On Sun, 28 Feb 1999, Ken Stuart wrote:

        I've participated in newsgroups and mailing lists for ten
        years, and I'm baffled as to where this idea originated.
        My guess is that it must be a crossover from some other
        social form that I am not aware of.   Anyone have any
        ideas?

Yes.  E-lists and newsgroups are often compared to private
parties or gatherings -- especially lists, since lists have
owners.  When tempers flare it is not uncommon for people to
rebuke people, reminding them of how they would behave if they
were guests in the list owner's house, or something to that
effect.  I think that is the cross-over, and that is why it feels
right to introduce oneself upon entering, or at least before
jumping into the conversation.

Todd Moody
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