PhyloCode prefix/suffix?

[Richard Pyle]

> In computer programming the '!' is often used to indicate 'not' as
> in '!=' or 'not equal'
>
> In this case it seem to be very appropriate to refer the the 'thing'
> as 'not Apoginidae'...   :)

On the other hand, in languages like VB, the "!" often separates a parent
entity from a child entity, such that:

Taxon!Author

...would refer to the "Author" field of the "Taxon" table.  That parallels
nicely for taxonomy, when we use something like:
Pomacanthidae!Centropyge! (assuming the "!" is a suffix; or
!Pomacanthidae!Centropyge if used as a prefix).  One problem with using "!"
as a suffix instead of a prefix would become evident if someone really did
want to use an exclamation point (or other punctuation) for a sentence that
ends with a PhyloCode Name:

"What do you mean I don't know what I'm talking about in this discussion
about Zappa!? I based my entire PhD thesis on the clade Zappa!!"

I have to say I'm still rooting for the "<" suffix.  One reason to opt for
the suffix instead of the prefix ">" is illustrated at the top of this
message, where I quote Jim's comments.  As we all know, the ">" is commonly
used to offset quoted email text in replies. I can see how that might get
confusing during heated debates on email forums....

Aloha,
Rich

Richard L. Pyle
Ichthyology, Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817
Ph: (808)848-4115, Fax: (808)847-8252
email: deepreef at bishopmuseum.org
"The views expressed are the author's, and not necessarily those of Bishop
Museum."