REPLY Please Capitalize System Dynamics (SD6337)

[SDMAIL Bill Harris]

Posted by  Bill Harris <bill_harris at facilitatedsystems.com>

One more set of points, and then I'll stop.

First, will we be consistent, or is System Dynamics above Programming
(which, for computers, is different than programming for a TV network --
or will the TV networks want the capitalized version?), Internal
Medicine (which, as a field, is different than medicine intended to be
taken internally rather than applied externally), or even Chemistry (as
a discipline no doubt different than the potential attraction between
people -- but match.com might want the capitalized version, too)?  Will
we differentiate between Chemistry (which, I think, has confounding
uses) and physics (which seems to cause less confusion)?  If we just
capitalize SD, we may look conceited; if we capitalize them all, we may
look silly; if we try the Chemistry and physics approach, we may need a
rather byzantine set of rules.

Second, isn't this focusing on precisely the wrong thing, especially
shortly after our laments about not being accepted by business and
government?  No one (well, almost no one) cares about SD, just like
(almost) no one cares about a half inch (or 12mm) box end wrench.  What
they care about is solving a problem or tightening a bolt.  Wouldn't we
further SD more by focusing more on the customer / client / problem and
less on us?

Finally, what about having someone on the editorial board of the SDR
contact Wiley and ask for their ruling?  Of course, the editorial board
could decide on a "house style," but, if it strays too far from
established Wiley norms, they may risk looking silly, and Wiley could, I
presume, override them.

These are (I hope, as I'm sure you do, too) my last words on the
subject.

Bill
-- Bill Harris http://facilitatedsystems.com/weblog/ Facilitated Systems 
Posted by  Bill Harris <bill_harris at facilitatedsystems.com>
posting date  Sun, 18 Mar 2007 13:36:35 -0700