"slang" and "informal" as dict labels

[Charlie]

Similar to the dislike of Philly among Philadelphians.

Charles J. Cunningham, III Esq.
Suite 2140
123 South Broad St.
Philadelphia PA 19109

(215) 985-9500

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----- Original Message -----
From: "James A. Landau" <JJJRLandau at AOL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 10:21 AM
Subject: Re: "slang" and "informal" as dict labels


> In a message dated 02/17/2003 3:33:02 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> rkmck at EARTHLINK.NET writes:
>
> > >BTW, most of us who read science fiction prefer the abbreviation
> >  >"sf"/"SF". Many of us, though by no means all, dislike or even detest
> >  >the expression "sci-fi".
> >
> >  It's similar to the dislike of Frisco for San Francisco.  But I admit
> >  I never understood the detestation for either that or "sci-fi".
>
> The term "sci-fi" (which I understand was coined by Forrest J. Ackerman, a
> person of some controversy among SF fans) was applied to, and popularized
by,
> Hollywood science fiction films.  Since most Hollywood SF, until Star
Wars,
> was schlock, SF fans acquired very negative connotations for "sci-fi".
Since
> the standards for plausibility and scientific literacy in written SF
> (particularly in Astounding Science Fiction, the leading SF magazine since
> the 1930's) are much higher than Hollywood's standards, fans of written SF
> understandably took a poor view of the Hollywood stuff.
>
> So to an SF fan, to hear his beloved written material referred to as
"sci-fi"
> was an insult.  Unforunately the mainstream media never caught onto the
> distinction and labelled written SF as "sci-fi"...
>
> At least this is my understanding.
>
> I have no idea about San Francisco (which is also sometimes called "SF",
> isn't it?).
>
>              - Jim Landau