The Microsoft Name Police?

Eric Marks eric_marks at HOTMAIL.COM
Mon Jan 10 04:05:20 UTC 2000


Hello, all --

I have suffered an indignity that I believe can be redressed by sufficient
knowledge of etymology or usage which, alas, I do not have.  Might some kind
reader care to help?

This evening I was thrown out of a Microsoft Network Chat Room by some
sentience named Aunt_Bea_Bot, who (or which) claimed that Nosebag, the
nickname I used, is a drug-related word, and is therefore not permitted in a
Microsoft Chat Room.

Nosebag a drug-related word?  As far as I know, it's not.  I know it's
another word for feed bag, and I recall reading that in 19th century England
it was a slang expression for a person who hangs around bars and bums
drinks.  And Dylan Thomas used it in "A Child's Christmas in Wales."

But I haven't access to all the resources you good people do.   Could
someone tell me whether Nosebag has indeed become a drug-related term,
applied perhaps to cocaine-snorters or glue-sniffers?

Thanks.

Eric Marks
eric_marks at hotmail.com



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