speaking country can't be arsed to learn their own language, but expect - some demand! - that all foreigners learn it and speak it. To them I say - learn to speak it correctly first you bunch of f'ing hypocrites!

Hmm...whaddaya know...I do feel slightly better now!

 

[Groom42]

They'll soon get fed up with it, bearing in mind winter is upon us. Lots of rain, mud, and discomfort. By the time spring comes along they'll probably be relieved that your tiny relatives are so much bigger ( ) and ready for their first pony.
Remember: T.I.L.I.I