Why are language and spelling unimportant these days? Between abbreviations, misspelled words and the inability of many to grammatically form a sentence, I don't understand why language has lost its significance.

Why are there poor and wealthy people in the world? Not everyone is capable, for whatever reasons there may be, of displaying a command of language and it's expression. Having said that, I'm sure you and I have other areas where we're not nearly so adept. I can empathize with your frustration a bit, though we have to consider that so many are brought up under what may amount to being considerably less favorable conditions for development than ourselves.

Only on AB:)

In order to do well in business and professions people still need to know how and to actually spell and write well.

Those that don't will stay on the bottom rungs of society and not do well.

Are they? Has it? Surely good spelling and grammar has always been a trait of the well educated.
I agree a lot of people who could learn are lazy in learning spelling and grammar when a spell check will do the work, but as literacy rates constantly improve you're always going to have the people that aren't proficient at writing.

I asked a similiar question to this awhile ago and was surprised at how people answered with spelling mistakes! I believe our teachers are so overwhelmed with problem kids that writing skills, punctuation, grammar, etc have gone to the wayside.

Who has time to teach writing when kids are bringing guns and knives to school?

It's sad but true and burns my butt!

Spell check makes you lazy. You no longer have to retain information because it's all at your fingertips if you have a computer.
As for grammar - prior to the Internet, how would you have known if other people know how to properly structure their sentences? It's just more known now because more people share their thoughts on open forums like this.
I don't hold improper grammar against anyone - it's been almost 20 years since I took an English class and I couldn't remember what a gerund is to save my life. It's the spelling that drives me insane - even if it was spelled incorrectly on purpose. Spell check is just one click on your mouse!

Well, friend, you can try to stop English from changing but that's like having teens 'just say no' to sex. English is VERY malleable, which is its strength. Yes, resistance is necessary, but don't bemoan the inevitable changes.

Dunno but f*ck em