This is so me. 😊
[It's also classist and able-ist... it was a combo of people whose first language wasn't English and friends who struggle to communicate in writing that made me get over grammar online]
@tyghebright It's the water in which we swim-completely. And from the moment these kids open their mouths to speak, or set their pens to paper to write, they're judged on how they express themselves. And *NOT* making sure they have a solid grasp of grammar does them a grave disservice. Yes, it's code-switching. Yes, it would get them fucked up in the hood. But it could also give them tools to get *out* of the hood. It's giving up on them before they've started not to try. And that's more racist.
Oh, to be clear -- I'm talking about my reaction to people, mostly online. I don't hold it against someone or assume they're less educated or intelligent, or have less of a valid point, if they communicate it with imperfect English
But I believe in giving people all the tools they need to excel, whatever those may be. If it takes more for a kid with learning differences, or one in an urban black neighborhood, or the child of immigrants -- society is better when we give it to them
I have a friend who comes off as a typical good-ol-boy. A tall drink of water in a cowboy hat -- exceedingly polite, but a little dim.
I wrote him off at first as nice but uninteresting. I had a prejudice against unintelligent people.
It's a long story, but I ended up teaching him poetry, and he started writing. Yes, the language was simple, but it was emotionally strong, despite his very real barriers.
Since then, I've looked at everyone as full of linguistic potential.
I'd already been fine with most racial differences in English, and traveled enough that someone speaking it as a second language didn't phase me...
But I was definitely prejudiced about people I considered stupid... whether it was a redneck accent, or someone who had limited intelligence. Which was classist and ableist of me.
This friend's facility, once he was given a form to express himself, just exploded that bias.
@tyghebright Oh! Haha... yeah, being a Southerner I used to use that perception of stupidity against folks like you when I sold cars. Once I caught wind that I was talking to a person like you, I'd hillbilly it up. Throw in every Southern aphorism I'd ever heard of. I'd be "charming"... "colloquial" even! Then I'd get you in the box. And I'd Southern hospitality & Scarlet O'Hara your butt into buying a car before you really knew how it happened. Thank ya kindly on the way out the door.
@tyghebright Of course, if I'm not drunk or tired, you'd never know I'm from the South otherwise. But sometimes it's just too fun not to pass up an opportunity to lean into someone else's prejudices and use them to accomplish your own goals.
I am a rural lawyer. On occasion I go up against big city lawyers. Under those circumstances I sometimes tune up the redneck. I speak fluent redneck, although I also speak fluent standard English without a hint of accent. It really rubs them the wrong way when they lose to a redneck rural rube. 🙀
@Myrth @tyghebright God, isn't it the best feeling?
@tyghebright On the one hand, I get you and you're right- it is racist. BUT, and it's a BIG BUT, it's racist in the same way that swimming is racist... it's harder for children of color to make the effort to learn, but it is *well worth* them or their parents going out of their way to make sure that they do... because, in the case of swimming, it will literally keep them from drowning. In the case of grammar, it will figuratively keep them from drowning. Language is *it*... it's all we have. ->