From: schmidt@uxmail.ust.hk (DR. ROY SCHMIDT)
Subject: RE:  Inappropraite articles -- README needed?
Organization: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 01:47:12 GMT

Newsgroups: comp.groupware
Subject: Re: inappropriate articles - Readme needed? 
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: 
Organization: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Keywords: 

In article <memo.764565@cix.compulink.co.uk> rwhitehead@cix.compulink.co.uk writes:
>> I would like someone else to do this, since I have trouble writing at
>> the appropriate level. The README should primarily ensure that
>> inappropriate articles are not posted, and then refer readers to the
>> "Introduction to comp.groupware" for more information. I can arrange for
>> the actual posting if preferred.
>
>How about posting the README instead of the Introduction?  No other group I
>download finds it necessary to go into such detail at such frequent
>intervals.  Furthermore, nobody I know who reads this group (and that's not
>just in the UK) finds the Introduction anything other than a pain in the
>backside.
>
>Do the decent thing, David, and send it to the knacker's yard.   8->
>
>Roger

Hear, hear!

David, who defines "inappropriate"?  Is it inappropriate for
students to seek knowledge through an alternative source?  Do we have to
have some special badge or permit before we can post appropriate
articles?  Have you ever consider the possibility that your definition
of appropriate (or groupware for that matter) might be too narrow?

Are you trying to save our precious time at the expense of throttling
the free exchange of ideas?

Note the very low volume of postings to this group.  I wonder why such a
group even exists if no one dares (or cares) to post to it.  Here we
have a forum where researchers and practitioners from around the world
can share experiences and ideas about a field that is at the forefront
of innovation.  Yet you, David, point with pride to the low volume of
postings.  You reason that the low volume denotes quality rather than
quantity.

I guess you would say that, since about 25% of the postings are your
"Introduction" :-)!  I must say I was not impressed when I read it.

BTW, since some of us did indeed answer the students' questions (I for
one, sent direct mail rather than posting when the answer was rather
simplistic) I would say that is an indication that we had no particular
objection to the posts.  Actually, I was beginning to wonder about the
competency of American University's IS faculty if the students had to
ask such things to the world ;->.

You say you are archiving postings and compiling some sort of journal
for publication.  Who are the referees for this archiving?  Don't tell
me that you alone decide what is appropriate for inclusion in this
journal???  I don't want to be rude, but David, you are begging for such
sentiment among those who pariticpate in this forum.  

I can see that by holding the decision of what gets included in the
journal over the heads of posters, you can hold some amount of fear of
posting this sort of note.  But, personally, considering the fact that I
have not seen much worthwhile on this group for several months, I would
say that your journal is in danger of being too slim and too narrowly
focussed.

If you are going to do this right, how about an editorial panel?  Set up
"departmental" editors.  Trim your introduction to an explanation of
goals, a list of deparments and editors, and an appeal to readers of the
group to become reviewers.  Each time some "appropriate" material is
posted, assign an editor to that stream.  Review the stream as a piece
of work.  If the reviewers and the editor agree that the stream is
appropriate, then it gets included in the hardcopy journal.

If you treat the posting of articles here the same as if the articles
had been submitted to a journal for consideration of publication, then
you would certainly attract some high quality posts.  By refereeing the
process and putting the final results in hardcopy (and posting the table
of contents), you would motivate posters to get serious about this
outlet for their work.

Above is just my views off the top of my head.  I won't get a heart
attack and die if someone says it's a rotten idea.  I would certainly
get a little upset if the thought police told me that my posting was
"inappropriate" :-( !

Well, I guess I have done my part to waste hundreds of hours of
attention time throughout the world.  Now, GET BACK TO WORK!  :-)


-- 
Roy Schmidt        schmidt@usthk.ust.hk        schmidt@uxmail.ust.hk
Business Information Systems Dept, School of Business and Management
         The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
                Clearwater Bay,  Sai Kung,  HONG KONG
Newsgroups: comp.groupware