Re: What's in a Name?

["Allan " <EDELS@msn.com>]

Just thought I'd add my two cents here (also as a way of getting my feet wet 
with this crowd - this is my first posting here):

I think that you must be fluid with how you deal with mistaken ideas such as 
"Raptors" (etc.) or misidentified drawings.  Use the word raptor to let your 
audience know you can refer to the (sort of) popular name - but, and this 
depends on the audience, turn that around almost immediately with something 
like: "That's what the TV and movie people call them, but I'll let you in on a 
secret - the ones you see in the movie are most likely called Deinonychus by 
scientists  -  and they made them too big - just to scare you." 

If you use the idea that you are letting the audience in on secret that others 
don't know - you usually get their 'rapt' attention  [   :)   ]   

As an aside to other recent postings about use of sponsor's names when naming 
a dino - remember that Peter Dodson did a double when he named Avaceratops 
lammersi.  He bought out a professional fossil digger's claim (Eddie Cole - 
who knew that he had found something more than just a curiousity) and used the 
man's wife's name 'Ava'  - to honor Eddie and Ava; and since the dig was on 
the Lammers ranch (and they were very supportive) honored them and their whole 
family with 'lammersi'.  (George, I know that you think the ending of the name 
should be "orum" instead of "i"  - but Peter told me he was honoring ALL 
Lammers).


Who am I? -  I'm a computer consultant of too many years, with a B.S. in 
Physics, who also is a dinosaur enthusiast.  I have been a 'Dinosaur Docent' 
at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia since 1984 (at one point 
being the chairman of the group).  (My participation lately has fallen off due 
to family health problems).   I have also trained several of the other docents 
on staff, and have written about 45%-60% of the courseware for training 
dinosaur docents (the amount used varies each year).  I have had the 
opportunity to meet and become friendly with a few paleontologists and 
dinosaur artists in the local region - as well as meeting some out-of-towners 
(of the same ilk).    [At the SVP meeting in 1986, here in Philadelphia, I 
caused a stir because I strikingly resembled the then Society president - we 
even swapped badges and coordinated our clothing for one evening].

I know of several of the posters here from publications (Dinosaur Discoveries, 
Dinosaur Society Newsletter, Archosaurian Articulations, etc...)   {P.S. 
George:  What is the status with all the publications I sent away for last 
year?}

Hope this wasn't too wordy

Allan Edels
Edels@MSN.COM