Seeing the name "DR DEFENDER" I thought you were going to come in and defend this, haha, good on you. As for speaking proper, since I'm a foreigner for some reason people think I'm spanish, sometimes, argentinian, sometimes Italian. I'm Uru-Canadian. On occasion I get funny looks for speaking proper - mostly from dudes. From chicks I've received many compliments, so I guess it's not completely looked down upon.
And I agree, its not really peoples fault - lack of education and mentors you could say - sometimes coloquialisms(sp?) can be contagious - even fun! I will on occasion drop the s, use the l, or even the i, for fun - other's (the younger generation) might do this, because it's "cool."
Maybe we could create an elite force of spelling vigilantes, go around town at night, correcting all ads, and signs that contain spelling mistakes with spray paint - haha.