bug#3873: 23.1.50; docstring of `region-active-p' is nonsensical

docstring of `region-active-p' is nonsensical.

"Most commands that act on the region if it is active and
Transient Mark mode is enabled, and on the text near point
otherwise, should use `use-region-p' instead.  That function
checks the value of `use-empty-active-region' as well."

In particular, this clause;
", and on the text near point otherwise,"

I am a native english speaker and have _NO CLUE_ what this is trying to say.

While I am somewhat aware of the idiosyncrasies of transient mark,
region, etc. and the baggage involved in this particular arena of
documentation. There doesn't seem to be any good reason for this
docstring to be quit so obtuse.

I believe this was touched upon (and/or skirted around) here:
(URL `http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/emacs-devel/2009-05/msg00563.html')

Was there any resolution?

;;; ==============================
In GNU Emacs 23.1.50.1 (i386-mingw-nt5.1.2600)
 of 2009-06-30 on LENNART-69DE564 (patched)
Windowing system distributor `Microsoft Corp.', version 5.1.2600
configured using `configure --with-gcc (3.4) --cflags -Ic:/g/include'

Important settings:
  value of $LC_ALL: nil
  value of $LC_COLLATE: nil
  value of $LC_CTYPE: nil
  value of $LC_MESSAGES: nil
  value of $LC_MONETARY: nil
  value of $LC_NUMERIC: nil
  value of $LC_TIME: nil
  value of $LANG: ENU
  value of $XMODIFIERS: nil
  locale-coding-system: cp1252
  default-enable-multibyte-characters: t

Major mode: Emacs-Lisp

Minor modes in effect:
  shell-dirtrack-mode: t
  diff-auto-refine-mode: t
  show-point-mode: t
  show-paren-mode: t
  display-time-mode: t
  auto-image-file-mode: t
  server-mode: t
  tooltip-mode: t
  mouse-wheel-mode: t
  noticeable-minibuffer-prompts-mode: t
  menu-bar-mode: t
  file-name-shadow-mode: t
  global-font-lock-mode: t
  font-lock-mode: t
  global-auto-composition-mode: t
  auto-composition-mode: t
  auto-encryption-mode: t
  auto-compression-mode: t
  size-indication-mode: t
  column-number-mode: t
  line-number-mode: t
  transient-mark-mode: t