Well put...I too felt like responding negatively to Margaret's "issue" but I
didn't feel it was worth the time and energy that she put into it. Yes, I am
a very detail oriented person as well, probably more so than Margaret, but
hey...this is just an informal list service...everyone who receives mail
probably has a lot more important things to deal with and to  address other
than a misspelled word here and there. Yes...I forgive all of you for making
an occasional spelling error, and unlike Margaret, I won't hold it against
you....(provided that you don't get completely out of hand!!) Thanks Mr.
Leeke for addressing this issue in such a diplomatic and kind manner.

Maria-Theresa
-----Original Message-----
From: John Leeke <[log in to unmask]>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, January 22, 1999 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: Where's the real information


>Hi Margaret !
>
>>     While I'm here, could I request that people PLEASE learn how to
spell?
>>     It's just a pet peeve-must be the nun influence in grade school
>>     rearing it's ugly head! I do believe however, that people with as
much
>
>I like your "pet peeve...grade school" comment. My pet peeve is that I be
>allow a few spelling mistakes. I did not pay too much attention during
grade
>school. My teacher once said, "John Leeke, stop daydreaming. Just what do
>you see out that window anyway? Golden Castles?!" Well, of course I felt
put
>down and embarassed, but how did she know I was envisioning golden castles
>out there? Either there *were* golden castles out there, or she could read
>my mind, or she just wanted to make me feel bad -- all very disturbing.
>Undoubtedly the spelling lesson was taking place while I tried to sort all
>this out. What did she know about castles anyway, I now earn a good living
>and make a contribution to society preserving and restoring those golden
>castles (and other historic buildings).
>
>I am self employed and every second of every minute of every hour is money.
>If I stop to reply to a message it costs me money. If I bother to reply I
am
>willing to give up this money to help someone out, but I often don't bother
>with formatting and spell checking because I figure the reader will get to
>the depth of my meaning without it. If I felt I had to spell check
>everything it means I would reply to far fewer queries. Do you want replies
>and solid content? Or, do you want correct spelling and good form? With me
>it's often "take your choice." I suspect it is with others as well.
>
>Do you want it fast, cheap *and* good? You will seldom get more that two.
>Good and fast, but not cheap. Fast and cheap but not good. Good and cheap
>but not fast.
>
>Was it Samuel Clemments who said, "I would have written a shorter letter,
>but I did not have the time."
>
>When people ask for my help and pay me $75./hour to write a report they get
>solid concise content, good form and correct spelling. When people  ask for
>my help pro bono, they usually are happy to take what they get, whatever
the
>form or format.
>
>If you check out my website you will probably find a few misspelled words
>there too. A few out of a half-a-million is not so bad in my book if the
>content is solid and is actually helping people. More that 2000 a week come
>to my website for help and no one has ever commented on the spelling.
>
>Hey, how would you like to be my copy editor? (just joking, this whole
>message is just for fun, please take no offence, offence?, ofense?,
>o'fence?)
>--
>
>John Leeke, Preservation Consultant
>
>publisher:               Practical Restoration Reports
>contributing editor: Old-House Journal
>website:                  www.HistoricHomeWorks.com
>