Truespel Spam?

[Baker, John]

        I strongly urge Arnold, and anyone else who posts a blog link
that is relevant to an ADS-L discussion, to continue to do so,
particularly if it cites discussion that was originally on ADS-L.  This
is not spam or in any way spamlike.  It is a valued contribution and,
where ADS-L is cited, a fundamental courtesy.

        While there is a theoretical possibility of abuse where the blog
link is not related to an ADS-L discussion, in practice I don't think
there has been abuse.  I, at least, rather enjoy Dennis Baron's links.
And it would be a strange linguistics list that did not recognize the
important roles of the OED, HDAS, and other leading dictionaries.

        Personally, I find the truespel posts valueless, as are the
complaints about them.  I don't find them offensive, though, so I simply
delete both without further thought.


John Baker


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
Of Arnold M. Zwicky
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 1:19 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: Truespel Spam?

On Feb 5, 2008, at 9:26 AM, RonButters at AOL.COM wrote:

>
> However, if Mr. Truespel is a spammer, so are most of us to one degree

> or another.

> ... Several others continue to direct us to their blogs and
> LanguageLog postings.

i can't see how such postings constitute spam, or self-promotion.  in
any case, i post links to Language Log in two situations:

   (1) when a LLog posting of mine cites discussion that was originally
on ADS-L;

   (2) when someone's LLog posting covers material currently under
discussion in ADS-L.

(1) i have always viewed as simple courtesy.  but i'm happy not to
bother with these announcements to ADS-L any more; people who care about
how ADS-L is represented outside this mailing list can just read
Language Log (and various blogs that mention ADS-L on occasion)
regularly.

(2) i view as an attempt to get the scholarship straight and to avoid
repeating or rehashing earlier discussions.  the only alternative i can
see to a link would be to reproduce the material from LLog (either by
typing in a new version or by cutting and pasting the original).
well, there's the alternative of just letting ADS-L go on in apparent
ignorance of this other material.

in both cases, the easier course for me is not to bother posting to
ADS-L, and that's the course i will now adopt.

arnold

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