Doug [he/him]

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  • 69 Comments
Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 1st, 2023

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  • I think you and I have very different experiences. I rarely see that kind of correction if ever.

    When you’re in a public space you never know when your words are being consumed by an ESL speaker. I think the best approach is natural yet accurate. They’re going to encounter contractions when dealing with native speakers, but the difference between it’s and its, for example, can be tricky so try to use them as taught.

    Spelling mistakes can absolutely be an issue. It’s already hard enough to figure out English spelling without native speakers making it worse. Add on to that the difficulty in any added language of working out near homophones, let alone actual homophones.

    I knew someone who was pretty decent with English as their third language but had trouble keeping Texas and taxes straight. I know another guy who is American and uses no in place of know. That one threw me for a while before I figured out what he was trying to say.

    I will admit, I do like that “technically” the plural for octopus is “supposed to be” octopods (pronounced like oc-tip-o-dees) but that’s a fun “fact”, not a correction I’ve ever tried to make.











  • I don’t get it either. Defederation is a tool just like banning or spam prevention. If it’s unused it’s pointless to have.

    But you don’t ban everyone for a single offense just like to don’t defederate lightly. If you do then people will move elsewhere and the problem resolves itself





  • Look for the little joys. Seriously. You know that light that always seems to be red when you get there? Celebrate the times it’s not rather than getting annoyed when it is. Make up words from the letters on a license and consider what might make a person want that. Come up with bad answers. Absurd ones. Find shapes in clouds.

    Not all of that is easy but it can be worth the effort.

    Happiness can be chosen, just not all the time. Look for the places you can and try to do it. Like anything it’ll get easier with practice.

    *There are hard things that will make choosing happiness nigh impossible. If you find yourself in one of these places you need external help, very probably professional. It’s not weakness to acknowledge that any more than it is to see a doctor if you cut off your arm.