I will be using examples from the above posts, and apologize to any who feel violated by being used as a standard. I also apologize to anyone who doesn't like being categorized, but please don't hurt me. I'm just making an observation.
The way I see it, there are four views of internet grammar:
1. The practical. As long as the message gets across, why bother capitalization and spell-checking? Example:
D2wontdie post=18.69503.662008 said:
i hate it when people make mistakes to the point when its illegible and somehow they think its acceptible but if its a common misspelling im fine with it and i just really like the word irked
2. The retyper. Uses spell check, changes misspelled words, capitalizes I, titles, the beginning of sentences, doesn't delve too absurdly deep about the actual proper use of language. Nobody but English majors are going to get squirmy because you ended your sentence in a preposition. Example:
Shivari post=18.69503.662178 said:
As someone who has quoted someone's post and then bolded mistakes to correct them, it's a mixture of two things. Now if you spell one or two things wrong in a longer post, I can tolerate that, it happens. But if someone consistently spells words wrong or it's just something that they should really be doing right (misusing then or than being an example) I'll call them out.
But really spelling and grammar are just a huge pet peeves of mine.
(Note: No offense Shivari, but that was an hilariously ironic typo.)
3. The English major. While not necessarily an English major, he/she cares about the way the language is used or abused, but usually won't go out of their way to enforce it and ridicule the ones whom cannot seem to navigate their way around a spell-check. Example:
Susan Arendt post=18.69503.662098 said:
There are some folks who point out others' mistakes simply to make themselves feel superior, and you'll find those people in virtually any online environment. Everyone makes mistakes, typos are a sign of being human, and not everyone heeds every last rule of grammar. Nor should they.
That said, when the grammar and spelling of your post breaks down to the point that the reader has to struggle to understand your meaning, you're due for some criticism. When the only communication you have with an audience is the written word, it behooves you to make an effort to communicate your thoughts clearly and well.
Also, "u suk" and other such shortcuts simply make you appear lazy and careless. If you're texting on a phone, that's one thing (though I don't like it then, either), but if you're at a computer keyboard there's simply no need for that kind of shortcut.
4. The grammar Nazi. Do I really need to explain?