Some incorrect spellings bother me, because it takes time to figure out what the writer was trying to say. For instance, someone once asked how you cut your Muslim. Once I read the rest of the post, I figured out that she meant muslin, but throughout the conversation she repeatedly used the word Muslim, so I don't think it was a simple typo. However, if you ask about it, or try to clarify, no matter how gently or sweetly, there are some who will crucify you for being so "mean and critical". I guess it's more politically correct to allow people to make mistakes and appear uneducated? Honestly, I'd rather someone let me know.
How about the word "flimsy"? The first few times I heard that word, I used to bristle, thinking someone was calling my work cheap. But then I realized that it's simply a different term for an unquilted top, and now I chuckle about it.
On another note, someone brought up "advise" and "advice" as an example. In American English, these two words mean two different things: "Advise" is a verb, meaning to give someone direction. "Advice" is a noun, such as the actual directions given. But in "British" (and possibly Australian?) English, both words are spelled the same, and the meaning has to be drawn from the context. So it's not necessarily true that someone mixed up the words out of ignorance.
I have a nephew who has traveled extensively overseas, and he once joked about what he calls "the abuse of the U and neglect of the Z" in non-American English. We had to think about it, then we started laughing when we thought about "harbor" and "harbour", "color" and "colour", "realize" and "realise". You gotta love language.
