It would seem that a paragraph number imparts the following pieces of
information:
1. The location of the paragraph starting from the begining of the document,
and within, the that, the relative ordering of the paragraph with other
paragraphs.
A page number conveys the same information.
2. Arguably, it may denote a transition to another logical thought.
This is the same piece of information that a paragraph conveys,
at least in the hand of a good writer.
So, I am having a hard time understanding what the unintended information
is that you are suggesting is being conveyed. We should not so readily
accept the premise that unintended information is being conveyed and,
even, any ill effects.
One thing that should be noted as to statutory numbering which I think is
the root of this suggestion of conveyed meaning: remember that most
statutory numbering is in outline form with chapters, sub-chapters, sections,
sub-sections etc. It is in no way a sequential numbering without regard to
meaning. So to draw a parallel with possible "unintended" meaning
conveyed by a sequential number assigned to paragraph breaks created by
an author is I submit not a well thought out comparison. It is truly
apple and oranges and perhaps we should go back and look at the underlying
premise, which, I submit is based upon faulty reasoning and certainly not
anything approaching a scientific standard of reasoning. I know you did not
suggest this in the first place, but, let us first question the premise.
Alan Sugarman
HyperLaw
sugarman@panix.com
On Thu, 22 Dec 1994, Cindy Chick wrote:
> John -
>
> I don't know if the paragraph numbering will really be a problem in this
> regard or not. But it seems to me that your argument supports page
> numbering. It's the very fact that page numbering is purely arbitrary,
> as you point out below, that keeps it from imparting any unintended
> meaning to the text, especially amended/added text.
>
> Cindy
>
>
> On Tue, 20 Dec 1994, John Lederer wrote:
>
> >
> > > legal system. And that is not something that you, or I, or even
> > > John Lederer have been empowered to do.
> >
> > I do not believe that a printer when he chooses his font, or a secretary when
> >
> > she chooses the margins on her typewriter, is empowered to determine how stare
> >
> > decisis will be applied. Yet that is what determines page numbers (virtual or
> >
> > real).
> >
> > On the other hand, a judge chooses what will and will not be a paragraph. He
> > is empowered to "create" opinions with stare decisis effect.
> >
> > John Lederer
> > Chair, Technology Resource Committee, Wisconsin State Bar
> > (but speaking for myself only)
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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