Mime-Version: |
1.0 |
Sender: |
|
Subject: |
|
From: |
|
Date: |
Mon, 12 Oct 1998 11:24:12 -0500 |
In-Reply-To: |
|
Content-Type: |
TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII |
Reply-To: |
|
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
On Mon, 12 Oct 1998, Gabriel Goldberg wrote:
> I'm always amazed when I make the point about LISTSERV being a
> trademarked product name, not a generic term for anything, and people
> argue about that not being true, or it not mattering, or my being a
> nit-picker. ("Don't nit-pick" was response on a writers' list, where I
> expected more respect for accuracy and intellectual property rights.)
When I correct people by pointing out that LISTSERV is a trademark, they
typically respond by rolling their eyes and saying "Who the hell cares"
(or words to that effect).
It is much more effective to explain that LISTSERV is a specific piece of
software used to run mailing lists, and that calling a list a "listserv"
is confusing the software with what the software does.
Occasionally I hear people refer to the web, or the Internet in general,
as "Netscape." When I hear this, I know I'm talking to someone whose
understanding of the Internet is very limited. I have the same reaction
when I hear "listserv" used generically. The term betrays a superficial
understanding of how mailing lists function.
As for people on a writers' list saying "don't nit-pick," I suspect it's
because people don't like to be corrected.
steve
========================================
H. Stephen Wright
Northern Illinois University
[log in to unmask]
http://libws66.lib.niu.edu/hswright.html
========================================
|
|
|