But yeah don't bother with grammar nazis. How I see it the point of communication is to be understood, to convey meaning, the message behind the words. So if someone can correct your spelling, grammar or whatever, they must've understood what you meant, so job done. And in any case I don't think any lives were lost, so it doesn't matter if it were not exactly "right" or if someone didn't understand..
I think the grammar nazi thing is about low self-worth and insecurities. To correct someone in the way it is usually done online (it's about insulting instead of educating) is about one upping the other to gain some-worth, to feel superior compared to the other. Those people need an external yard stick, external set of rules and external validation to feel better about themselves, and to avoid facing their own perceived short comings.
Without other people around them "making mistakes" or "doing it wrong" they can't feel any self-worth, they'd feel empty inside. They haven't done anything that they can be proud of, something they themselves value, no matter what others think. They just need to feel better than the other person, to make sense of the world "I feel worthless or not good enough, but at least I know grammar better than the other guy, and I'll let everyone know that. So they all know that I'm better. I am worth more. Pick me. Validate me."
The more people they put down the more valuable they feel. I think there's a catch 22 in there somewhere in the long run: you know, when you achieved one upping everyone else, try enjoy life then.
Another way to look at this is that they *NEED* you. Just think about it: why does it bother anyone that you didn't do something the "right way"? What do they have to lose, if you are not doing something the "correct way"? Why is it so important to them that you follow the grammar, why does it hurt them if you don't? Why does it irritate them so much that they have to insult you for it in retaliation? If ungrammatical conduct needs to be purged, then it must be a threat in someway, and I have to say that a person has mighty weak foundations if that's a threat. Strong foundations won't budge because of grammar of any language.
It's like the thing with the truth: it doesn't care if you believe it or not. The truth doesn't care if it's proven or not. It still is what it is, nothing can threaten it and it cannot be harmed. Otherwise it wouldn't be the truth now would it? So if one being strong is true, it doesn't need boasting or others to perceive it. Nor does a person need a validation for it if the person *knows this without a doubt*.
So if you know whatever is that you know and you are okay with, then it doesn't matter if someone thinks you are stupid or you have a "simple hick brain". People are allowed to believe whatever they want, and you are allowed to believe otherwise. Other people's beliefs about you don't matter. It just doesn't. Even if he's/she's right it doesn't matter. If that's truth then it is the truth. GG
tl;dr: If you know you are better, then you don't have to point it out. Strong people don't put others down. To put it the ugly way: People beneath them aren't worth their time.
PS. Anything you say in English is pretty much not grammatically correct in the country of.. Spain for instance. But you can still boil tap water on a stove, even if you didn't know what they are called there (I have tested this myself, but do try it yourself). So English grammar is somewhat poor way to measure intelligence or to condemn a person for that matter.
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