Have recent generations forgotten correct spelling and grammar?

Dont people have anything better to write about that this???????

Not to be biased but forget it, this comment is for the 28 and below group. How much do we actually write out on pen and paper? We email, we text, we myspace, we facebook - all informal so who cares? We write our school papers with spellcheck, we chart on a computer, and in my little experience with charting there is almost always a list that you select from, with occasional annotation. Most text messages auto correct for you when you text, so I think we get lazy. I can think of very few things that are expected to be written out on paper with pen. I am personally a list maker so I write to myself frequently with my to-do list, to buy list, etc. But if I actually stoppped to think about how to spell half of the things I write, I would be in trouble

As noted above, verbal and written communication skills are essential. In order to be perceived as a professional, one must communicate in a professional manner. However, if you don't agree, you're free to skip this thread and move on to something you consider "better to write about that this."

I am so glad my children ages 28, 22 and 19 years old don't feel this way. The 19 yr old especially hates to use the text abbreviation, "u" as I do. So when we (yes, gasp!) text each other we abbreviate almost every word we can so we don't have to use the abbreviation, "u". And, no, she's not a nerd. I think she has 506 Facebook friends.

While it's true one may be able to "get by" relying on technology to fill in the knowledge gap, one will be limiting opportunities in life. I have to admit though, I'm biased. When I see a concisely written, well formatted document I get a little thrill up my leg.

Not to be biased but forget it, this comment is for the 28 and below group. How much do we actually write out on pen and paper? We email, we text, we myspace, we facebook - all informal so who cares? We write our school papers with spellcheck, we chart on a computer, and in my little experience with charting there is almost always a list that you select from, with occasional annotation. Most text messages auto correct for you when you text, so I think we get lazy. I can think of very few things that are expected to be written out on paper with pen. I am personally a list maker so I write to myself frequently with my to-do list, to buy list, etc. But if I actually stoppped to think about how to spell half of the things I write, I would be in trouble

Slightly out of context here...
My 4 yo is just learning to read and write. And we had a meeting with the teacher, in which it was explained to us, parents, how to teach them to read. Basically, I am meant to repeat the same sentence over and over again, pointing at the words, untill she memorises it. It's taken me slightly aback, I would have thought you're meant to read letter by letter (I agree, it doesn't always make sense in English, sometimes what you write and what you read is a totally different kettle of fish, but we're at the very early stages, 2-4 letters words max).
So what she does now, she reads/writes, she remembers the first couple of letters, but when it comes to the end of the word, she sort of makes it up as she goes along.
We're talking British English here, but I have friends who, instead of annoying themselves with 'definitely', they'll write 'defo', much less of a headache this way.
Could the problem be that they are taught to read this way?