Jeeze!

[Gabriel]

Just one thing: why does the the name have to be EngSoc?!

I mean, seriously? Have you *read* 1984? Is it so hard to type or say English Society? Is anything really achieved with this uttlerly pointless abreviation?

Hell, why don't we just translate Shakespeare into text speak and read it like that!

[The insane naked shouting man]

2 b or nt 2 b

[lawfusim]

Gabriel, are you off on a rant again? Tut tut, or perhaps I should abbreviate that to TT.

[palindrome]

Why don't we change the word 'Society'? Do we have to be a 'society' anyway? Why don't we become a 'community'? It connotes a much more unifying group. Or if we don't want to present ourselves as if we mindlessly agree with everything each other says, how about an 'association'? There are plenty of alternatives to 'society' ... let's have one less society in this world to worry about!

[jingo]

Is this really worth an argument?

[beatpoetgeek]

Arguing over semantics -- wonderful.

[palindrome]

Semantics ... that's what the English Association is all about! You won't correct me on that title will you...? ;-)

[Gabriel]

jingo said:

Is this really worth an argument?

We're talking about the English Society, and it's a matter of language, so yes, I think it is worth discussing. ;

I just think that over-abreviating everything is idiotic and makes an organisation resemble a thirteen year old on an AOL chatroom.

[Rose]

I think assuming that all abbreviations must be related to Newspeak and Txtspeak and thus juvenility and negativity is an over-simplification that takes the most obvious route without considering the context. I also think that reinforcing the belief that english students will quibble over semantics is hardly positive.



It is best to keep urls short and simple, engsoc is easy to remember and unlikely to be mis-typed. I disagree with using abbreviations most of the time for communication because the subtleties of language and possible beauty therein is lost, but there are times when economy is more important. The URL of a website is not generally a medium for communication, it is simply a signifier for the website and the name, I would argue, is not of prime importance, and should be chosen for simplicity and shortness.

I would point out that the title bar reads 'The English Society', not EngSoc, so I have not skimped on language there.

I can't see any advantage in switching from society to association or community, but it is worth considering whether we wish a more interesting name - ie the drama society are not dramasoc, but the Nomadic Players. We could consider a similar name, with some sort of literate reference?

[palindrome]

This is a matter to discuss on Wednesday! Just a few suggestions then: The Writers Guild? The Saurus? Aborwell Society? -- Well, we were talking about 1984, hehe... I'm sure people could think of loads by Wednesday! I still agree that we shouldn't shorten our name to 'EngSoc' though, I mean those arguments are exactly what Big Brother would have drilled into our minds! ... "simplicity and shortness" ... hardly the impression we want to give.

[Gabriel]

Well I have no problem with the URL being "engsoc", just the abreviation being used in other places where economy isn't so important.

[Rose]

Done! 'Tis now 'the English Society' everywhere except the URL. (Unless I've missed it anywhere...)

[Gabriel]

Thank you. ;-*

[lawfusim]

The system works.

[cryurchin]

i guess engsoc just fits the whole society deal, i think we kinda inherited the name it's weird, i take words so seriously, but i dont think that, for example, capitals in posts are important unless they're serious work or imply meaning. punctuation however is always important as it's as powerful as emoticons mmm portmanteau *drools at the word emoticons*