On 7/6/2013 12:16 PM, Galen Charlton wrote:
To give a concrete example, one question that would deserve an answer is why would a cataloger use a StackExchange (or a clone thereof) rather than AUTOCAT?
I'm not sure I see a reason. One of the big problems, IMHO, with the StackExchange model is their strict adherence to the model with which a question is presented. It seemed to me that so many were trying to use the LIS StackExchange space in a more open way than it was intended. It looked, after a while, like so many people were being penalized for failing to state their question in a specific way ... like when Jeopardy! contestants are penalized for failing to put their answer in the form of a question.
The mailing list is more open and accepting in its functionality, and those who are asking questions aren't penalized for asking their question in a non-preferred way (except, perhaps, that they don't get their answer soon enough). Those who have subscribed to the list, of course, have to put up with more back-and-forth but listservs have been around for decades and people have developed coping mechanisms for this.
-- Henry --------
