4 ms·

A quick stylistical advice for you: calling someone you don't like or respect by his or her surname is just not very good manners and not very good style. If yo

A quick stylistical advice for you: calling someone you don't like or respect by his or her surname is just not very good manners and not very good style. If you want to express your antipathy in writing regarding the person you're writing about, call him Mr. Smith or Mrs. Jameson and not Smith and Jameson - everyone will understand your feelings but you will still give them basic courtesy and respect, which, in turn, will make your readers take your writing more seriously.

Jebdm 17y ago
I read it the other way around. Calling somebody that you're not acquainted with by their last name in writing is pretty standard practice, and doesn't carry any connotations (at least to me). On the other hand, using a title like Mr. or Mrs., especially when your tone is negative, makes you sound like a prick. It's like saying "With all due respect, my good sir, you are incorrect". Obviously, YMMV.
- DrJokepu 17y ago
  Dunno, I like the advice of what I think is one of the most reasonable contemporary English style guides, The Economist Style Guide: http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=805691&CFID=69685420&CFTOKEN=26520221 http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=...
  - Jebdm 17y ago
    I like the Economist's style as well, mainly because it rings of old intelligence. But they have a large, overarching identity backing them, while as individuals most (usually) don't. Similarly, they publish in a formal medium, which Hacker News is not.
banditaras 17y ago
The funny thing is that I like the guy. I like both of them. I don't think that they are great hackers, but I enjoy reading their blogs and I respect their efforts. I also believe that StackOverflow is great. I tried contributing but almost always someone hits submit before I do so I gave up until I have more free time. Sorry for not being politically correct, I thought this was HN.
- DrJokepu 17y ago
  Fair enough, I misunderstood what you meant then. I still don't think that using surnames only is a very nice thing, but maybe it's just me.

Jebdm 17y ago

I read it the other way around. Calling somebody that you're not acquainted with by their last name in writing is pretty standard practice, and doesn't carry any connotations (at least to me). On the other hand, using a title like Mr. or Mrs., especially when your tone is negative, makes you sound like a prick. It's like saying "With all due respect, my good sir, you are incorrect". Obviously, YMMV.

DrJokepu 17y ago
Dunno, I like the advice of what I think is one of the most reasonable contemporary English style guides, The Economist Style Guide: http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=805691&CFID=69685420&CFTOKEN=26520221 http://www.economist.com/research/styleGuide/index.cfm?page=...
- Jebdm 17y ago
  I like the Economist's style as well, mainly because it rings of old intelligence. But they have a large, overarching identity backing them, while as individuals most (usually) don't. Similarly, they publish in a formal medium, which Hacker News is not.

banditaras 17y ago

The funny thing is that I like the guy. I like both of them. I don't think that they are great hackers, but I enjoy reading their blogs and I respect their efforts. I also believe that StackOverflow is great. I tried contributing but almost always someone hits submit before I do so I gave up until I have more free time. Sorry for not being politically correct, I thought this was HN.

DrJokepu 17y ago
Fair enough, I misunderstood what you meant then. I still don't think that using surnames only is a very nice thing, but maybe it's just me.