Re: Why "Why" for a Subject Heading?

[Bernard Cleyet <anngeorg@PACBELL.NET>]

A little compartment on the top of some of the 500 series Tek's held a small
spiral bound manual with the cover showing Dr.'s over an operatee and titled
"When all else fails, read the manual" (or instructions).  Or was it on the
lid?  Or is it all a memerism?

bc


Richard Hake wrote:

> A current popular Phys-L thread is enigmatically titled "Why.."
>
> Judging from the initiating post, a more descriptive title might have
> been "Why Can't Students Read and Follow Directions?"
>
> It would appear that reading and following directions is contrary to
> human nature, not just student nature. A famous sign reads "When All
> Else Fails, Follow Directions."
>
> In fact, even some Phys-L'ers sometimes fail to read and follow directions.
>
> At Dan McIsaac's Phys-L home page
> <http://purcell.phy.nau.edu/phys-l/> under "Etiquette for PHYS-L and
> Similar Electronic Mailing List Postings" appears the following
> direction (albeit presented as a "guideline"):
>
> "WRITE DESCRIPTIVE SUBJECT LINES:
> Use descriptive phrases, questions, specific topics or collections of
> keywords as your posting subject line. . . . SUBJECT LINES SHOULD AID
> THE RETRIEVAL OF APPROPRIATE INFORMATION FOR MONTHS OR YEARS IN THE
> FUTURE. For instance, instead of "Midterm Question" use "Harmonic vs.
> Anharmonic Driving Forces in Musical Instruments." (My CAPS.)
>
> Richard Hake, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Indiana University
> 24245 Hatteras Richard Street, Woodland Hills, CA 91367
> <rrhake@earthlink.net>
> <http://www.physics.indiana.edu/~hake>
>
> "Rules and models destroy genius and art."
>     William Hazlitt 1778-1830, On Taste