I avoid commenting on Facebook posts because, sometimes, having a conversation with some strangers on Facebook is like trying to play chess with a pigeon, especially if the pigeon knocks all the pieces over, craps on the board and then insists it’s won.
Recently, on a Facebook page dedicated to sharing the best and funniest posts Tumblr has to offer, I encountered one of those comments — one that makes you lose a little bit of faith in humanity. In it, the individual said something to the effect that improper English seems to be a requirement for Tumblr users on their posts and that it points to a lack of education. Incidentally, a lot of people share this opinion.
Now, Tumblr is not the most sophisticated of websites, especially for a social media site. Users often intentionally misspell words and use shorthand to make jokes funnier or, wait for it, just because. A cute puppy or kitten might be “smol,” instead of “small,” and “u” and “ur” are “you” and “your.” And if a Tumblr user decides to share an anecdote, sometimes, he or she will choose to dispense with punctuation entirely, telling their story in one giant sentence.
Sometimes, users also ignore the rules of capitalization — such as “swEETHEART NO” in response to naiveté. Spelling words incorrectly or using shorthand or any unconventional/non-standard form of English often creates emphasis or a stronger emotional effect than plain and proper writing. Who’s to say whether a person lacks an education based on something as informal and impersonal as a post on the Internet? And who’s to say whether the poster’s first language is even English?
Between all the puns, running jokes, swearing and GIFs, Tumblr is a hotbed for progressive ideology. Many users advocate for things like women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality and body positivity for both men and women and generally use their right to free speech to express love and acceptance. Don’t people have to be aware of these issues in order to even discuss them? An education precedes any such discussion.
Some even say it takes more time to spell things incorrectly or use non-standard English, intentional or not. What? That’s the whole point of slang, shorthand and acronyms like “tbh.”
One knows the differences that some settings require proper English, especially if he or she has an education; there are times when formality is key, like for a paper or cover letter, versus an informal setting, like social media websites and text messages. Each instance has its own level of formality. The beauty of language is that you can pick and choose how you want to use it. Most, if not all, people know that textspeak is not OK in a term paper or résumé. On the flip side, texters, especially fast ones, won’t use MLA style and type full sentences with correct punctuation and grammar to say something in 500 words that could be said in 12.
Yes, there are some people who take education for granted or don’t have the opportunity to go to school, so their circumstances affect the way they write, but correlation is not causation. Improper use of the English language does not presuppose a lack of education. What does one have to do with the other? Assuming that one lacks an education just because of the way he or she wrote his or her Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter post is just ignorant. It’s just a pretentious and unjustified assumption.
Language is ever-changing and malleable, like a ball of clay, and everyone has their own unique ball of clay to shape however they wish. Instead of worrying about other people’s balls of clay, remember that you have your own to play with.
