Why is it that most people who post on Yahoo Answers can't spell? Is this nation that stupid?

That bugs me, but it's because people never truly learn how to spell in school anymore. "Sounding out" words doesn't apply because we have no ear for what is correct, we're so inundated with abbreviations and colloquialisms, and nobody seems to remember all the way back to when we were taught. Also, the words your and you're drive me up the wall because it truly seems as if there is not a single person in any message, e-mail, or essay I've read lately that is able to tell the difference and use the proper form where it is needed. But I believe a large part of it is simply due to laziness. People type quickly, or fall back on IM jargon and either forget to check their spelling or say it doesn't matter because the rest of society operates on that level too.

I think some people are just lazy. Too lazy to use Spell Check, too lazy to write correctly. I think chatting on-line also makes things worse. And, some people are just stupid. When I was a little kid I could spell better than some adults now.

It seems that with the invent of Text Messages young people no longer care to spell things in full, which makes them not spell them the right way when they do. There have been reports of teachers who assign essays and get them in Text Message form. Another thing is that with all that time in the computer they should know that they have a Check Spelling option to them. I guess they only put attention to the things that interest them and it seems that a spell checker is not one of them.

But please, don't call them stupid.

I think most people have become so dependent on spell-check they have forgotten how to spell. Or they're so used to using all the instant messaging abbreviations, they just do it out of habit.

It is amazing, isn't it, that in a format which offers spell check we still have to ask this question.Ya think basic laziness and indifference might have something to do with it?

Why spell correctly when you have a word processor that will automatically correct your typos for you?

As with everything else - blame Microsoft!

Nah, Iz wuz think'in tat we jest had 'er poblem wit kep'in our wards rite, dig?

Seriously, it's easy to overlook these things when you're typing away at three in the morning because Yahoo Answers is the only site that looks interesting. So there. :-)

I hope you're not only noticing this now. [laughs] It's terrible. I just saw someone type "poot" for "put". That's pathetic. All these years of school and no one can even write properly. Bunch of idiots.

So, yes, this nation is that stupid. :D

So stupid... they can't even use the spell check!

Good question, especially considering how there's a spell checker right in their face.