Why is there a top line on lined paper if we never use it?

In response to last week’s questions, “Why is there a top line on lined paper if we never use it?” my writing and sailing friend Rich concluded, “It's for the accountants. They couldn't get to bottom line without it.”

“For me it is a fresh start. A new headline. A clean space,” wrote my Parrothead friend Sam. She added, “Then again it can also be extra area for everything you forgot to list below, or everything I need to get done first, or... see - I need the top line space!”

My niece Tracey (1st time contributor) noted that “so there is a spot to write titles.” My Margarita night buddy Ty believes, “The top line is for people to doodle unobstructed while their bosses or instructors are flapping their gums.”

My friends Richard and Kurt questioned, “Who says we never use the top line?” My friend Tracey agreed, “You were obviously not an English major! I always used it.” And at the other end of the structured-discipline continuum, my engineering friend Steve wrote, “I guess I'm just a rule breaker, I use it!” And then my organizational management guru friend Marya explained, “Because, if you are a "J" like me, that top line provides structure and balance! ;-) (“J” referring to Judging on the MBTI Personality Assessment scale).”

My friend Bill clarified, “It is actually the second line. The first line was left off since they knew no one would use it.”

My neighbor Dick, niece Tracey and birthday bud Jon cautioned, “Since we don't use it, they should do away with the top line. But then the next line would be the top line and if we continue to delete the top line all the way down the page, we'd end up with unlined (blank) paper.

My birthday bud Jon also saw another value as he wrote, “It keeps the capital letters on the first line you use from going crazy.” To understand the tremendous value of this short sentence, see my colleague Swany’s detailed economic impact at the bottom of the email.

My dad’s beach buddy Bob noted, “Because it is the "Headline" that never makes sense to begin with.” And my friend Jeff observed, “The reason for the topline is for those that don't know up from down or where to begin.”

Then my flying and biking friend Ted concluded, “For the same reason we have 12 Ounce beer bottles and never drink that last ounce.

Please share your thoughts about "things that make you go 'Hmmm'

(In preparation for Super Bowl Sunday): Is it my imagination, or do buffalo wings taste like chicken?

Live well...laugh often and heartily….be happy, have a good week and never regret anything that made you smile!

Hal

PS: The value of the top line from my colleague Swany: The top line is, in fact, used. Our society is a rules-based society. Some break the rules, most follow the rules. The top line actually sets the writing standard in regard to the height of your letters. If there were no top line, there would be no rule to your penmanship and manuscript anarchy would run rampant. Letters would fly off the paper at alarming heights, ink would dry up creating yet another product for price gouging and more woes on our economy. Congress would spend months hammering out a new bill to subsidize the average man's ink supply and search for alternate writing supplies - such as the often disregarded lead pencil. So...in our rules based society, the top line of our "ruled" paper contributes more than you realize. Next time you begin your letter to grandma, take a moment to thank the paper makers for keeping the propensity of our pens from flying off the page and keeping at least one resource in economic check.