My 2 cents (which, because we have no 1 or 2 cent pieces, rounds down to nothing):

I have great respect for the English language too and hate it when people cannot write properly because they don't put any effort into their writing. I do tire of lazy sods who don't use any puctuation or check their spelling. But I'm not about to go and rip into them over it, they're just human.

I have great espect for anyone who is willing to learn the language of the country they're in. I'm sick of walking down to the main shopping strip and not being able to buy anything because I can't speak Chineese, let alone their particualr dialect. This also goes for this forum. A lot of forums only have an English section, they forget the other languages. The Larian forum is unique in that it caters for a number of languages. Even so, a number of users come into the English foums seeking help, simply due to the fact there are greater numbers here (I'm assuming). A lot of them put great effort into their typing because they don't know the language and have to get their ideas across. And most of it is phonetic because they haven't had the 15-40 years experience the rest of us have. I wouldn't have a hope in hell of talking on the German foums, and I wouldn't go there an type English because it's plain rude.

If you read Quezi's posts phonetically, you can understand them. Sure I had to stop on a couple of words, but you could work them out from the rest of the writing. The overall meaning was there. If it needed to be perfect, he/she would have hired an editor.

And by writing things phonetically, you can portray tone of voice. That is one thing I've always tried to use. It doesn't always work, but when it does, it's effective.

Also, I like Quezi's idea that speech is like music. I've often found that I understand music, particularly electronic music, more than I understand spoken tones. I such with detecting sarcasm or anger, but I'll get the point the song's trying to make.

Now I'm gald that 2 cent coins aren't really this big. Mind you, that would explain why they were discontinued. Have fun!