May I suggest that we NOT use specific, unprecursed pronouns, because they are ambiguous. General pronouns are appropriate for general, nonspecific references, but when using "you" please precurse it with a specific proper noun (antecedent). Thanks.
Earlier: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if
it'd keep you from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
Who is "you"? Does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon, authors of previous post which the writer was responding to] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper or David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep you [all, that is, all discussions of banning on the mailing list] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or ...
Argh! Just shoot me and get it over with!
On Nov 28, 2007 9:23 AM, Monahon, Peter B. Peter.Monahon@uspto.gov wrote:
May I suggest that we NOT use specific, unprecursed pronouns, because they are ambiguous. General pronouns are appropriate for general, nonspecific references, but when using "you" please precurse it with a specific proper noun (antecedent). Thanks.
Earlier: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if
it'd keep you from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
Who is "you"? Does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon, authors of previous post which the writer was responding to] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper or David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep you [all, that is, all discussions of banning on the mailing list] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or ...
Argh! Just shoot me and get it over with!
What do you think it means? What's the most logical answer given the subject of this thread? Stop being pedantic.
--John Reaves
Happy birthday!
On Nov 28, 2007 2:20 PM, John Reaves johnreaveswp@gmail.com wrote:
On Nov 28, 2007 9:23 AM, Monahon, Peter B. Peter.Monahon@uspto.gov wrote:
May I suggest that we NOT use specific, unprecursed pronouns, because they are ambiguous. General pronouns are appropriate for general, nonspecific references, but when using "you" please precurse it with a specific proper noun (antecedent). Thanks.
Earlier: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if
it'd keep you from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
Who is "you"? Does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or does the writer of the above mean: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon, authors of previous post which the writer was responding to] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep [Flameviper or David Goodman or Peter B. Monahon] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or: "... I'd favor an unban (using the Flameviper account) if it'd keep you [all, that is, all discussions of banning on the mailing list] from whining (or whinging was it?) on the mailing lists and IRC..."
... or ...
Argh! Just shoot me and get it over with!
What do you think it means? What's the most logical answer given the subject of this thread? Stop being pedantic.
--John Reaves _______________________________________________ WikiEN-l mailing list WikiEN-l@lists.wikimedia.org To unsubscribe from this mailing list, visit: http://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l