Re: Joining edstat

[Socspace]

Dear J. (if I may)

In re both your postings: right on, well said, my sentiments exactly --- and
I'll bet a proper name that there are many out there who feel the same.

In which connection, being a little unsure of what (what's his proper name?)
meant by a proper name, when he wrote "that persons posting to the listserve
are expected to include their proper names at least,"

Hence I first had a gander at my dictionary on CD on disk.  Here is what I
found:

10 Gram. a) designating a noun that names a specific individual, place, etc.,
that is not normally used with an article, and that is normally capitalized
["Donald," "Rover," and "Boston" are proper nouns, sometimes called proper
names]

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from The Complete Reference Collection
Copyright � 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.

Himmm?  That didn't really help an awful lot.  So I had a gander at  Proper
Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives in my Writer's Handbook on the same CD.   
Gott im Himmel!!!  You wouldn't *believe* the number of major and minor
subheadings!!!!   After 45 1/2 minutes  of scrolling down (chuckle), I
finally arrived at that which looked most appropriate to me:i.e. People.

It began by saying:

The names and initials of persons are capitalized. If a name is hyphenated,
both elements are capitalized. Particles forming the initial elements of
surnames (as de, della, der, du, la, ten, ter, van, and von) may or may not
be capitalized, depending on the styling of the individual name. However, if
a name with a lowercase initial particle begins a sentence, the particle is
capitalized.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from The Complete Reference Collection
Copyright � 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights
Reserved.

So OK, but a little more scrolling revealed that nicknames fell under the
heading of proper names of people as well.  

So that left me wondering if (what's his proper name?) meant that 'twould be
good netiquette to use a nickname (so long as 'twas capitalized)?   But, from
his general tone (and taking his own very elaborate signature as an example)
I much misdoubted that (oops, almost slipped and said "full of himself" this
time") had *that* in mind.  

Sigh!!!  While netiquette may not *demand* it, common sense would *suggest*
that someone posting to the list write as clearly as they are able  Of
course,  maybe this was indeed the best that (what's his proper name?)
*could* do. By the bye, the present posting represents *my* best effort ---
poor as it may be.

In conclusion, (what's his proper name?) suggested that the student whose
upbeat posting started the whole thread,

"..... might start by visiting the web site mentioned in the trailer
automatically appended to this message by edstat."

It had been a long time since I had done that myself, and recognising (from
his manner) that (what's his proper name?) was surely an authority I thought
it might be well for me to take cognizance of his advice by doing so again.

But guess what?  After 6 1/2 hours of searching  (chortle) I could find no
mention of the use of names --- proper or improper. (Only of email addresses)

I did, on the other hand, find considerable with regard to inappropriate
messages, along with the suggestion that these just be ignored.

However, should anyone out there feel that this one falls under that heading,
I apologize in advance and would welcome hearing from them  either on or off
list.   Should a sufficient number express disapproval, I promise that there
will never, ever be another in a similar vein, style --- whatever.

Its been fun (is having fun inappropriate?)

Aitcho (for HU)

PS:  Experience has shown that the formatting of an email composed on AOL
(like this one) sometimes gets destroyed by a newslist's emailer.   Its been
so long since I've posted to edstat that I can't remember if that's true in
its case.  Just want to let (what's his proper name?) know that if the lines
get broken in all the wrong places, 'twasn't because I ignored proper
netiquette in being careless with my composition.  Cross my heart and hope to
double die!!!!!!!