On Dec 30, 2005, at 2:44 AM, Chad Perrin wrote:

> On Fri, Dec 30, 2005 at 01:42:39PM +0900, gwtmp01 / mac.com wrote:
>>
>> I think one of the hardest things to explain/comprehend
>> about symbols is that the *only* semantics associated
>> with a symbol is that there is a one to one mapping from a symbol
>> object to a sequence of characters. It is this isomorphism that
>> is the useful (and *only*) property of symbols.
>
> If you want a useful introductory description of symbols for someone
> that hasn't encountered them before, the above is the only part of  
> your
> previous email that is taking steps in that direction.

I wasn't trying to produce a useful introductory description
of symbols.  Nor do I really think that first paragraph would be all
that appropriate for that purpose.  'Isomorphism' isn't exactly in
common use.

Gary Wright