Re: [Pan-users] Pan Docs 070101

[Tim Kynerd]

Mike wrote:
> On Friday 05 Jan 2007 22:55, Darren Albers wrote:
>   
> > I
> > think adding the is correct, 
> >     
>
> Naturally, I disagree.
>
>   
> > would you say the people in car or would 
> > you say the people in the car?
> >     
>
> Unfortunately, the english language isn't that consistent. A car is an object, 
> Usenet isn't (that probably isn't the technically correct reason, but I'm no 
> professor of english). Let me put it this way, would you say: "people in 
> Birmingham" or "people in the Birmingham". To me, the latter would only make 
> sense if there's a river called the Birmingham river and you were referring 
> to them, rather than people in the city of Birmingham.
>
>   
Unfortunately, the English language isn't even that consistent. Usenet 
is a medium, but we're not even consistent about how we refer to media. 
You watch TV, but you listen to the radio and you go to the movies; you 
surf the Internet, but you post to Usenet.

I can imagine that in its early days some people may have referred to it 
as "the Usenet," but by now usage has settled on simply "Usenet." I 
don't think I've ever heard or seen anyone refer to "the Usenet." 
(Except maybe in old RFCs?) My two cents.

Best,
Tim