From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!npoiv!npois!houxi!houca!lime!otuxa!nwuxc!inuxc!ihps3!ihuxi!otto
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: please sign using first *and* last names
Article-I.D.: ihuxi.182
Posted: Sat Jul 17 10:11:14 1982
Received: Sun Jul 18 02:42:41 1982


Perhaps things will change when everyone will be given a telephone 
number at birth.  Perhaps then we will start thinking of each other as
numbers.  But for now I like to think of others as people with *names*.
Knowing a person's name gives me the feeling that I know that person a
bit better.  I register names better, I build up an impression better,
I can make comments to others better names are involved rather than access
paths.

              Hey, did you hear (312) 555-3425's latest flame
              about darkness emitting diodes?

              Yes, but I thought that (414) 555-6532 had a good
              response pointing out the temperature effects...


Somehow such conversation repels me.

When Lauren Weinstein came to speak at the Labs last month, one of the
reasons I wanted to attend his presentation was that I had seen so many
well-thought-out comments by him in this very net.  When the announcement
went out about his presentation, it did *not* mention his USENET address.
If that was the only way he had identified himself on the net, I wouldn't
have known who he was when he came to speak!

I second the request that people sign their notes with both first and last
names.  Doing so emphasizes our humanity; not doing so emphasizes
technocracity.

George Otto
Bell Labs, Indian Hill
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