Re: What's on topic

[Stuart Burnfield <slb -at- FS -dot- COM -dot- AU>]

> Paul Race wrote:
> (snip)
> Unfortunately, the @-sign discussion has nowhere else to go.  So we get
> it by default.  In an odd, sad sort of way, I can't think of anything that
> defines the _flavour_ of this profession more than the @ sign discussion.
> Not only do I have difficulty thinking of another list where the discussion
> would be more appropriate, I have difficulty imagining another list where
> the discussion would even take place.

It's not a list, but try the alt.usage.english newsgroup. The @ question
comes up so often it is almost the canonical newbie post.

a.u.e is mainly a recreational group but many professional linguists,
academics, computer types and dictionary bashers hang out there. There
are even some techwhirlers -- that's how I found out about techwr-l
(thanks Bev!).

I've appended some bits and pieces from the FAQ. Sorry for the bandwidth,
but I hope this will help reduce traffic in our list by giving whirlers a
'first resort' for language questions.

Two warnings: 1) it's a huge list. 100 - 150 messages per day.
              2) PLEASE READ THE FAQ *BEFORE* POSTING!

Please excuse the shout. The reason it's such a big group is that so
many new readers don't look in the FAQ first.

Regards and have fun. Oh, and if you want to know more, follow-ups to me.
---
Stuart Burnfield                I thought logorrhoea was an affliction
Voice:  +61 9 328 8288          of lumberjacks, till I discovered
PO Box 192 Leederville          alt.usage.english
Western Australia 6903

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