I'm becoming less tolerant than Indonesia

[David Williams]

The BBC News web site this morning reports on Lady Gaga's cancellation of her Indonesian show:

... the performer's management team on Sunday called off the show, citing security concerns after hardline Islamic groups threatened to cause "chaos" if she was to enter the country.

I really cannot tolerate this. When I hear of hardline fanaticists threatening violence against those who are merely expressing a liberal view my blood temperature rises, but it reaches boiling point when that news is combined with the most disgusting and outrageous failure to use the subjunctive mood.

I mean, FFS, what hope is there if even the BBC News site editors don't immediately stamp out this appalling erosion of the values upon which a decent society is based?

[Timothy]

Less people use "were" than "fewer".

[David Williams]

I once had an email exchange with an editor of the BBC News site, after I pointed out what I believed (and still believe) to be an error regarding "less" versus "fewer".

They'd written something like "less than 20% of students", and I had asked them to change it to "fewer than 20% of students". Initially I received a reply telling me that a percentage should always take "less than", but I argued (successfully in the end) that it depends what you're taking a percentage of. It it's countable, then it should be "fewer"; otherwise it should be "less". Hence "less than 20% of the water in the sea" is correct, but I think it needs to be "fewer than 20% of students".

They changed it that time. I'm still waiting to see whether they change it this time!

[Keef]

Excellent! As a paid-up member of the subjunctive preservation society, I approve.
There was a time when the BBC set the standards. It's very sad to see standards slipping.

I'm not sure I approve of the Indonesian fanatics, though. There seem to be some very different standards in operation: we get Abu Qatada, they don't get Lady Gaga.

[Gerard Clarke]

A lot of people, amongst them some, ahem, mature semi-retired clerical gentlemen, don't get Lady Gaga, but I think she rocks and rules.

[Jwscud]

Amen brother. Quite frankly I think the police should be empowered in the same way that the Roman Army clearly were in the Holy Land many aeons ago...

[lobstaboy]

They'd written something like "less than 20% of students", and I had asked them to change it to "fewer than 20% of students". Initially I received a reply telling me that a percentage should always take "less than", but I argued (successfully in the end) that it depends what you're taking a percentage of. It it's countable, then it should be "fewer"; otherwise it should be "less". Hence "less than 20% of the water in the sea" is correct, but I think it needs to be "fewer than 20% of students".

YES yes yes yes! Cause of huge rift chez Lobsta - nearest to divorce we've ever been. I kid you not.

Martin

[FlyingPanda]

Whilst I, like others here, get mildly annoyed by the erosion in standards across the meedja, I am staggered at the fervour displayed by some of the "it must be correct because it really matters" brigade.

Is this a result of the recession? Bad weather? High Temperatures? Is there so little else to do that (firstly) writing to the editors to point out the error of their ways or secondly (and perhaps more worryingly) logging onto an internet forum to re-live the whole experience and getting (presumably) all worked up again in the process is seen as being a good use of a life?

Is it really worth the stress?

I suggest a trip to Africa; perspective will be provided free-of-charge

[Dave Phillips]

I think you guys should have less axes to grind.

[FlyingPanda]

Daves being more and more naughtier

[Bill McCarthy]

.....more and more naughty, actually.

[FlyingPanda]

.....more and more naughty, actually.

3/10 for observation Bill...

[jaycee58]

I want a new Internet. One without the spelling and grammar police .

[David Williams]

It's extremely rare that I moan about other people's spelling or grammar on an internet forum, but in this case it has been written by a professional writer on a very high-profile news web site. So yes, I expect high standards there, and their writing should be exemplary. In all seriousness there is no excuse for the appallingly ugly grammatical error in that story, committed by someone for whom this sort of stuff should be so basic that they don't have to think about it.

[rustle]

Whilst I, like others here, get mildly annoyed by the erosion in standards across the meedja, I am staggered at the fervour displayed by some of the "it must be correct because it really matters" brigade.

Hear, hear.

It is very sad indeed. Especially when such effort is made to point out tiny grammatical errors yet the bias, misreporting and general agenda-pushing of the BBC are not pointed out or even acknowledged.