Have you ever heard that saying before?

I've always found it to be true, more so on social media.

Several things, accounts, people, organisations have come to my attention lately that's prompted this post from me this morning.

You know.. You hear about accounts that claim to want to help raise blogging standards. And sure that's sounds good enough but when you look closely you see despite good intentions, the way in which they choose to go about their business leaves a sour after taste.

Grammar. Blog quality. Formatting. Is not the be all and end all.

I've seen it time and time again. Where people choose to see beyond the spelling mistakes, the poor grammar, the sad formatting and actually absorb the essence and heart of a post.

What gets me the most is people don't realise. No one wakes up knowing a language fluently. Doesn't matter which language it is. We all have to learn it in increments.

English is my fourth language. Tagalog was my first followed by Ilongo and Cebuano (both Filipino dialects). 30 years in Australia made sure English was my number one and the only one I knew well enough to speak.

That wasn't always the case though.

The amount of times I was bullied in primary school because I had broken English and a weird accent, I've lost count of.

Someone even tried to push me down the stairs at school.

Even at my young age I knew my English was not a reflection of how smart I was or my true potential.

It took years and extra English classes before I was confident enough with my English and myself.

After that I was unstoppable and god help you if you tried to bully me in any way.

I suppose in some ways I am grateful to the elitist assholes who think they are the grammar queens and kings. Your intolerance helped me be who I am today.

So here's a little tip for those who think they know it all

Your attitude speaks louder than your "great" English and it is off putting.

The foundation of my Steemit life is based on building relationships (honey) not tearing people down because I feel their English is not good enough.

I feel my English is good enough to be able to interpret the essence of a post. Is yours as good as mine?

Furthermore. And this might actually help you. People like me go out looking for people to lend their support to and your organisation might look ok at first but further digging reveals a toxic environment (vinegar).

And that I will not ever support or endorse.

It might actually even make me raise the situation with other people and make sure they are aware of the goings on before they think about supporting your project.

Yes this is a decentralised platform but that doesn't mean people sit idly by while assholes run rampant. This is Steemit. People are watching.

And I'm glad I looked before I offered support. That was a close one.

Are you able to achieve your goals and still remain humble? Can you mentor someone and not be demeaning?

You're my sort of human being.
Keep up the good work.

❤ Arly

(Winnie the Pooh image credits to Disney & StuffPoint.)