Grammar: The system of rules by which words are formed and put together to make sentences.
That doesn't sound so pretentious to me. In fact, without grammar, could we even form sentences? Coherent thoughts? Without this rule set, wouldn't we all just be screaming nonsense syllables at each other in the hopes of communication?
No, of course not. We'd revert to throwing rocks at each other's heads in the hopes of dashing everyone's stupid brains out.
The fact is that the people that rail against grammar haven't eschewed it. Rather, they grew up with a basic rule set, then dumbed it down to a more "guttural" vernacular level to fit their lazy needs. They're like the people that pick and choose which doctrines in scripture they're going to heed. "Oh, I'll believe that God loves everyone, but not that He punishes them for sinning! God can't punish us if He loves us!"
What malarkey.
Alright, there's a bit of a difference there, but it just irks me when people take something completely constructive and good and dumb it down because they're too lazy--oh, excuse me, "sophisticated"--to follow commonly accepted practices. Fine. Let anarchy reign over your writing. Let the thoughts flow unhindered from your brain with no bridle or means of correcting your mistakes.
What you end up with is word salad that makes you sound like a single celled organism slithering across a keyboard.
OH, can I point out another pet peeve that I keep meaning to vent about? The difference between the words "accept" and "except" has been eradicated from the understanding of the people. No joke, I saw a sign at work in the back one day...
REQUESTS FOR TIME OFF BEYOND JULY 14TH WILL NOT BE EXCEPTED.
For whatever reason, I was having a bad day and decided that correcting this laughably incorrect sign was in order. The sign still hangs on the door of the manager's office with the "ex" crossed out and replaced by the proper "ac".
I suppose the point I'm making with this rather erratic post is that if you're stupid, then it's understandable that you have no concept of grammar. However, if you're pulling some sort of "rebel without a cause" thing by rejecting the rules of society, don't expect respect from the rest of us. Why should we listen to you if you refuse to form a proper sentence?
Ah, the furies of an English major left alone to read for far too long...
Bleh.
Here, maybe this will suit your mood: http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=1566