[c-nsp] mailing list vs. web site (WAS: Re: SFC DOWN)

[John Osmon]

Let me preafce my words with the thought that I find the most of the new
wikis, forums, and whatnots are poor substitutes for searchable text
archives.  However, I learned most of my foundation material from Usenet
in the late 80s and early 90s, so I might be biased...

On Sun, Aug 02, 2009 at 06:51:07AM -0700, e ninja wrote:
> Gert,
> 
> So if we apply your thought process, there is no value in capturing and
> organizing re-usable intellectual capital? I guess you must think Wikipedia
> is useless and we should just trawl through the web and layers of email
> threads to find simple answers to questions that have already been answered?

You're putting words in Gert's mouth suggesting he derides the valuable
(free) services available.  I've never met Gert, but would buy him a 
beer if I found we were in the same room.  Gert and others have helped
me (and others) countless times without need of any of the tools you
espouse -- so there is already value present without need for more 
work...

Back to the main point:
There is value -- but who has to exert energy, and who reaps the
benefits?  


> The value of any list is to share knowledge. If there are free tools out
> there like mysolvr (a user-generated knowledge-base), that also allows us to
> go the extra mile of documenting and organizing re-usable know-how for the
> benefit of others, it is worth the effort.

Yes, there is likely value in organizing the info.  However, is the 
marginal value greater than the marginal cost?  I'm of the opinion
that most of the people reading this list and the archives believe
that it works well as it is.

> We have to work smarter, not harder.

Absolutely!  However, I think that you've got a hard hill in front of
you trying to change the behavior of people using this list.

A amarter approach might be to start moving the data to your preferred
site on your own.  Perhaps even building automated tools to do so.  If
your idea catches on, you could very well end up with a reputation and
following like Jared and/or Gert.  Until that occurs, I have doubts 
that the wealth of info on cisco-nsp will be transferred to
another medium...

(With that said, I'd be happy to be proven wrong -- more knowledge is
better!  I don't, however, think that I'd get enough out of the
process to spend my time doing any of the prep work...)