How to subscribe to the Humanist, the listserv on computers and the
^^^^^^^^
humanities:
The linguist part of me really hates my prescriptive attitude toward the
term "listserv," but I can't help it. The other part of me wants to
scream every time I see this kind of usage of it: "YOU MEAN *LIST*, NOT
LISTSERV!" I guess one reason I hate the use of "listserv" to mean "list"
so much is from my point of view as listowner of several lists. If people
think that "listserv" means "list," instructions like "send the command
to the listserv" often result in misdirected clutter on lists. I guess
Eric Thomas wants to scream even louder, especially when people are
calling listproc or majordomo lists "listservs." Or maybe, unlike Xerox
and Coca-Cola, he feels flattered instead -- flattered that his program,
now his private company, is being used as a generic word, albeit with a
shift in meaning.
--Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)