asking a reader to be familiar with reference [x] before being able to under- stand the rest of your paper may be equivalent to asking the reader to get off the ladder, go to the library, read the whole article [x], and then climb up the ladder again. and because i was young, i could relate with them and they liked that. and maybe more responsibility than my heart can truly bear. that would help and would certainly do no harm. driving the price on that book down from $12.99 to $9.99. 