Someone sent me an email. It said this:
I tried to read your blog.
Why do you write in English if you don't know it?
You make too many mistakes, your writing doesn't flow and is extremely chaotic and boring to read!
Take my advice, write in your own language!
Greetings,
Native Speaker (of English)
It took me quite a while to translate it into Dutch, but with the aid of my complete collection of dictionaries and various translation (or is it ‘translating’?) sites on the internet I finally understood what Native Speaker had written.
I was tempted to send NS a reply (in Dutch), but then I thought that ignoring his or her email was probably the best option. Some cans of worms should better be left closed.
Hmm.
Not satisfactory at all.
So I decided to take the opportunity to practice my English some more and write a post about the friendly advice this person felt he/she should give me. Thank you, brave anonymous person (I assume that Native Speaker is not your real name and that Someonenew isn’t either), for this wonderful email. I know you will not read this post. Ah well. Worse things happen.
I also know I make mistakes. You should read earlier posts from when I just started ‘blogging’. Hardly a correctly spelled word in them. Not to mention the grammar. Abominable. And it hasn’t improved much.
I have difficulty understanding those earlier posts myself. It is a miracle that people have been (or should it be ‘were’?) mad enough to start ‘following’ me, but I’m grateful that they’ve joined the list and are now official members of my fan club. Okay, many of them have since given up trying to understand my chaotic way of writing. Or perhaps they just kept falling asleep. Or they read everything I write, but don’t feel the need to comment. Fine by me. Who knows what drives people to do or don’t do certain things.
You ask why I write in English. Just because I can. Or can’t, as you have noticed. I just pretend I can.
You also advise that I should write in Dutch. Ha! As if I make less mistakes when I write in Dutch. And besides, most of my followers, a.k.a. blogfriends a.k.a. the smartest people in the world, would have a really hard time reading and understanding that.
So, like it or not, I will write in English or something that sort of roughly resembles it just about more or less. Approximately.
Greetings.
(Please feel free to correct the mistakes I’ve made in any of my posts. I’m looking forward to your comments. Always happy to learn.)
First, let me say I love your blog's new look (black on white has always been easier for me to read than white on black), especially the photos of your horses at the top. Wonderful in every way!
ReplyDeleteSecond, let me just say that Native Speaker (of English) is a knucklehead, a rude, rotten, no-good person who should not be allowed to breathe the oxygen the rest of us need so badly. There is not one thing wrong with your English, Carolina -- in fact, it is better than many graduates of our American high schools. Pay no attention to that man/woman behind the curtain. He/She is just blowing smoke and trying to get a rise out of you.
Third, long live Brinkbeest in English! Hip, hip, hurrah! Hip, hip, hurrah! Hip, hip, hurrah!
Do I make myself clear?
Native needs to get a life! I've never found your posts difficult to read. Native must just be an internet troll!
ReplyDeleteHugs & love,
Mimi
Rhymeswithplague: Yes. You made yourself very clear ;-) And thank you. Very much. I can sleep again now :-)
ReplyDeleteMimi: can I just give you a virtual hug and big fat X? I so hope you're feeling well. Even if just reasonably well. You're a sweetheart (and so is Rhymeswithplague. I have to mention that, otherwise I might get into trouble.).
Ah well. I make mistakes all the time.. I'm not here to be perfect. An old irish quote comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's better to walk away and leave the man to the height he has grown.
Karen: wise words ;-) Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI'm no English teacher but I have no problem reading your English posts. Here in America I can only shake my head at some of the mistakes in grammar I have seen and can't believe these people made it through high school...or did they? Anyway, I wouldn't lose any sleep over this and keep on blogging. I commend you for even trying to put up posts in a language other than your "native tongue." I could never do it in Dutch or any other language.
ReplyDeleteLove your new header too. Very cute picture.
Grey Horse Matters: Thank you. Sweet :-)
ReplyDeleteKeep on doin' what your doin'. Your English ...and spelling is a lot better than many native speakers.
ReplyDeleteFuck that idiotic prick.
ReplyDelete(Now there's some English for him to criticize!)
Your written English is just fine. As a matter of fact, it is far above the average English usage found on-line.
As for the letter writer, he (or she, as who can tell when someone hasn't the guts to leave an actual name?) is just a troll. Shove his (or her) commentary up the asshole of non-remembrance it so richly deserves as a final resting place.
IT: I will ;-)
ReplyDeleteSuldog: My thoughts exactly. Only, I also pretend to be a lady and don't want to offend people. But consider 'idiotic prick' fucked, haha.
I second, third and fourth all your readers' comments.
ReplyDeleteYour English (and your blog posts) are wonderful. And this comes from someone who studied German for years, has a bachelor of arts degree in German, studied for a year the University of Salzburg, blah, blah, and could no more write a coherent and entertaining blog in German than I could fly to the moon.
Take that nasty Native Speaker emailer!
What a dickhead. You write better English than I do Dutch that's for sure. Hang on, you write better English than I do and I'm a native speaker. I dont allow anonymous comments, they're chicken.
ReplyDeleteI bet he had to use spell check and grammar check and still had to have it looked over by some sort of editor before it was sent to you! Or she as the case may be. I bet mr or ms anonymous is just jealous of your large fanclub.
ReplyDeleteBy the way: love your new header!
Wow, what a moron. But you're right, they don't bother coming back. They enjoy being "the fart in the room". It's sport for them. Hopefully all these fabulous comments helped "clear the air" for you!
ReplyDeleteYou know...ages ago I had my own website. It was called Prayer, Praise and Peace. I think you can get a good idea what it was about simply from the title. ")
ReplyDeleteI used to get informational emails like that all the time. One of my very favorites was from some Pot Stirring Troll who informed me I was NOT a Christian because I welcomed everyone to my little corner of the web...not just real Christians...but heathens of other religious and false persuasions. She was also removing the link to my site from her TRUE Christian site because I had chosen to display an award I received from a young boy with Down's Syndrome. In her words, "I wouldn't want someone who is a Christian arriving at your site through mine and thinking I agree with this type of thing."
Well thank God for that...because I wouldn't want my site linked to hers for *any* reason. ; )
My thoughts about your own Pot Stirring Troll are the same as for my own, "Fuck you...thank you...drive thru."
Sending EXTRA hugs...and a virtual high-five to Suldog. AMEN BROTHER!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Karen: Danke schön ;-) Du bist zu nett. And we're all agreed that Native Speaker is an asshole (pardon my French), hehe.
ReplyDeleteBaino: I'm sure I write better English than you do Dutch, but I'm also sure that your English is better than mine.
But thanks anyway ;-)
I don't allow anonymous comments either. For the same reason. But my email address was in my profile and he/she took the time to write me an email. How nice ;-)
Mara: lol
The new header is nice eh? It was time for a fresher look I think. Thanks :-)
I'm Crayon: Oh yeah, the air has never been so clear. I'm all smiles again, hehe ;-) Thank you.
Mel: Oh LOL.
Most, if not all, wars were started because of creepy fanatics like 'your true Christian' troll. People like her and my anonymous commenter aren't worth even a thought actually. So! Wiped from the mind they are! Hope you're all right, my BBFF. Missing you in Blogworld. Please come back ;-)
Call me crazy, but it looks as though your horses have made it all the way to Oklahoma.
ReplyDeleteCarolina, it strikes me that 'Native Speaker ('of English') may well be a native English speaker but who knows on what continent? The English does not seem native to the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, India - so where does 'Native.E.S.' hie from??
ReplyDeleteYour English is pretty much impeccable and puts many of my fellow Englishmen and women to shame. I am impressed by your facility with the language - only wish I could tackle another tongue as readily. Ignore such fools and please, please continue to entertain us, your enthralled followers.
Yours in awe
Janice x x x
Why do people do this? Why do they take the time to write nasty emails when It would be so much easier to just click away.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I find your blog easy to read and I enjoy reading your stories.You write very well and I NEVER feel the urge to bring out my editors red pen when I am reading your blog.
xx Kim