Date: Fri, 20 May 1994 01:10:56 -0400 (EDT)
From: ssj <ssj-AT-cnj.digex.net>
Subject: Re: This list
To: technology-AT-world.std.com
Cc: technology-AT-world.std.com




On Thu, 19 May 1994, Malgosia Askanas asks:

> So what I need to know is: what kind of discussion do you all want?
> Are the people who understand the background of the Conley book
> interested in mediating between the book and those who, like myself,
> do not have the requisite background, or should I stop trying to bring 
> this about?  Do most of the people who do not have the background 
> simply intend to lurk, or will they participate if the circumstances
> are right?  What would be the right circumstances? 
> 
> In other words, what kind of a list would you like this to be, and
> what kind of moderator does it call for? 
> 

If greater participation is your goal it can probably only be attained
by developing a depth of discussion that can be readily understood
by everyone.  Either that or the list membership will have to
agree to find time for some initial dense reading. 

So if we are voting please enter a vote for a bit less discussion 
decipherable only by the initiated, and perhaps more discussion of
contemporary technical issues.

The subject of this list is potentially interesting.  As the industrial 
societies become increasingly dependent on technology, and
technologists, a heavier leadership burden will be placed
on the global technical community.  Given the destructive 
technologies available handled badly and we may not have a 
global community.

While discussions of contemporary technical questions and issues
may not be as academically interesting they may gather in a 
wider audience, or at least that portion of the membership, who like
me, has barely enough time for the professional reading that is 
currently required. 

SSJ (Sanford Jacobs)