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[Fruit Pie Jones]

If I may contribute once again to the off-topic side of this conversation, Raffles is right; I'm not an insanely picky scholar, but I do care about spelling and grammar. However, I don't care about these things simply for the purpose of needling people; I'm interested (on an amateur level) in the English language and its history. I like finding out information about the origin of a particular word or phrase, especially one that I've used for ages without really thinking about it. (WordOrigins.org is an excellent website for this sort of thing, if I'm not the only one.) An appreciation for correct spelling and grammar goes along with that interest.

I also agree with Raffles' other point: communication is a necessary part of life for social creatures (which we are), and a solid grasp of the mechanics of your language will help you to be an effective communicator.

One more note: I have a great deal of respect for those of you who speak English as a second (or third or fourth or...) language. It's the only one I speak, so if I ever make a derogatory remark about your skills with the language, feel free to put me in my place.