As a non-English living in a country where English is not even an official language, I strive to write good quality answers, either technically or in grammar. A good answer takes an investment of time to write. If someone is not willing to take some time to correct the English and research an answer, it is natural low-quality answers are not welcomed. It takes less work answering them ourselves than improving bad answers. Furthermore, what the owners are asking is that 90% of the users take care of the 10% that generates noise for free, and are telling the majority of the user base there are others that are more important than them.
I did not get out of my way to talk about his command of English, he is the one mentioning it about problems in other forums. I am not native, however if in an English forum, I will have to talk English. Otherwise, nothing prevents me from selecting forums in a language I am more proficient. Beware of the extremism in being politically correct. The truth will always be the truth.
What I think you fail to understand is that there are many, many native-English speakers who cannot write properly and have bad grammar and spelling. This is not just a non-native English speaker issue.
I think if the intent of the speaker is to answer a question and they can be understood reasonably well, but their English is not perfect, then we should give them some slack.
I appreciate the spirit of the parent, but I think even that message starts with the wrong premise. It assumes that the group with high proficiency in English ("we") decides whether or not to welcome others with low proficiency ("them").
In fact, the commenter several levels up is as much a member of HN as you and I. The guidelines for contributions are not about English proficiency, but about intellectual value. We want more members making more valuable contributions. If they misspell every word and break every grammar rule, it doesn't matter as long as I can understand them and the comment contributes something.
What is outside the guidelines is one commeter criticizing another's language, especially using words like "atrocious". That comment contributes nothing of intellectual value to HN.
Hmmm ... in hindsight it looks like I took one phrase out of the whole comment, interpreted it literally, added some analysis of my own, and really pounced on it. Now I understand what happens to public figures. Sorry.
As all the walks in life, you find everything and every culture. On one hand you also find people who simply want answers, however do not want to make the minimum investment in time writing something decent, and then you also find kids. I have had Indonesian kids going after my linked.in or fb profile and asking me for a connection. (Sorry, no kids in my fb, except if family)
meh. Loads of Asians pretending to be white women to see if they get away with more attention. Often in a while when they take photos we even see the reflection of the actual guy. They are have probably more "discrimination" for the bad questions than for being a "woman".
I was also born in a country "with a strong social system". The so called social system is in shambles, and contributing to it is basically contributing to a ponzi scam.
I think that's what grandparent is getting at. Better to make use of the social system by working little or not at all, now, while it's still paying out, than to contribute now and not get any pension later.
