I have to tell you, I find it almost ironic that here we have an article decrying how easy teachers have been on students, not correcting their spelling, word usage mistakes for YEARS in order that they don't hurt feelings, damage self-esteem and all that. Yet let me attempt to correct another poster's misspells, pronoun error, not a probable typo but actual and in fact grammatical error on one of these internet forums and I am labeled pedantic, *grammar-cop*, or some other derrogative name. All because I wish to note the difference between imply and infer, affect and effect, inform others that using *second of all* after *first of all* is ungrammatical ... don't get me started on *irregardless* ....
Academics aren't the only ones who've KO'd grammar, I'm sorry to say. :(
Yes, and then they'll tell you what a waste of time it is to bother with the mechanics of the English language.
I was once harassed in e-mail because I dared to leave a comment at a website that they ought to have the contents proofread (this was a business website, mind you).
I'm amazed at the number of people who realize that to get a computer to perform correctly, they first have to type the commands correctly ("spell" them correctly, if you will), but who also seem to take some sort of idiotic pride in mangling the English language.
A lot of these people are the same ones who bleat everywhere that they "just want to find someone to except my love." Or they don't know "to" from "two" from "too."
Sheesh.
For what it is worth, the spelling is "derogative", not "derrogative."
;-)