electron zoo

Backslash Backlash: This will be the name of my new metal band. Well, it would have simply been called Backslash, but that’s been taken by some rather tough looking Germans who could probably take me in a biergarten brawl. So Backslash Backlash it is.

The name of my metal band indicates my loathing and distaste for all humankind. (As the name of any metal band should do.) Well, maybe not for all humankind, just a vast majority — that majority being those who can’t keep the difference straight between a backslash (\) and a forward slash (/).

If you don’t know the difference … sigh. A slash (also known as a forward slash) leans forward (to the right), and is frequently used in punctuation and web addresses. A backslash leans backwards (to the left) and is infrequently used for anything at all. It was just invented in the 1950s and its main utility is in computer programming. The (forward) slash is beside your right SHIFT key. The backslash is really hard to find and often located in different positions on different keyboards.

Nonetheless, I’ve heard everyone from talk show hosts to family members claim that some web page or another can be found at "blah blah blah dot com backslash something something something" — in spite of the fact that a backslash will never appear in a properly formatted internet address. (I assume they think backslash is a fancy word for a slash. Well, you can’t blame ‘em for trying … right?)

And of course, I’m definitely not the first “enlightened” individual to observe this frequently-made mistake. Because what geek isn’t prone to just a little — the tinyest bit — of arrogance and elitism?