Alphas, mispelling, & whit

[David Ziglin <davidz@domain.elided>]

I have been informed of the correctness of "spelt" and am reminded 
again to check everything.......  I almost did.  I sincerely 
appreciate the correction and apologize for too too cleverly walking 
into what seemed to be a set up for an ironic response - too clever 
by half.  (Mr. Smart Ass!!  Now I understand that nagging voice 
within that tried to warn me.)


Please accept this off topic comment :

I believe that English is a hard language to learn even when the 
speaker is born in its midst.   Spelling especially can be a 
nightmare.   IMHO, there are circumstances under which we should be 
forgiving of poor spelling and poor expression; this meeting place is 
such a circumstance.  A rough draft is just that; life is too often 
too hectic and demanding for revision; it does not mean that we do 
not really know better.


I easily accept an occasional "Alpha" for "Alfa" even by an Alfa guru 
because our minds are imperfect; in fact, the confusion of spellings 
here may actually reflect a sharp mind rather than a dull one.


Reliable research, or at least convincing research, has shown that 
many of our wisest, most creative, and most noble men and women 
throughout history have been poor spellers.   We all know this do we 
not? : a fine speller is just that and nothing more; precise spelling 
has little to do in itself with the quality of one's mind.  ( Please 
note, I say "in itself." )


I am deeply concerned by the attention that has been given recently 
to spelling bees in the states in that there is a general 
understanding from these competitions that good spellers are somehow 
more learned than the clumsy such as I.  Nonsense, these sadly 
manipulated and disrespected children have merely learned a kind of a 
trick such as memorizing multiplication tables.  I think of the 
extreme number of hours spent on winning spelling bees that could 
have been spent on truly valuable learning; IMHO, it is a disgrace. 
That spelling bee winners are somehow thought of as being more 
educated than the rest of us bozos frightens the hell out of me 
because it equates form with substance just for starters.  The media 
has been at fault in perpetrating this delusion, this mythology. 
(The media encourages imprecision as well by its own commonly shoddy 
expression.  Consider the ever so common recent media misuse of the 
expression "begs the question."  Duh.  They have no excuse.)

Simply, I will accept a good idea or a good thought misspelled over 
perfectly proofread mindlessness any time.

I have been gently reprimanded and am thankful and humbled by it.  I 
appreciate your indulging me.


David

East Troy, Wisconsin

'66 Duetto racer
'74 2000 GTV
'59 750F

"It's dogged as does it."      C.  Darwin

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