Lars writes:

>
> Wirt wrote...
>
> >Nonetheless, if HP3000-L turned into a purely technical
> newslist, where it's
> >a repeat of the information that could be gotten out of the
> manuals with a
> >little bit of work, it would hold no interest to me.
>
> But it might hold interest to those people who don't read the manuals
> carefully enough, don't have the right manuals or need some guidance
> on where to find them at docs.hp.com, or even have questions that can
> not simply be answered from the manuals but also benefit from sharing
> experiences with fellow hp3000 community members.
>
> ;-)
>

I let this pass when Wirt first wrote it, but cannot resist adding my $.02
now (note I have re-added the OT designation).

We let Wirt get away with making a wild generalization based upon nothing
more than his belief in something being true. Hardly what I would expect
from someone so versed in the scientific method. ;-)

If anyone has a good sense of the character of on-topic posts it would be me
since I mine HP3000-L for material to fill my "net.digest" and "Hidden
Value" columns in the 3000 NewsWire. While I have never made a scientific
determination of the percentage of "answers" that could be "gotten out of
the manuals with a little bit of work", I can say that the content of
"net.digest" generally can not be found in manuals, in fact this is one of
several criteria I use to choose topics. In the case of "Hidden Value", yes
there are the usual "You need to use the SETCOUNTER command" type items, but
a look at the current issue suggests that at least seven out of eleven items
in Hidden Value would be difficult to answer directly from manuals.

So, the on-topic postings to HP3000-L continue to deliver information not
readily available in the manuals.


Again, Wirt, then Lars wrote,

> >The OT posts on HP3000-L have always been the posts that
> hold the most
> >interest to me. They're intrinsically the most informative, even if
> >occasionally not much thought is given to them by the
> poster, but they work
> >to build a sense a community that would never exist if this
> were purely a
> >technical newsgroup, and they make HP3000-L a very unique
> newsgroup ...
>
> How about adding an ATMAR-L to [log in to unmask] It
> could complement
> HP3000-L quite nicely, and still allow for an easy separation
> of scientific,
> political, relgious, and boring technical discussions (the
> latter on hp3000
> or surrounding technical topics).
>
> ;-)
>

Since I wrote strongly about HP3000-L being hijacked by off-topic threads,
let me add that I too have enjoyed many of the off-topic threads that have
appeared on HP3000-L - especially some of Wirt's. What I objected to and
will continue to object to is when the continued posturing on a particular
topic goes way beyond normal polite discussion in both content and duration.
This is what caused me to speak up. Note that the war threads do not
represent the first time this has happened, but is certainly the most
egregious example.

So, keep the occasional off-topic post coming. Just use some reasonable
judgment and humility. Before you hit that SEND button, pause to think how
many people care really care what you have to say.

John Burke

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