[PatrickHenry]

It seems to me that the problem is endemic to people not well educated in technical topics (meaning science and mathematics.) Lacking a background in those topics, they aren't even aware that it is necessary to formulate more precise definitions in a technical field in order that we understand what is meant. The loose definitions of everyday English are far too imprecise, and lead to ambiguity.

I'll give you an example from the Cold War days. I once had a teacher who raved on for most of an hour about how stupid it was that we didn't recognize red China. She was using the word "recognize" in its everyday sense -- being able to spot a familiar face. She had me convinced that Ike was an idiot. It was quite some time later that I understood the specialized meaning of the term, and that we were, among other things, locking the commies out of the old regime's bank accounts.

[longshadow]

I once had a teacher who raved on for most of an hour about how stupid it was that we didn't recognize red China.

Unbelieveable; what did this hag think -- that Ike had taken all the maps at the WH and cut mainland China out with a pair of scissors? Who gave this woman a teaching certificate? Was she allowed to eat with a fork?

[general_re]

I'll give you an example from the Cold War days. I once had a teacher who raved on for most of an hour about how stupid it was that we didn't recognize red China. She was using the word "recognize" in its everyday sense -- being able to spot a familiar face. She had me convinced that Ike was an idiot.

Somewhere my mother has a picture of me shaking hands with Jimmy Carter during a campaign stop on his ill-fated 1980 electoral tour. Shameful, yes, but then again, I was eight at the time, and hardly knew any better. I mention this merely for comparative purposes.

:^)