Edited to remove my post that some have found offensive and that might have caused embarrassment, anger, or hurt feelings. It was not my intention.

I have no animosity toward or problems with A Closer Look or anyone who works for or with them.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2012 10:01PM by Jamiesan.

Edited to remove my post after Jamiesan edited her OP.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2012 03:20AM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.

**tosses her first two cents into the pot**

I'm a fairly new shopper and brand new with ACL, having only completed three shops with them (so far). I could not self-assign my first shop, but after getting my gold stars (5/5's) from the editor, I can self-assign.

So far, this seems like a well run company with articulate staff who have been easy for me to work with. This was put to the test when malls, in which I had shops scheduled, closed for the hurricane this past Monday.

Edited because I should have taken her bait.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2012 01:30PM by emily.palmer@acloserlook.

I wish we had a "don't like" button so I could click it for the original post, but we don't so here goes.

The OP is highly critical without serving any useful purpose. There is no logical reason to pick the MSC apart. I understood from the job listing what the company wanted, and realized that "breakfast" was an inadvertent error. Jamiesan makes many grammatical errors in multiple posts and is obviously unaware of them. They are not important, and I don't care. Nevertheless, it wouldn't hurt to cut some slack for the rest of us. This is not grade school test day.

Like many others on this forum, Jamiesan is a good writer and expresses herself strongly and clearly. This is all that is needed. Perfection is not required here or on reports. Reports will be corrected by the MSC to the standard they prefer. Here we can be kind and thoughtful with one another and offer support and encouragement.

Life is hard. Let's have more hugs.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> If you are going to criticize someone else's post
> for errors, especially in such a negative manner,
> you may want to make sure your own post is free of
> errors, such as:
>
> 1. not using quotation marks for Tiffany's post
> or setting it off in a block;

I was unable to use the quote button, so I copied and pasted. I believe that that is obvious. I set nothing off in block. I just copied and pasted. If you mean that I should have set it off in block, I don't know how to do that in this forum.


> 2. writing in sentence fragments;
> 3. starting a sentence with a conjunction; and

It's called poetic license. "The liberty taken by an artist or a writer in deviating from conventional form or fact to achieve a desired effect."
It's also called artistic license. "...alteration of the conventions of grammar or language..."

Sometimes, intentional incorrect grammar usage gets the point across better.


> 4. using bullet points improperly.

Instead of just stating that I did something incorrectly, why don't you educate me on the proper way? Isn't that often how posts go? And people learn?


> What are other shoppers and potential clients
> supposed to think if this is the way an editor
> posts?

Most people/shoppers wouldn't notice much less care. Potential clients don't know who I am. (Yes, I realize that you are just picking apart my post as much as possible.)


> If you don't mean to pick on a company or
> scheduler, you may consider citing a post as an
> example but removing the name of the company or
> scheduler.

Yes, I could have removed identifying information. I'll keep that in mind.


There have been discussions elsewhere, probably where I should have posted my original post, that have complained about incorrect, oddly worded, grammatically deplorable, etc., MS jobs. When I point out one, everyone jumps on me.

As I stated initially, I didn't mean to pick on ACL, but my points are valid. Perhaps reactions would have been different if I had chosen a post by BARE, Service Sleuth, or Kern.

emily.palmer@acloserlook Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Really? I think you might have too much time on your hands.

That's not up to you to decide, is it?
I think many of us on this forum have too much time on our hands at times. Look at the high number of posts some members have, especially compared to the length of time they have been members.


>Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

Yes, we all do. Job postings, however, should list the correct job at the very least.


>You ought to see some of the responses I get to job postings......

I can imagine. I edit. I have seen repeatedly how many shoppers write.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I understood from the job
> listing what the company wanted, and realized that
> "breakfast" was an inadvertent error.

Inadvertent errors cause shoppers to perform shops the wrong way, not get paid, or get marked down.


> Jamiesan makes many grammatical errors in multiple posts
> and is obviously unaware of them. They are not
> important, and I don't care.

Clearly you do care. Please point out my "many grammatical errors in multiple posts."
Can you really support your accusation? I doubt it. (I don't doubt that I make a few errors.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2012 07:34PM by Jamiesan.

Oh for God's sake. Was it really necessary to make three separate posts and make them even longer by quoting? There were only five posts on the page, I'm sure anyone with a desire to could have followed along easily enough.

For the record, we do like to have some fun with scheduler posts and that was my expectation when opening this thread. There was nothing funny or interesting in the original post. Just the usual sanctimony.

KatLovesToShop Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> **tosses her first two cents into the pot**

Welcome, and congrats on your first post.


> So far, this seems like a well run company with
> articulate staff who have been easy for me to work
> with.


I have no problem with this company and no doubt that they are well run. As I stated in my original post, "I don't mean to pick on this company. There are many [job ads], even worse, out there in terms of content errors and punctuational errors." I don't know enough about this company to have an opinion, but what little I do know about them indicates that they are fine to work with. I used their post only as an example, which I probably should have been posted in another more relevant section.

Jamiesan, reaction would have been no different had you chosen a different company. The reactions are not in defense of the company at all, but are in response to criticism that is not appropriate.

If this seriously concerned you, you could have contacted the company and privately alerted them to this minor error in their job posting. You did not choose that option, and instead chose to embarrass the company in a public forum.

You cannot make yourself look knowledgeable by making someone else look less so. Your posts prove that your knowledge of grammar and composition is perhaps better than average, but it is not superior. Regardless of your own level of skill, you are out of line to initiate unrequested criticism of others. Your job as an editor does not extend to correcting the job postings of companies which do not employ you or contract with you, and it does not extend to correcting my posts unless you happen to be the editor on one of my shops.

We should be kind, and we should be good to each other. All of us are here trying to make a living, and we're not looking to be graded on every word we post. Most of us were educated at Imatelling U., and I'm telling you, Jamiesan, no good can come from being harsh and critical of others in the boat.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Oh for God's sake. Was it really necessary to make
> three separate posts and make them even longer by
> quoting? There were only five posts on the page,
> I'm sure anyone with a desire to could have
> followed along easily enough.


Yes, it was. I didn't quote entire posts, like Busy did. Hers was the first reply. There was no reason for her to quote my entire post "for God's sake."

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If this seriously concerned you, you could have
> contacted the company and privately alerted them
> to this minor error in their job posting. You did
> not choose that option, and instead chose to
> embarrass the company in a public forum.

ROFL! I couldn't possibly contact every company with misleading/erroneous job ads!

Again, it was not my intent to single them out. I have said so a number of times. I also stated that I should be more careful in the future. Did you not read that?


> You cannot make yourself look knowledgeable by
> making someone else look less so.

That is not my intent.


> Regardless of your own level of
> skill, you are out of line to initiate unrequested
> criticism of others.

If you read this forum, you know that posters do that all of the time.


>Your job as an editor does
> not extend to correcting the job postings of
> companies which do not employ you or contract with
> you, and it does not extend to correcting my posts
> unless you happen to be the editor on one of my
> shops.

It's not my job as an editor that causes me to point out incorrect postings, in this case to a company that I have, indeed, worked for. I mentioned that I have done work for them. As I said, such errors are rampant in various companies' job ads. I pointed out one.

Correcting your post? The only comment I see that you might be referring to is my questioning your accusal that I make many errors. Why wouldn't you think that I had a right to do that?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2012 08:23PM by Jamiesan.

Jamiesan - I agree you have never made a grammatical correction to a post of mine. My intention was to say that your job as an editor does not extend to correcting me unless you are the editor on my shop. You are catching flack because you are coming on like you believe you are the grammar instructor and everyone else makes up the student body.

Lighten up. Grammar is not at the top of what makes a good shopper. It goes down the list under dependability, honesty, intelligence, comprehension, and the ability to clearly report a sequence of events and answer questions in a clear and concise manner.

It is not my intention to criticise your grammar. It is my intention to point out that your continued criticism of others may not always be welcome, and perhaps you should reconsider. I will state without reservation that you are actually not qualified to criticise grammar because your skills are not superior, and if you wish to be a critic you should educate yourself to a higher level.

In the end, it is only what we can do to support each other that will matter. Helpful criticisms may be offered by private message, and will not offend anyone if done correctly. As far as contacting every company about errors you find, I suggest you stop looking for those errors and let the companies fend for themselves.

Your position as an editor provides you with the ability to address issues on the forum from a different perspective. You can provide useful information we need, and you can answer some of our questions. Most of us are not interested in a grammar class, and if we are we can participate in threads devoted to grammar questions. Please don't screw up the opportunity by picking us apart.

Jamiesan,

Actually, there was a reason for me to quote your entire post, though it had nothing to do with God.

What's the point of educating you on bullet points or citing other examples of errors in your posts? You could cite poetic or artistic license, deny you were wrong, or not address the errors.

Were you unable to use both the quote button on the forum and the quote button on your keyboard? I wonder what you would say to a shopper who provided direct quotes without using quotation marks in his/her report and he/she tried to justify the error(s) the way you did here.

"Most people/shoppers wouldn't notice much less care. Potential clients don't know who I am. (Yes, I realize that you are just picking apart my post as much as possible.)"

Oh, what irony and hypocrisy! It was also possible for me to pick apart your post even more, but I saw no need to do so.

As Mary stated, the response would probably have been no different if you had picked on another company. Karma is a funny thing, isn't it?

"Inadvertent errors cause shoppers to perform shops the wrong way, not get paid, or get marked down."

Please tell us how this was relevant to the scheduler's post. Yes, it was obvious that she made a mistake with "breakfast." However, what kind of shopper would read the entire job posting, fixate on that one word, and ignore all other indications that this was a workout shop?

Let's see. A shopper thinks this is a breakfast shop, applies for the shop, and gets assigned. He/she reads the shop guidelines and report form, as ACL requires, and still thinks this is a breakfast shop. He/she does not contact ACL for clarification, goes to the gym, chews on a yoga mat or medicine ball, and reports on how unappetizing it is?

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/04/2012 03:21AM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I will state without reservation that you are
> actually not qualified to criticise grammar
> because your skills are not superior, and if you
> wish to be a critic you should educate yourself to
> a higher level.

I am always open to learning. Here's more flack I'll have to take, but, yes, my skills are superior. Not to everyone's, of course. And they aren't the best they can be. But they are excellent.

You read and post enough that you probably saw my reply to Lisa (I think) that stated that I feel unknowledgeable in many areas, but grammar isn't one of them. I'm not bragging (no, I'm not). I'm saying that it's my strong point. My talent. I have few, but this is one. I have honed it and will continue to. Granted, I don't always have to use it, as you and so many others have pointed out, but it is above average (even though I make mistakes). For that, I will not apologize.


> I suggest you stop looking for those errors

I am not looking for them. When I read, I see them. The bell can't be unrung. I can move on, but I can't not see it.

BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jamieson,
>
> Actually, there was a reason for me to quote your
> entire post, though it had nothing to do with
> God.

I was using Lisa's words.


> What's the point of educating you on bullet points
> or citing other examples of errors in your posts?
> You could cite poetic or artistic license, deny
> you were wrong, or not address the errors.


What makes you say that?

I don't deny that I'm wrong when I'm wrong. Do you have some examples? If you read my posts, you have seen a number of times that I have admitted that I was wrong.

What do you mean not address the errors? Address them in what way?


> Were you unable to use both the quote button on
> the forum and the quote button on your keyboard?

As I stated in my reply post to you, "I was unable to use the quote button [on that page]" because it was a forum for job postings. I could see and find my keyboard's quote button. It works just dandy. I thought that the format of the job posting sufficiently explained itself. I introduced it with "The following was posted in the appropriate section:" The job post ended with an edit by the scheduler, including her name, and the dates and times of the edit and the post. I erroneously thought that such information would suffice to indicate that the entire section was the quoted job post. I'm sorry for the confusion I caused to readers. I also added extra space between the job post and my comments to further set apart the job ad from my post.



> "Inadvertent errors cause shoppers to perform
> shops the wrong way, not get paid, or get marked
> down."
>
> Please tell us how this was relevant to Tiffany's
> post. Yes, it was obvious that Tiffany made a
> mistake with "breakfast." However, what kind of
> shopper would read the entire job posting, fixate
> on that one word, and ignore all other indications
> that this was a workout shop?

In this job post, it wouldn't be confusing. I made a general comment that applies to errors in job posts and shop instructions. My comment above stands alone.

OK, Jamie, you know it all and we're not up to your standards.

I did not need to participate in this conversation

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2012 01:31PM by emily.palmer@acloserlook.

Schedulers, editors, shoppers, and even MS home pages have grammatical errors. Ain't that right? I think it might be more beneficial to look at the heart and meat of the post than to focus on the petty stuff. For example, my issue with ACL is not the grammatical errors. My issue is that I get multiple emails asking to do a job, but when I agree to accept it, the system says I don't qualify as I have done the same shop within the last 6 months. I would rather get an email request that needed a translator to determine what the email was trying to say, copy it into Word to remove all the typos, and still have the request be unclear than to send me multiple, grammatically correct emails asking me to do shops they will instantly say I am not qualified to do. I get the mass email system, but there shouldbesome box to check before sending those mass emails that removes uneligible shoppers......just sayin' in an grammatically incorrect conclusion.
Let's not also forget the frustrating autocorrect many of us have with these fancy tablets and phones that are so technologically advanced but yet autocorrect with the dumbest of substitutes.

This posting has been deleted in its entirely by the writer after realizing she must have completely misjudged the tenor of the situation transpiring on this thread. Her initial belief that the ongoing discourse was negative enough to warrant intervention was obviously naiive.

That being said, it would then go to reason that her own comments in response to the exchanges made must not be applicable or accurate, necessitating retraction and apologies to all involved.

Lesson learned.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2012 10:03PM by shopgal.

Grammar: The difference between knowing your sh*t and knowing you're sh*t.

This thread warrants the following:

Woohoo! Woohoo! Girl fight! Girl fight!!

Has this exchange served anyone's best interest? It would have been nice to see a short dissertation on the relevance of this issue followed by an academic discussion of the issue.

Message deleted.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/06/2012 10:04PM by shopgal.

With respect, I am asking that we don't turn this into a Jamiesan-bashing thread.

IMO, she was/is not a troll. I believe she believed what she wrote and was not posting simply to get people all riled up and argue.

She started this controversial thread and responded to criticism. Obviously, some of us had issues with her attitude and positions, but please let's not make things worse.

She edited her original post already. Yes, life is short. Let's move on, please.

I agree with Busy. Several of us had differing opinions on the issue but that doesn't mean anyone should be unwelcome or not accepted on the forum. Jamiesan is not a troll and has been a valued member of this forum with a lot to offer. I often post too aggressively and I will try to do better. Busy is correct. We have all stated our positions and now we should move on.

YAY! The voices of reason do prevail!!!

Moving on...please refer to my edited post.

Oh no! Can't say this forum made my day.