ADMIN: Re: Being Clear about Opinions (was Fidelius on Privet again)

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 15273

Hi --

Amanda Lewanski wrote:

> Once more, dear friends, *whence* this belief that Harry is protected
> at
> Privet Drive by the Fidelius Charm? I don't know that he's not
> (although
> *I* don't think so), but it's getting bandied about on the list as if
> it
> were canon, yet with no support from the text.
>
> We're not as careful as we used to be about saying "I think" or "It
> seems to me" or "if" or stuff like that. Aren't we supposed to make
> distinctions between our theories and what we know for a fact? [You
> did,
> you did, Catherine, you said "could," but this has been something I've
>
> been noticing since the Great Salon Influx of 2000.]

Amanda raises a very good Netiquette point.  I thought this was included
in our Netiquette file, but I just checked and it's not.  So, one of us
Moderators will revise that file.  I know I've raised this point
before.  It's extremely important that you use some phrase to indicate
when you are expressing an opinion or espousing a theory rather than
making a factual statement based on the canon.

Here are some examples:

IMO -- In my opinion
IMHO -- In my humble opinion

I think
I believe
My theory is:
This is all speculation but ...

You get the point I'm sure.  It can get very confusing if people don't
make these distinctions.

Newbies (and old-timers if you haven't checked in awhile) -- Please
review the VFAQs (Very Frequently Asked Questions), the Netiquette
document, the OT-Chatter description, the Announcements group
description, and the HPforGrownups - Shorthand guide.  The answers to so
many of your questions can be found there!!!

Thanks!

Penny
The Mod Squad




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