these are comments on a blog
And yet, somehow, we seem to manage basic grammar, spelling and word choice on this blog, even though there's more anonymity and less incentive.
I'm shocked by how poorly some of my peers write
This is a fact about the map, not a fact about the territory. You just need to calibrate your expectations downward.
And yet, somehow, we seem to manage basic grammar, spelling and word choice on this blog, even though there's more anonymity and less incentive.
I think the karma system has a lot to do with this, along with the fact that good grammar and style are community norms here.
ETA: The most important thing, though, is the instructions the students were given--if the professor advised them not to worry about grammar, then that's what the students will do.
...This is a fact about the map, not a fact about the territory. You just need to calibrate your expectations
Link.
Given the positive reactions, I think the professor seeded them with a positive impression of the site's content.