In a message dated 10/12/2006 3:19:13 AM GMT Daylight Time,
godwit513 at msn.com writes:


----- Original Message -----
From: _Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan_ (mailto:godwit513 at msn.com)
To: _Stewart Wechsler_ (mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net)
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 6:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Re: VATH - 4 letter codes again



Hello Stewart and Tweeters,
I find it so irritating when birders don't take the time to write the name
of the birds there talking about.Why even write anything up at all.Myself I
delete this messages period.I love to read some meaningful reports even
describing the birds in detailed what there saw and observed in the field especial
when it is a rare or a nice species.When we go birding there are so many
birders who compliment us of a good report and most of the time have the report
printed out.We having three parties out of states contacted us for more
information.One birder from Main will join WOS so there can going on one of the
fieldtrips we lead.So take a bit of time to write the correct name of birds
out.Thank you Stewart to bringing this subject up.


Cheers Ruth Sullivan
Fircrest ,Tacoma
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stewart Wechsler" <_ecostewart at quidnunc.net_
(mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net) >
To: <_jora at riseup.net_ (mailto:jora at riseup.net) >;
<_tweeters at u.washington.edu_ (mailto:tweeters at u.washington.edu) >
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 5:16 PM
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Re: VATH - 4 letter codes again



> You've all heard it before, but I'll say it again and accept the attacks.
>
> This is not personal, but for all that use the 4 letter codes in Tweeters
> postings or are tempted to do so. I expect some of you may use them in an
> effort to make postings more concise, but that would be a false economy.
>
> Multiply the number of people that may spend time pondering what a "VATH"
or
> some other 4 letter code is (anyone know how many Tweeters subscribers
there
> are?), times the number of seconds or minutes each would spend on the
> average pondering what the code refers to, and if that would take more time
> than typing the full name out both in the subject line and again after the
> first use in the text, then please type out the full name out in the
subject
> line and again in the text after the first use. Even if a bird has been
> referred to repeatedly in a recent thread in tweeters, not all of us read
> all of the postings, so I may not have paid much attention to a posting
> about a Varied Thrush and may not remember that VATH was Varied Thrush, but
> will spend 10 seconds or more trying to think of what bird someone is
> talking about to see if it is a subject is interesting to me.
>
> It is a repeated irritant for many of us to try to decipher codes mixed
into
> the Tweeters postings. This is while trying to rapidly get through
> innumberable e-mails of all sorts that may each take many seconds or
minutes
> each to sort through. I believe it is selfish to save up to 8 seconds
> typing time for yourself while wasting a cumulative 500 seconds or more of
> irritation time for the rest of the Tweeters subscribers.
>
> If people want an insiders club for those who know and remember all of the
> codes you might consider setting up a separate list serve for that elite
> inner circle. It could be called "TWEE" (not to be confused with a Towhee
> call note).
>
> Stewart Wechsler
> Ecological Consulting
> West Seattle
> 206 932-7225
> _ecostewart at quidnunc.net_ (mailto:ecostewart at quidnunc.net)
>
> -Advice on the most site-appropriate native plants
> and how to enhance habitat for the maximum diversity
> of plants and animals
> -Educational programs, nature walks and field trips
> -Botanical Surveys
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> Subject: [Tweeters] Re: VATH
>
>
> This morning I heard a VATH calling in the conifers next my house.
> ...
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> _Tweeters at u.washington.edu_ (mailto:Tweeters at u.washington.edu)
> _http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters_
(http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters)
>

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Ruth--Totally agree about the codes. Unless someone is discussing
comparative species or more in a scientific presentation, the use of the codes is
unnecessary and, perhaps, even an attempt to be more knowledgeable than the
reader. I'm sure it's not meant to be insulting --it's just not necessary.
Regards, Murray


(Mrs.) Murray Hansen
Graham, WA
MurrayH at aol.com