Posted by Neredbojias on 05/25/07 20:04

On Thu, 24 May 2007 22:05:52 GMT dorayme scribed:

>> Then what word is it like? _Any_ word follows those rules, be it
>> proper noun or anything else. Xhtml doesn't apply to English
>> grammar.
>>
>
> Since a name is not that much like other words, it is odd to ask
> what word is it like. Think how the normal rules about
> capitalisation do not apply with names when they are used within
> sentences (as contrasted with starting them). They mostly remain
> capitalised! In other words, names are special, not like most
> other words like "cat", "some", "you", "it". So your stated
> objection to treat them like other words for the purpose of
> starting sentences looks to me like very special pleading.

With all due respect to helical celluloid retes, this is twisted logic.
Names are simply proper nouns which follow the rules of grammar in much
the same fashion as other nouns. They are often capitalized inherantly,
but _always_ capitalized at the beginning of sentences.

> If really pressed to say what a name is like, I suppose I might
> say, at least, that a good name is like a good work of art,
> complete in itself in every detail, the changing of anything
> necessarily detracting from its splenour.

When obfuscating an issue, it helps to stick with basic facts rather than
resorting to Darrowesque rhetoric and misspelled allusions.

>> > Take this sentence:
>> >
>> > "george kelly is the name of my cat and in every sentence I write
>> > about him, I always spell his name in lower case."
>> >
>> > It would be wrong to begin this sentence with a capital if truth
>> > was what you were concerned to preserve.
>>
>> The truth of what? -Someone's illogical whimsy?
>>
> You misunderstand. I simply mean the truth of the sentence, no
> more and no less. Nothing to do with whimsy in respect to the
> truth of this, old chap. Whimsy may have played a role in the
> formation of the name itself but not in the statement above.

Hasn't the study of the proper techniques for the making of web pages
taught you to separate structure from content yet? Well in any case, a
sentence at least _should_ follow a similar methodology. The _truth_ of
a sentence has little to do with its _proper formulation_ although
screwing-up the latter may, indeed, affect the validity of the former.

>
>> > This shows your general procedure is flawed. I will ask you once
>> > again, show some respect, and do not spell my name with a
>> > capital. Officer White is on standby (he is looking mighty
>> > restless).
>>
>> Hey, I'm willing to go along with your small-letter psychosis under
>> normal conditions, but when the pseudonym in question appears at the
>> beginning of a sentence, it _will be_ capitalized by anyone with a
>> normal grasp of language usage. I believe you will find this to be
>> the majority opinion, and if it upsets you, learn to regulate your
>> disposition better.
>>
>
> There is no need to get hot under the collar there Boji!
> Remember, it is my name you are trampling with, it is not that
> much to ask that you desist from ever using a capital when
> spelling it. Don't worry, I have told Officer White not to be too
> hard on you. It is not the end of the world.

As far as I'm concerned, "your" name will comply with the tenets of the
rest of the world in spite of your apparent unwillingness to be normal.
If you find this a destabilizing influence, I suggest you take some
remedial English courses to advance yourself into an area of
communications promoting dialect which may be comprehended by the bulk of
humanity.

>> >> > But never mind, you show some talent there, Boji.
>> >>
>> >
>> >> Really?
>> >
>> > What? You want that I should stroke your ego some more?
>>
>> No, I was expressing surprise, not vanity.
>>
>
> Surprise? You are going about the world thinking you are
> talentless and everyone else knows it. O dear! There there, old
> chap, don't be so hard on yourself. I'll send Officer White's mum
> around to see you, she will make some nice chicken soup for you
> and put some flowers about and cheer you up.

-Not talentless, just lacking in any significant artistic ability of the
graphic type. I have other talents such as my cool, easygoing nature, my
propensity to listen carefully to other peoples' opinions no matter how
ridiculous, and my tenacity in zipping it up or down regardless of the
immenseness of whatever obstacle may be there to impede my progress. I
prefer to remain modest about my proficiencies yet I do occasionally
"toot my own horn" like the rest of the primates. I am a simple man who
enjoys simple pleasures and follows simple rules like capitalizing words
at the beginning of sentences...

--
Neredbojias
He who laughs last sounds like an idiot.

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