Re: Suggestion -- MIDRANGE-L

Jan,

I do a lot of lurking on this, the COBOL, CODE and WDSc lists. I have some of the answers a lot of the time, but some of the quicker of fingers have the answers posted before I get to see the question. I have to do most of my email from home (like now) because I don't have internet access at the desk top at work. I use my personal time and email account to try to stay current in a one man shop. I don't know how (or why) you would want to stifle the conversation just because someone *might* be using the list to further their career. That is like M$ forcing me to reregister XP (name you version) when I change hardware because I *might* be a thief. Or the music industry copy protection because I *might* want to remix a cd to my liking and remove some of the crap they put on their version. OR ......

I guess I don't see the harm in the lurkers, as long as they are not doing harm.

My 2 penny's worth (.0005 Canadian)

Jim Essinger
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Student Loan Fund of Idaho
208-452-4058

At 03:57 AM 5/7/2003 +0200, you wrote:

Hi Dave,

I do not know whether my opinions that follow are shared by others on
the list

Would it be possible to quantify lurkers? Some folks here initiate a
question with statements that imply that they are apologetic for merely
using the group for answers when it suits them. Firstly, any question
asked in a forum such as this is to the benefit of all. It informs the
technically-unaware and awakens the brain cells of the
technically-capable.

OTOH, lurkers are there to glean information without contributing (my
personal perception!). There is a large difference between a newbie
(WAFU, for my 'blue sky ' mates *) and someone who is employed by a
company and now uses this forum to harness information that will assist
them in delivering what their CV stated they are capable of.

I know that you cannot identify, by region, those who post via
HOTMAIL,etc. Apart from those, could you identify by region.

Just a thought,

Jan.

* www.recce.co.za
No, I was not in any of those units. But my friends were and they are
men among  men!!

Also, here I was, but not with them:
In www.google.com look for '44 para'