At this point in the evolution of the web, graphics and proficiency are still mutually exclusive, in my addled opinion. One can do all the optimizing, compressing and pre-loading in the world, but to develop for the absolute lowest of technologies accessing it is near impossible. There are still those out there on 286 platforms using the web. If one were to design for that, that would be the most effective as it would be the most inclusive methodology. But then you get high end users decrying the merits of style and don't care about function. Where is the happy medium? Beats me. I'd like to think that form follows appropriate function. That whatever functions well will also having a pleasing form. But it's so darn subjective isn't it? Virtual communities exist in abundance but are still subjected to the authorities of their individual locations. Therefore they are more sub-cultures than cultures. To come together for commonality in career goals, music preferences, or a myriad of other distractions is entertaining and educational but hardly revolutionary. But for me that is good enough for now. Guy J. McDowell http://www.ofah.org "You cannot seize the day, let a lone grasp the future, while still holding on to the past." -----Original Message----- From: CF-Community [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, December 01, 2000 11:32 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: CF-Community V1 #5 CF-Community Fri, 1 Dec 2000 Volume 1 : Number 5 In this issue: Re: Colonizing the Galaxy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2000 12:36:19 -0500 From: "Michael Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Colonizing the Galaxy Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On proficiency - would the graphics part of a website be recognized for artistically pleasing form rather than just how fast it downloads? One of the things I like about ColdFusion programming is that is brings so many skills together - graphics, HTML layout, usability, SQL, database, programming, internet protocols... I think one of the reasons the CF community is so friendly is just because the people in it come from so many backgrounds. ;-) Maybe the new "nations" will be virtual nations - like the CF community only is a virtual group of people with a common passion... - Michael Smith, TeraTech, Inc http://www.teratech.com/ "Guy J. McDowell" wrote: > I hate to say it but I'm still pretty fond of the concept as outlined > by Ayn Rand in "Atlas Shrugged". That is terribly similar to the > concept as you have stated it. Technology will be the catalyst for any > state to improve beyond its basest instincts and sustain an > "enlightened" civilization. However, that, in the absence of > spirituality and a recognization of a higher power, merely makes the > technocratic state a well oiled machine with contempt for the > sacredness of life. > > Am I rambling yet Michael? Of course I am. Now I'm reading Walden and > that's just messing me up again! My ideal society would be a > techno-theocratic society under the reign of benevolent democratic > monarchy utilizing a system of natural law. With a side order of > fries. > > I love the fact that very seldom does the technical world discriminate > on anything other than proficiency. Even then, most will allow for a > lack of proficiency if the individual in question is willing to learn > and put forth some effort. So I guess I like the idea of meritocracy > as well. But then there are always those less fortunate in our society > and it would be great to recognize the limits of meritocracy as based > on the individuals contribution to society. The contribution would > have to be weighed against the ability to contribute. > > I have got to get to one of these developer conferences to meet all > you cool folks! > > Guy J. McDowell, megalomaniac > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Structure your ColdFusion code with Fusebox. Get the official book at http://www.fusionauthority.com/bkinfo.cfm Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
