Title: Letters to the Editor

The letters page seems to have vanished for quite a while, but after a comment in the last edition (as part of Francis's Scribbles column), it seems to have prompted someone to write in:

I must take issue with Francis's comment in C Vu (Vol 16, no. 2) in the paragraph just before item "More on Spam". It looks as if Francis is having a dig at James Dennett. Now, I'm pretty sure that this is not the case, however, I did overhear when the editor-to-be and Francis were talking at the conference that one thing Francis did want back was the letters section; something which had all but vanished over recent times.

When I arrived home, I read avidly Francis's comments and could hardly believe it when I saw what looked to be a dig. I am still sure that I am wrong, but if I'm not, then Francis should be thoroughly ashamed of himself for being so unprofessional.

I've put this to Francis and had the following response:

My view of being professional does not always agree with everyone else's but I think that what I write should be interpreted on the assumption that I am professional in my writing.

As a part time language lawyer I am used to people looking for unintended interpretations of text but I consider this case to be unfriendly without real justification. My aside (as indicated by the parentheses) was addressed to the Editor, who is not required to do more than proof-read my deliberations. The final part of the sentence is outside the parentheses and is, therefore, addressed to the actual reader.

It is a fair question. Over the years those that write for C Vu [note the space, it is and always has been the correct way to spell the title of this publication] have often been ill-rewarded for the time we spend writing. It has got worse over the last couple of years, but it has never been good. The simplest contribution you, the reader, can make to C Vu is to write a reasonably considered response to something that has fired your imagination or raised your ire. In this context the writer of the above at least scores over the vast majority even if I think his complaint is founded on a deliberately unfriendly reading of my words.

Francis