[PLUG] Re: [PLUG-ANNOUNCE] ANNOUNCEMENT: May PLUG Meeting

[Miller, Jeremy]

I have a funny feeling there are many that would argue against that
particular analogy... considering that "Linux" is a term trademarked by
Linus.  (And I don't believe anyone holds a copyright on GNU/Linux, either.)

But I won't. :)

(I do agree with your overall point.  But on the other hand, the case
complained about WAS a sort of "official title" of a course.  Which might
warrant official terminology, as opposed to colloquial usage.)

Jeremy


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich Shepard [mailto:rshepard at appl-ecosys.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 9:56 AM
> To: 'plug at lists.pdxlinux.org'
> Subject: RE: [PLUG] Re: [PLUG-ANNOUNCE] ANNOUNCEMENT: May PLUG Meeting
> 
> 
> On Tue, 30 Apr 2002, Craighead, Scot D wrote:
> 
> > I keep seeing all over people complaining about the use of 
> this term,
> > however, it's use continues to increase.  I think it's a 
> "new school/old
> > school" thing.  I guess I'm new school and don't understand 
> why people get
> > upset about this term.  X Window System is too many 
> syllables and X is too
> > vague.  What is the objection to "X Windows"?
> 
>   There is defined usage and common usage. The increased use 
> of the latter
> frequently leads to communications breakdowns. An analogy to 
> the 'X Windows'
> vs. 'X Window System' (singular) is 'linux' and 'GNU/linux'. 
> In both cases
> the copyrighted, official name is the longer one. In 
> colloquial use it may
> not matter, but there is a difference in more formal settings.
> 
>   The other aspect is a social one and not on topic for this 
> list. That's
> the grammatical sloppiness we see everywhere with the misuse 
> of apostrophes
> and the combining of two words (e.g., "a lot") into a single 
> word ("alot").
> These both inhibit communications and provide insight into the writer.
> Again, this is neither a troll nor flame bait, but a comment 
> that we need to
> work on improving our commuications, not obfuscating what we mean.
> 
> Eschew obfuscation! Excelsior!
> 
> Rich
> 
> 
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