>>>>>Separately, I don't share your dismay at references to the keyboard key as "forward slash." There are in fact two slash keys on a keyboard, one that leans forward and one that leans backward. What's the problem with making it crystal clear which one is meant? Up to a point, there is no reason not to be as clear as possible.
>>>>
>>>>In a slash, which side is the front, and which side is the rear?
>>>
>>>
>>>The position of the top relative to the bottom determines whether it is a forward slash or a back slash.
>>
>>So since we read from left to right up to down \ is more "forward" then /. ::)
>>
>
>Not to be pedantic or anything <g> but that isn't what I said. Or maybe I said it poorly. If the top of the slash is to the right of the bottom, it's a forward slash. If the top is to the left of the bottom, it's a backward slash. Better?

Mike,

you miss the emoticon. I know what a slash and a back slash is so there is no problem.

I simply point out that the reading direction is (for western languages) from left to right top to bottom. This is called forward. If I would draw an arrow on the page it would be from top left to bottom right. A back slash is an arrow without arrowhead pointing forward. An slash otoh is pointing upward or - back.
You might argue that there is no arrowhead and either direction is possible. In the case only the back slash gives a straight direction, the slash is always one part forward, one part back.

Agnes