Since when? Since the grammar textbook said that the preposition must always come before the noun? In English, grammar rules are not as important as in some other languages. What is important is that the text reads well and is a good reflection of the spoken language. This wasn't. The infamous split infinitive - found all over Slashdot - is another good example of the phenomenon.
"[The article] shows who's on target, and on who you probably shouldn't rely." This just jars. Let's try again:
"[The article] shows who's on target, and who(m) you probably shouldn't rely on."
The stigma isn't because it's "new". If anything that would be a reason for it to be cool (think i-Pod).
I think it's for two reasons. Firstly (as someone else points out), internet culture still carries residual connotations of nerdy computer culture. In the popular imagination, the network is not yet seen as the communications revolution that it really is - something that changes how humans relate to each other. For most people the net is still just a mundane if convenient service that chains you to an ugly box on a desk. Maybe mobility and ergonomics will change this.
Second, online relationships are seen as too easy by definition. This is the "he must be desperate" explanation, and it's not going to go away quickly. After all, is it really just as easy to say "wanna go for a coffee?" to a new acquaintance as it is to tap it onto a screen?
I'm (secretly) quite proud that I had my first online date back in 1998 - that was early for Europe, so I figure it made me a cool early-adopter. But I'm also pleased I have hardly repeated the experience since. Because let's face it: real life is much more of a challenge, and more fun too.
Turn off autocorrect and just set it to flag up misspellings with the red underscore. Then you'll have to guess the correct spelling yourself - and with any luck you won't keep making the same mistakes.
This approach has worked wonders for my written French.
Personally, I don't use the spellcheck in English coz [sic] my spelling is just too damn good.
Slashdot Mirror
Since when? Since the grammar textbook said that the preposition must always come before the noun? In English, grammar rules are not as important as in some other languages. What is important is that the text reads well and is a good reflection of the spoken language. This wasn't. The infamous split infinitive - found all over Slashdot - is another good example of the phenomenon.
This beast should do the trick. A bit bulky to be hiding in the ceiling though.
The stigma isn't because it's "new". If anything that would be a reason for it to be cool (think i-Pod).
I think it's for two reasons. Firstly (as someone else points out), internet culture still carries residual connotations of nerdy computer culture. In the popular imagination, the network is not yet seen as the communications revolution that it really is - something that changes how humans relate to each other. For most people the net is still just a mundane if convenient service that chains you to an ugly box on a desk. Maybe mobility and ergonomics will change this.
Second, online relationships are seen as too easy by definition. This is the "he must be desperate" explanation, and it's not going to go away quickly. After all, is it really just as easy to say "wanna go for a coffee?" to a new acquaintance as it is to tap it onto a screen?
I'm (secretly) quite proud that I had my first online date back in 1998 - that was early for Europe, so I figure it made me a cool early-adopter. But I'm also pleased I have hardly repeated the experience since. Because let's face it: real life is much more of a challenge, and more fun too.
Turn off autocorrect and just set it to flag up misspellings with the red underscore. Then you'll have to guess the correct spelling yourself - and with any luck you won't keep making the same mistakes. This approach has worked wonders for my written French. Personally, I don't use the spellcheck in English coz [sic] my spelling is just too damn good.