Grammar Police Seems To Lack Common Sense

I was browsing stumbleupon and I ended up on this site: If Liberals are more Intelligent than Conservatives, why are Liberals ridiculous sometimes? Sadly, psychologytoday seems down for now. Basically, it explains why sometimes ‘intelligent’ people act ridiculous. The author describes two ways of how we think. One is using general intelligence on which we think logically or academically. The other is emotional thinking or acting based on our gut feel; usually referred to as common sense. Based on the article’s explanation, an intelligent mind seems to override common sense with logic or academic thinking.

To make things clear, here’s an example:

Premise 1: Everything under the sea are sea creatures.

Premise 2: Submarines are under the sea.

Therefore, Submarines are sea creatures.

It is a valid argument but it is not sound. Unless we add another premise or premises, it will be hard or even impossible to disprove this argument with logic but with common sense, we just know this is incorrect. With logic, you are bounded by rules and premises. Nothing is right until proven right. Nothing is wrong until proven wrong. With common sense, you just know whether it is right or wrong.

Thinking about it brought up the idea that Grammar Police lack common sense. They are strictly bounded by grammar and sometimes it makes them sound ridiculous; most of the time annoying.

Stop you’re whining. So what if its Monday? Its you’re fault you ended up with a boring job.

A counter argument containing corrections for that statement is ridiculous. You know that I mean “your” instead of “you’re” and “it’s” instead of “its”; otherwise it means you can’t comprehend.  The message is clear and proofreading has no relevance in tackling the issue.  Sticking with grammar gives the statement no sense but with common sense, it makes perfect sense.

Another common example,

Q: Can I help you?

A: I don’t know, can you?

Here, you’re not just stupid but you’re also being rude.  Obviously, he’s not asking if he’s capable of helping you. Someone is offering you assistance and all you can do is correct their grammar? It spread as a joke but what if I add this statement:

Q: Maybe I can't. Goodbye.

Still funny?

I’m not saying that it is alright being grammatically wrong. What I’m saying is, it is not good to laugh at or make fun of someone making mistakes.  It's unfair discrediting them just because they're not good with grammar.  Just think about this, what would you feel if you’re bad at drawing, cooking, or math and someone good at it laugh while calling you stupid? What if being bad at sports questioned your gender, intelligence or your essence as a human being?

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