> > In related news, I will continue to willingly disobey current rules regarding the inclusion of punctuation in quoted words or phrases in which the punctuation is not actually a part of the quoted material.
>
> Hear, hear!
>
> My current understanding is that the British do not include punctuation within quotation marks unless it is part of the quoted material; the rule against which you and I are practicing civil disobedience is an American rule. With so many RinkBrits about, maybe someone can tell me whether that's correct.
>
> In any case, I hate the stupid rule as it stands here in the States. Punctuation should go /outside/ the quotation marks unless it's part of the actual quotation.

I completely wildly disagree. Punctuation should always go *inside* the quotation marks, unless it's part of the original quote, in which case it all goes in a lump at the end. As an example, I'll quote you:

"In any case I hate the stupid rule as it stands here in the States Punctuation should go outside the quotation marks unless its part of the actual quotation!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~`11",.//'.

See? Much more sensible. And, yes, the number 1 counts as punctuation for these purposes.

In other news, I notice you put two spaces between your periods and the beginnings of the next sentences. I understand this is SOP, but it never fails to make me laugh; does it serve an actual purpose, or is it just convention?