Man leaves two kids at home while he robs gas station

The 25-year-old man was caring for his two young children, both under the age of 5, when he left them to commit the robbery. (In the paper's comments section, a reader blames alcohol. I love that the grammar police chime in, too.) (Salt Lake Tribune)

Comments

[Tom Weidermeijer]

What? Did you want him to take the kids with him to work? This isn't 'Raising Arizona' and he was just 'stopping off for Huggies'.

The older one was in charge of the younger one... we can't coddle kids ALL their life... geesh.

[Big Kahuna]

I appreciate the Grammar Police comment!

I had the same take reading the headline in the story; that the kids were left alone to rob the store.

It became bad form to comment on misspelling/grammar on the Net long ago. Now it seems poor English has become quotidian (pun intended) for online newspapers.

Perhaps this is due to online content being managed by entry level workers? Lack of editors? General dumbing-down of culture?

[Sheila]

BK: All three contribute to the dismal downturn of journalistic skills. Education majors at many universities are told by their professors that language skills in general are "elitist" and should not be taught to schoolchildren because such skills stifle "problem solving" and "creativity." Complete rot.

[Phranqlin]

"Take Your Child To Work Day" isn't until April, so he had to leave the kids at home.

[twerp]

I have mixed emotions when it comes to the grammar police. I believe in some circumstances (like in this story) it is warranted. Misplaced modifiers are ridiculous no matter where they're found.

Now when it comes to whether the style fits the article(ex: AP style, Chicago Manual of style, MLA style...blah, blah, blah)--that's when it comes off as arrogant and elitist. I've been finding out that different publications often follow their own style guides these days and make their own modifications to various style guides. In my opinion, I don't care whether or not a writer puts a comma before the word "and" in a series of words because in some style books it's acceptable while in others it's not. I care more about the MEAT of the article.

[Farmer Bob and the City]

Sterilization.

[Dances With Books]

At least he knew to leave the kids at home. This other "Parent of the Year" took hers to the robbery.

http://bit.ly/fI6pV5

[The Hermit]

He was heard to say," boy, I'll be glad when you little shits can drive ma getaway car".