Now look ahead two steps and see how absurd that works out in practice. It's not even a hypothetical, we've seen this time and time again throughout history. The internet doesn't need dialect chains.

Communication

Language

Difference

I wasn't condescending to anyone. I presume, based on the incorrect tense form of a very common English word, and the fact that they appreciated learning a bit of Chinese, they might appreciate some polite correction. Not everything has to carry a negative tone

Not entirely, because if I never corrected them they would be a stranger on the internet to SOMEONE talking that way eventually.

Ultimately the ability to understand something doesn't make it correct and I get tired of the "language evolves" and "you understood it, right?" arguments because even if true we can also understand "me want job" and "John hungry" but it doesn't mean you shouldn't both attempt to speak correctly and continue to learn.

I'm learning a second language and I would prefer to be corrected and speak naturally in it as much as possible rather than the bar simply being understood.