We need a new bumper sticker:  Promote Obfuscation.
Ross Weeks Jr.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jay Heuman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2000 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: [Re: [Harmony/CIMI Research Project Call for Participation]]


> Hi Stephen et al.:
>
>      Your point is well taken, Stephen.  However, you might well ponder
> this question: Does a word only "exist" if Oxford or Merriam-Webster
> include it in a dictionary?
>      If so, there are literally thousands of words that do not "exist".
> (Also, in some cases, it depends upon the dictionary you are using.)
> Slang words/terms develop years, decades, sometimes centuries before any
> dictionary will admit it is actually a word/term.  Sounds like you are
> very much in favor of an organization, like the French "Academie
> Francaise", to make rulings concerning the legitimacy of language.  Who
> can make rules about how language is used?
>      As I wrote above, your point is well taken.  If people expect to be
> understood, they must use the language their desired audience will
> understand.  So, as I wrote in my last message, you were probably not
> included in the desired audience.  Therefore, the real question is: Why
> do you feel you must understand every message?
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Jay Heuman
>
> Stephen wrote:
> > I think my original fontificied verbalizatory dataset (comment) is
> being
> > taken to new zenicentric longitudes (heights). My only point was that
> > interoperability is not a word in the English language. Neither is
> > metadata, and especially metadata vocabularies. It's not a matter of
> > "understanding every message", but it is a matter of when it
> > is and when it is not necessary to introduce new terminology. My Ph.D.
> is in
> > physics. There's gads of jargon in physics, but it may all be looked
> up in any
> > standard or scientific dictionary.
> > The phrase "quantum chromodynamics", for example, was invented
> > because there was a need to label an entirely new phenomenon and
> > associated field of study. There was no choice. I still read many
> articles
> > which baffle me, but a quick check in any number of reference books
> > clears it all up. I'm afraid "compatibility" and "spread sheet" (or
> how
> > about matrix?) will do just fine for many years to come. I've been in
> > science long enough now (and museum work to a lesser extent) to know
> > if you want to retain the interest and respect of the public and your
> > peers, you need to speak concisely and plainly.
> > metaregards,
> > Steve
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).