Someone Fetch Me My Escape Goat!

Now this may come as a shock, but Facebook is not the only place on the internet filled with awful spelling and grammar. There is also Babycenter. If you have never heard of Babycenter (BBC), well you probably don't have kids. Seriously though, it's a message board for pregnant women and parents. It's mostly mothers, but you have the occasional father as well. It can be a great place to go for information and/or support. My birth board for my daughter was, and still is, the best group of ladies ever. We are still a very close knit group, even five years later. It can also be a place full of heated debates over everything. Such as breast vs bottle, cloth diapers vs disposable, or if you should vaccinate or not. Not to mention the always fun chocolate milk threads ;) And the spelling.... Oh the spelling.

Today I was reading a post on the birth board for my youngest. A mother was asking for advice on an overly clingy baby. Several moms commented, but then I saw this: "wraps his arms around my leg and balls." Wha..? o_O After several very confused seconds, I realized that she meant BAWLS, as in cries. Not balls, as in testicles. Well, that makes a bit more sense. I continued to read different posts on the site, and saw somany lovely gems. Such as a young "pregnate" girl, someone who had all their belongings thrown out on the "curve", and someone who was not vaccinated, and "either" were her parents.

I think my all time favorite though (so far, of course), is the escape goat. A young lady was complaining about her "syco MIL". It didn't take long for the group to decipher that how she meant it: phsyco mother-in-law. They proceeded to give her their usual brand of advice, and a few snarky comments on her spelling. No, I was not one of them. I very rarely post on DWIL. Then the OP, or "original poster", came back to update. She proceeded to give more details, then complained that her mother-in-law was "accusing me of using her as my escape goat!". Cue the pictures of goats in saddles.

That awkward moment when....

You don't actually know what the word awkward means. Here you go:


awk·ward  (ôkwrd)
adj.
1. Not graceful; ungainly.
2.
a. Not dexterous; clumsy.
b. Clumsily or unskillfully performed: The opera was marred by an awkward aria.
3.
a. Difficult to handle or manage: an awkward bundle to carry.
b. Difficult to effect; uncomfortable: an awkward pose.
4.
a. Marked by or causing embarrassment or discomfort: an awkward remark; an awkward silence.
b. Requiring great tact, ingenuity, skill, and discretion: An awkward situation arose during the peace talks.
[Middle English awkeward, in the wrong way : awke, wrong (from Old Norse öfugr, backward; see apo- in Indo-European roots) + -ward, -ward.]
awkward·ly adv.
awkward·ness n.

I am constantly seeing "that awkward moment when..." posts. Some of them are funny. Such as "That awkward moment when you find out that your new boss is your husband's ex.", or "That awkward moment when you call your friend a bitch and she's standing behind you.". Yes, those are both pretty awkward situations. However, "that awkward moment when you can't find your cell phone" and "that awkward moment when you stub your toe and it really hurts!"? Not awkward. Inconvienent? Yes. Annoying? Yes. Even painful? Sometimes, yes. But not awkward. If you are going to constantly use a word, at least know what it means.

Small Business

I have noticed a major trend on Facebook. Everyone has a business of some kind. Some people are photographers, some are cake makers, or sell Avon. But I'm betting at least one person on your friends list has a business of some kind. If not, then you probably do. I have no problem with people promoting their business via a FB page. However, if you are going to do this, you should at least spell words correctly, and use proper grammar. I recently saw a page for a candy making business, in which the word marshmallow was spelled marshmello and homemade was homade. Rambling and run on sentences are very unprofessional as well. It's okay to promote yourself, but please do not post 17 times an hour, and never in all caps. STOP YELLING AT ME! If people are not responding to your many, many posts, I don't think it's because you wrote in lowercase letters.

On a similar note, if you are constantly posting about your business, and no one is responding, there might be a reason. Just because you own a camera, that does not make you a photographer, knowing how to work an oven does not make you a baker. A lot of people do have genuine talent, and do very well. For instance, I have someone on my friends list who makes hats. She does a wonderful job, and her page is very well written. I will gladly go to her in the event that I find myself needing a hat for myself, or a loved one. The people on my page, however, who have several different "business" that they post about non stop, with very poorly written pages/posts, do not, and will not, get my business. Just because it's on Facebook, doesn't mean that it shouldn't look professional.