Why do Germans pick on you if you don't use the correct English spelling and grammar online?

Question

I've tried discussing things on German forums since I understand the language. The only thing was that I wrote in English. Since I didn't write some words in capital letters such as "english" or "german" or words that you'd usually write in capital letters they just started picking on me. They said things like "oh I don't think she's from the U.S." or "she's not a native english speaker" or they just called me a liar. Why are people so obsessed about something like this. It's not that it bothered me but I'm just wondering in general.

Answer 1

Not all Germans are like that, you just were at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Tut mir leid, aber es gibt auch hier solche und solche.

Answer 2

hon, you just generalized the entire German speaking world.  Maybe the ones you were talking to were just better with grammar.

Answer 3

The Germans I know are great spellers, not only in German but in other languages they know. I know of one student who got frustrated that a native English speaker was asking her how to spell something in English. "This is your first language," she said " you should know how to spell it." Perhaps they see improper grammar and spelling mistakes as signs you haven't mastered the language yet!

(I guess my German friends think I don't know German or English, then...)☺

Answer 4

They should understand that some if not most people in the USA online don't capitalize what they're supposed to do.  Just tell them that's what USA peeps do casually.

Answer 5

Tell them to visit the US Yahoo Answers and see for themselves that capitalization is not 'de rigueur' in the USA

Answer 6

because they are good at speaking english.

Answer 7

I guess they believe this is how you tell educated people from illiterate people...I always appreciate when people know how to spell...think about it, you have the ability to get a great education, USE IT!