Re: [tlug] Open archives are bad?

["Uva Coder" <uva.coder@example.com>]

On 4/22/07, Dave M G <martin@example.com> wrote:

> Uva, I've been trying to wrap my head around where you're coming
> from, and it just seems like we're on different wavelengths.

Thanks. I really am not trying to be a protagonist. Sometimes I don't
get where I'm coming from too, until I dig a little deeper. I suppose
the chord that struck me pertains to a dislike of a trend over the
past 10+ years or so concerning the prolonged discourse and effort
that one must go through before getting to the meat of a topic.
Perhaps I've been reading too many Redbooks lately. But even so, that
is only one aspect of it.

> Correct me if I'm misreading you, but it seems that you feel the TLUG
> archives need to be somehow better before they should be made  more
> publicly accessible. In a way, it's like you're saying they don't
> deserve to be more accessible because of a lack of focus, quality, or
> relevance.

Perhaps it's the lets dump it in a search engine approach that
disturbs me. The idea that a search engine will improve our condition
doesn't ring true to me. To me it feels as if we are giving up
ownership of a problem for someone else to sort out....the "thank god
for search engines because we don't want to deal with this matter"
mindset. But then again I'm the sole dissent, plus I've been
marginalized, so the point is mute. It doesn't matter if I'm
understood, at least I've had my say.

> But I just can't see how the TLUG archives are any worse than anyone
> else's archives. Every list has trolls, irrelevant discussions, and
> other noise. Every list has a unique kind of character that is the sum
> total of all the good and bad contributions of all its members. But
> nonetheless, without even putting much thought into it, a Google search
> will basically side step the noise and pull out those bits of data that
> can help a person.

I understand your point. If we want TLUG to be just another LUG, I
think we've accomplished that. TLUG has other strong points besides an
archive.

As far as searches are concerned, that unfortunately hasn't been my
experience, I google 9fans with no avail at limiting trolling; and
9fans has far less trolling. But again the point is mute.

> So the bottom line as I see it is that at worst, maybe no non-TLUG
> member will find anything of use in the archives. At best, someone,
> somewhere, may be helped. No downside, maybe some upside.

Yes, but it would be nice to improve the signal to noise ratio. To me,
time is worth more than money.

Thanks for indulging me.

--Uva

<off-topic>
When we finally get the world wide mind, will it be easy to separate
access to our linux know how from that of our personal lives? Or
should we care? Something to ponder on a Sunday afternoon.
</off-topic>