Sometimes I have moments in life which make me think “Damn, am I really getting OLD?” and I had a moment like that not too long ago surfing Twitter recently. I came across a young, gorgeous girl’s profile picture and I saw a tall, gorgeous, dark-skin woman with a short-Halle Berry cut, dimples and a Bria Myles body. I definitely don’t mind paying an attractive woman a compliment so I wrote her a nice, quick message to which she responded: “Thanks booboo, it aints juss fear-skinnded girls that are sexy neither.” I REALLY wish I just made that up instead of copying and pasting what she ACTUALLY typed.
But what happened next was the real interesting thing: I deleted the message and kept it moving. To any woman reading this, you might be saying ‘Duh, she’s obviously a mental midget’ but the men out there will understand how large of a gesture that is, because we DON’T [typically] lock a SEXY girl off because of bad grammar – that seems INSANE. I don’t know if this is just a sign of age or maturity, but there is something about being highly illiterate that instantly deflates my erection.
Now understand, I’m not talking about nit-picking common grammatical errors or misspellings. I actually find grammar-nazi’s who over analyze someone’s one-letter spelling missteps on Facebook, Twitter, Text, E-mail, etc. to be highly ridiculous. Like “OMG, you spelled perspicacity with two a’s – you’re an IDIOT!” It’s not about nit-picking, it’s about HIGH-LEVEL illiteracy – when you know a grown-a*s adult with adequate access to a 1st-world education, continually abuses proper syntax, it just becomes – UGLY. And once again, I’m not talking about PH.D level grammar mistakes, we’re talking about sh*t that would get your monkey-a*s kicked off the first round of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth-Grader.
Some people will accuse me of being a pretentious douche for analyzing someone’s grammatical prowess on Twitter [seemingly in the same manner I just decried others for doing] and say “it’s not a school essay, they are just typing, geez don’t be so serious.” But let me explain the difference in what I’m saying: It’s not about stressing over a couple letters typed in the wrong place, it’s about the general apathy towards education and intellectualism on a whole that I find ugly as hell, and it manifests itself much clearer in someone’s RAPE of their respective language. I’m sure THIS article might be full of grammar mistakes, but, not to toot my own horn, I’m FAR from illiterate.
But my point has advanced to not only seeing illiterate women as highly unattractive, but literate and verbose women are seeming a lot more sexier than ever before. Obviously that’s within limits, because Macy Gray’s mastery of the dangling participle is not going to make me forget she looks like Carlos Boozer. BUT with that said, I think it’s time we start promoting the positives of literacy, if for no other reason than just letting cute girls know they should avoid going from dimepiece to short-bus status in one sentence.
This Is Your Conscience
42 Comments, Comment or Ping
Tisha
No, you are not old. I have had some conversations with people where I had to seriously question if they even went to kindergarten. Talking like that does not make you look cute, it makes you look like a fool
Mar 11th, 2011
lincolnanthonyblades
So Ladies And Gentlemen, Do You Find Illiteracy Plays A Part In Your Attraction Of Lack Thereof In Members Of The Opposite Sex? Or Do You Simply Not Give A DAMN?
Mar 11th, 2011
Kam
For me it would certainly be a red flag and it would depend greatly if the individual spoke like that in person vs Facebook/Twitter. If they could not formulate a coherent sentence in person then to me yes that's unattractive and that would end any idea of seeing them as a potential partner.
Mar 11th, 2011
Kizzy
It DOES…and sometimes I HATE that it does!
I hate going on a date with a fine, sexy ass man and you are feeling him and ready to give him some…and then he opens his mouth and says something so stupid the nani just goes completely dry..
smh
Mar 11th, 2011
Kizzy
Talking, typing, texting it's all bad if you are making horrible mistakes and basking in your ignorance. Not a good look at all.
Mar 11th, 2011
Dee
Illiteracy is a major turn off!!! Once you reach a certain age you should be able to form proper sentences and use the right verb agreement. I don't have time to try and figure out what the hell you are trying to say, whether its s compliment or not because you decided to make up your own language!
Mar 11th, 2011
ATLienSince82
Aight i will admit that us A-Town folk sometimes type the way we talk too much like:
gurl – girl
finna – Fixing to
talmbout – talking about
But dammit we can't help it all the time…But when I see some real country folk typing whole letters like that it makes me say 'damn you just set the south back another couple of decades'
Mar 11th, 2011
ATLienSince82
Plus thats a major sign of youth too….thats what's hot to little kids not adults..
Mar 11th, 2011
ATLienSince82
Next thing you know you find out the nigga is a rapper and it all makes sense lol
Mar 11th, 2011
Crystal Promo-Fernandez
SOME OF US LADIES AIN'T BEIN' REAL RIGHT NOW!
I may be the weird one here, but I think it can actually increase his sexiness to type with a little 'too cool for school' swag…like I can appreciate the intellect of a man who can type:
"Good evening, I just would like to let you know that your picture is awe-inspiring. FULL STOP. Maybe sometime if you are not previously engaged, we can get together at a location within both of our proximities at a mutually-beneficial time."
Sometimes you want a man to just type some mess like:
"Look gurl, I'mma holla at you later when you done working out and all dat, then imma cum over and work dat ass out some mo"
<wipes sweat>
Mar 11th, 2011
MzDebbieFields
OMG! I completely agree!!
Mar 11th, 2011
MzDebbieFields
I think it also depends on how bad the mistakes are…some are passable..
Mar 11th, 2011
A Grown Ass Man
My brother you are just maturing, it's as simple as that.
Once you become mature, things like running up in any ol' loose nani is cool as long as you are getting it. But when you mature, you realize that it's only important to get with a woman that you can respect on all levels, mind, body and soul.
That connection doesn't work if the mind is deficient, no matter how fine the body is.
Mar 11th, 2011
Independent Woman
This is a post i ENCOURAGE all women to read, because too many of us educated young black women stand for too much ignorance in the men we date. It is up to us to let them know it's not acceptable and talking like Chris Rock in CB4 will get your sorry-ass kicked to the curb.
Mar 11th, 2011
MistaHarsh
I'll excuse it if it's bad grammer in spiech because theirs less time to edit speech in a conversayzon. But when you twit/post/send or simply right a message you have unlimbeted time too proofreed and revu what you rote before you let the ho world see it.
Unless you don't give a fuq about first empressings you'll make sure a level of intellegents is a stablished when you communicate wif someone for the first tyme.
I think its a sign of our age and maturity. 10 years ago I'd pursue based on the physical but now if my confidence is shakier than Bosh's bottom lip after a loss in your ability to write/read a business letter you aints the you for me.
Mar 11th, 2011
amonet9
It depends…
If I'm thinkin more on the line of this man/woman sure make my honeypot moist BUT I already know I have little intention on doing much more than getting my rocks off, more than likely I'm going to let it slide.
However, if I am pursuant to something more than a smash n' dash showing a lack of literacy know how or just a lack of intellectualism is a sure way to get hit with blank stare proceded by a coonish type excuse as to why I can't continue this convo… that especially goes for anyone above the age of 12 using symbols and code as acceptable substitutes for regular words!
Mar 11th, 2011
MistaHarsh
But that's slang! And its purposefully done. Now what if he wrote this:
look gril, I'mma holla at you lighter went you done working out and all dat, than imma cum over and work dat as out somoa.
…still sexy?
Mar 11th, 2011
Lina
oh man, i have some texts saved on my computer from this one dude, who was just awful. Using "steal" for "still", "through" for "threw" (at least he knew a big word lol), and whole host of other mistakes. when i replied to him, i would use the word correctly or show him the right word to use, but that never seemed to work. i just lost a lot of respect for him – if i'm clowning you to my parents and reading your off texts to them, it's a wrap.
Mar 11th, 2011
ddddddd
bosh bottom lip HAHAHHAAHAH
Mar 11th, 2011
Independent Woman
Exactly…wallowing in niggerishness is never sexy!
I will take Morris Chestnut in The Brothers over Fredro Starr in Sunset Park any day of the week!
Mar 11th, 2011
Independent Woman
Shakier than Bosh's sexuality is more like it.
Mar 11th, 2011
Independent Woman
Even in a "smash and dash" why would you subject yourself to hearing the voice of a grown man who forms sentences like a 4 year old?!
Mar 11th, 2011
Independent Woman
Please tell me you didn't sleep with that fool…
Mar 11th, 2011
amonet9
I never said I would.
I simply said that for that particular purpose, and in that particular instance I am willing to turn a blind eye to things that I wouldn't normally.
As ass backward as this may sound, not every man or woman I have ever/will ever sleep with will be #takeittothealter material and being fully comfortable in that knowledge I know that sometime a dick is just a dick, and a puss just a puss not someone for fireside chats or long coffee dates. This isn't lowering my standards, it's being practical with my time.
Mar 11th, 2011
Crystal Promo-Fernandez
LOL!! Maybe not so much!
Mar 11th, 2011
Crystal Promo-Fernandez
He just sounds like pure unadulterated dumbass!!
Mar 11th, 2011
Crystal Promo-Fernandez
http://www.realtalk.com
Mar 11th, 2011
The_Mad_HATER
girl stop lying! you know you given some dumb niggas the crotches!
Mar 11th, 2011
The_Mad_HATER
thank you for keeping it real crystal!
Mar 11th, 2011
Kam
Sweetie I don't know about the dumb a*ses you sleep and associate with but I hold myself at a higher standard thank you.
Mar 13th, 2011
poediddly
Im a dude and it unattractive for someone over 20 to be doing that.
I cant stand grown women that type "lik dis all d tyme nahmeans,illy??doe..Lolerz!!!11" or talk like a hoodrat and curse nonstop.Grow the fuck up,seriously.
Mar 24th, 2011
Dan
The question is, what's your threshold?
For example, in your statement, you used "its s" instead of "it's a". Does that make you illiterate, or is it just a mistake?
Aug 22nd, 2011
petersburgh
lol
Jul 26th, 2012
petersburgh
It does play a part in attraction and anyone who says differently probably are not unlike the person they attract. Sometimes things fall through the cracks but generally, most people pay attention to things like that especially if they are looking for a serious date. If someone knows they just want to smash and bounce, they may forgo things like that
Jul 26th, 2012
Neil
ROTFL like a muggg! Lolol
Jul 26th, 2012
curious georgina
Just curious- why did you describe her skin tone? I understand people who do this, I really don't.
Jul 26th, 2012
Marie
You wrong as hell for that Macy Gray Comment!!! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 26th, 2012
n0labels
It definitely plays a part in mine. To see someone look so fabulous and when you see the person's response or hear them talk not quite match, it's really sad. For me, it deflates the attraction right away.
Jul 26th, 2012
Adonis
Please send that girls Twitter this way! LMAO
Jul 26th, 2012
bornscorpion
Lol EXACTLY!
Jul 26th, 2012
bornscorpion
In relation to the article, I understand his sentiment and totally agree. Not to be a Debbie Downer… however all jokes aside let's be mindful of those who may have learning disabilities in language and/or writing skills — such as dyslexia — and can't help it. Syntax errors (such as those you've described in your guy friend) are more so indicative to a learning disability vs. willful ignorance.
Jul 26th, 2012
dimmabl
There are certain things I like that are "wrong" for me to like, but illiteracy is not one of them. I don't think that bad speech or writing skills means a person is necessarily stupid, life is tough and people make bad decisions, but even with the understanding that I might actually be able to have an intelligent conversation with you, if you sound ignant I can't go there with you.
Jul 29th, 2012
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