Look, guys, I know those abbreviations are wonderful for your own field
notes, and I know they're important for activities such as banding. It
would be silly and outrageous for me to suggest that no one should use
them for their personal work or for projects where everyone speaks that
four-letter language. My point is that they obscure communication when
used in messages to a general public that includes folks (like me) who
don't know them and may not want to bother learning them. Someone sends
a message with --WA in it and I wonder vaguely, "Hmmm, warbler?
waxwing? wagtail? Ah, the hell with it," and I hit the delete button.
I'm pleased to hear there are some Tweets who make it a rule to not use
them in posts to the group, and I wish everyone would follow that rule.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794

Reunite Gondwana!