What ever became of GroupStudy ...!

[Nigel Taylor]

Groupstudy,                 Let me pose this question again, "What ever became of GroupStudy?".  The reason I ask is as of lately the post within the group has been more unrelated to groupstudy than ever before that I've seen.  Now I only been a member of the studygroup for about a year now and I'm sure other's whom have been here as long or longer have noticed the difference in the post. At one time it was a joy for me to read the various post and be a part of such an awesome sharing/learning experience.  However, presently I look to the studygroup and all I find is *dumb* questions and foolish post that has nothing to do with what I believe is the reason "Paul Borghese" started this list-server in the first place. Yep, I'm upset..! Why? Not for the reason that the group doesn't still provide a great amount of information, it does and I'm happy about that but now I receive 200 messages a day of which 20-30 may have some content that give me a reason to continue my loyal fellowship as a list member.  I still hope everyday as I polish through the garbage(unrelated post) that has seem to make it's way into this list.   Let me take you back, for those of you who can remember;   A time when e-mail from Howard, Pricilla, Pamela, Oz, Tony H, Joe Martin, Peter, Jamie, Tom Thomas, Donald Lee, and the so many other served to fuel the minds of so many.   Or the various post from one of our more liked list members "pkm" whom tested the Cisco CCIE frabic...  Even then that too served it's purpose because it centered around informational topics that allowed the group to share and learn.   You're fore warned... Here's the FLAME....   Now all I see is post on salary, where can I find this and that, and I made it.  Is the price we must now pay for the open knowledge of "Cisco Certification".  I'm sure when folks like Caslow, Burton, Pamela, Slattery and more recently Brad, David, and Joe embarked upon this journey the information was scared and difficult to find so this goup provided and invaluable resource. When I embarked on this journey the Information wasn't common placed as it is today and I took an initiative to find out as much as I could about the "CCIE" on the so many resources that existed at the time of which now has doubled even tripled.   I *love* this business and I feel fortunate to be a member the list and career field at large but that's what drove me and still drives me in my pursuit of the information, I could and can simply post questions of the top of my head to the group like -   I want to become a CCNA/CCNP/CCIE - What do  I do? How much money do Cisco Certified folks make? My router power won't come on?   Yes, the group is here to supply answers but not to question that anyone with genuine interest can find if they did just a little research which is effectively a huge part of becoming a CCNA/CCNP/CCIE.    My question to all is ask yourself "What do you want from this list and what am I putting back into it?"    I can't remember the last time I saw a post from Pricilla, Pamela, and so many others.  We must remember that these folks took valuable time out of their day to be a part of this group so they could share with us what took them years of experience to know and for this we must be grateful and show this in making sure the list continues to be fertile ground for the interested minds of Internetworking.   I dread the day when we could possibly loose these folks because like the rest of us they too have lives...and as I'm sure keep very busy schedules, but for the time being let's make great use of what we do have in these folks and not waste their time with post that will undoubtedly serve no purpose but to waste our time and theirs - and there's never enough of that, for anyone.   Another loyal groupstudy member Nigel