On Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003, at 18:03 Europe/London, francis newman wrote:
I did a search on Google (both .com and .co.uk - in both web and groups) for your name (and also mine) and did not find the result you write about. However in the Groups section I did come across messages I had written to various discussion groups going back as far 1995 (these were bulletin boards rather than e-mail groups)Myself and probably most other googlers used the 'web' search first on the .com . The first three listed are PRODIG. Nothing for me to be too embarrassed about other than my apology for inaccuracy but I could have been mid rant at the end of a frustrating day.
If it exists on the web then the probability is that Google will pick it up at some point. However un-ideal that is I do not see that as a justification to do away with the archive and short of password protecting the archive (which I would guess would be loathe to do for all sorts of valid admin reasons) I can't quickly think of any other solution.
Seems like a very good justification to me.
My memory is that the archive was set up on members request to help ease the load on regular contributors endlessly answering the same questions. I certainly would prefer contributors to respond to posts unfettered by worries about its public domain, the prime usefulness of list like this are the free flow of information and should not be subject to self censorship. Of course the archive is very useful but my point is about balancing this against its negative aspects. All this is notwithstanding that it is ultimately a List Owners decision.
It must be a problem common to all (very many) lists with archives. Even if the headline quote on Google seems out of context anyone with any sense who is going to make a serious judgement on it will no doubt click on the link will presumably see it all in context.
I've met a lot of clients with very little sense. They used me after all.
Bear in mind also that any of our clients is free to join Prodig and see us in all our glory. It is a public - not private - discussion group, and nothing beats judicious and polite posting - and not only for Google seaches through the archive :-)Agreed. But then they would be at least seeing all arguments in context. Anyhow my main concern is the casual search. Opinions about people are made, initially, within seconds not minutes. I am all for judicious and polite on both public and private forum. And PRODIG continues to be one of the best examples I have come across.
Kind regards
Jonathan Keenan
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