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[lojban] dates, controversy, and newbies



So I've been reading some old arguments on this list (from 2001-9)
over detri, pi'e, etc. And I find myself in a position of writing
material that, practically speaking, has to take a position on these
issues, or else skip that part of the language. Material to teach the
language to beginners.

I could go with the option of just following LFB, but I really
hesitate to do so. Using cmene for years, months, and weekdays seems
so ... inelegant. And has usage settled down on this yet? For the LE
issue, I had the easy option of following the BPFK proposals, but
AFAIK date format issues haven't been (and won't be) addressed by the
BPFK.

I could just pick a side, but given the possible influence I might
have, that feels like a big overreach. (I feel your pain, Nick.) If
usage hasn't settled anything yet (and I wouldn't think it has) then
what should I do? Teach the controversy? Even that option has the
downside of confusing and discouraging newbies, but perhaps it's not
avoidable at this stage in Lojban's development.

Chris Capel
-- 
"What is it like to be a bat? What is it like to bat a bee? What is it
like to be a bee being batted? What is it like to be a batted bee?"
-- The Mind's I (Hofstadter, Dennet)


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