So, I've been meditating on what we can do to make our newbies feel more at home, and I've decided to use a strategy that's tried and true: we'll make up something new.

In particular, we're going to use a new word from now on: "trout".

Of course, "trout" is an old word, but it's an old word with a new meaning. When I say "trout" to you, I don't simply mean the fish, I mean to say to you: "Listen. I respect you. It's great that you're here and posting and that we're working together for a common goal. Nonetheless, I have some polite criticisms."

You may use the word trout as its own sentence, as in: "Trout. This is in the Trail, section 2.05."

Or, you may use it to refer to your polite constructive criticism: "Pardon my trout, but we've been talking about this most of the day... Read about it here."

You may use it as a verb: "I trout you. I think you've gotten confused about this."

Alternatively, you may use it as a pseudo- HTML tag: "<trout>You must mean metacortechs.com, not metacortex.com.</trout>"

You may use it as a post label, but try to use it in combo with other labels: "Subject: SPEC/TROUT Re: Evan is still alive!"

Finally, of course, you may decide not to use it at all. If so, please use some form of polite disclaimer whenever you offer constructive criticism, ESPECIALLY if that criticism is a correction of some factual mistake. It's very hard to communicate a polite attitude over e-mail. "Trout" will be one way to do it.

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How will this help the newbies, you ask? Well, those newbies who know and understand "trout" will understand
that we're not mocking or disrespectful to those with whom we disagree or to those who post redundant information.

Those newbies who DON'T know what "trout" means will at least avoid confusing polite criticism with mockery. Why? Because there's something in the post, "trout," that they don't understand. It's hard to assume that a post you don't understand is being unduly harsh. It also leads the newbie to do exactly the right thing: to ask polite
questions.

Maybe this will work... maybe it won't. Either way, I hope that this place will become a little bit friendlier on account of it.

Use "trout." Make this list a better place to be.

Thank you.

- From "ANNOUNCE/META: Trout, and Newbies" posted by Dan Fabulich on groups.yahoo.com/group/cloudmakers