Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2000 17:44:55 -0500 (EST)
From: Nacho Cordova <cordova-AT-wam.umd.edu>
Subject: Re: BB


Dear All: 

	More comments :

M wrote:

> I am not sure how the discussion of technology -- of the _what_ and _whose_
> and _wherefore_ of specific technologies -- is "off kilter".  Maybe I have 
> a completely wrong understanding of how technology is supposed to serve 
> people.  Or maybe my understanding of this is simply too far off from yours, 
> in which case I am not sure what we should do about it.  Maybe we should 
> wait for some of the other spoons to join the discussion, so as to have 
> more perspectives.
> 
> I realize that your first priority is to start going on the subjectivity 
> list.  I guess you will have to decide whether this discussion, with its
> unavoidable tendency towards invoking more general philosophical issues, 
> is worth your while, or whether it is simply a waste of your time.
> 
> -m
> 

	Well, a discussion of technology issues might not be off target to
what we should discuss here, and it certainly is necessary so that we can
determine alternatives to traditional list formats, but I feel we can
easily spend lots of time talking about tech stuff to the detriment of the
other issues, which I think include:  should the Collective bother with
this list, does the goal/vision of the list dovetail with whatever mission
the Collective see for itself and its services, and if the Collective is
indeed interested then how best to integrate it into the existing
framework. This does not mean I am in an impatient mood, but does mean
that I am trying to stay as focused as possible on some substantive issues
for me. I like technology, and recognize that how best to set up this
project requires  prelim. work, but there's a point of diminishing returns
in getting too far into one without delving into the other one also.

	I know many of the folks here are busy, I read the earlier
emails. And I look forward to their contributions whenever they can post
them, but that doesn't pause me from requesting feedback. Unavoidable
tendencies to more general philosophical issues are fine, I love to engage
in those. But just as you request that I make a determination on whether
this conversation is a waste of time for me or not, I should be able to
request the same decision from the Collective.

	Hey, I'll shut up for a while and see where the other
contributions take us.

Best Regards,

N. Cordova
cordova-AT-wam.umd.edu