On 11 Dec 99, 3:33, hippyman wrote:
[...]
> The Seek and Find list here is a perfect example of illiterate
> computing. I don't mean to dis this list, as it's of great convienance,
> even to myself, as I've used it to find stuff that I was having trouble
> finding on my own. But people do not know how to use the Internet as it
> was designed - as an information sharing tool.
>
> This list does offer up a great convienance to people in aiding them in
> a quest for information searches. But if people would educate
> themselves in how the Internet works, then this list would not exist.
None of us were born with the knowledge of how to use computers. It
must be a learned process. Learning to search for the information one
need's in the Internet must be mastered from the experience of trial
and error. That takes time. A newcomer to the Internet cannot simply
access Yahoo and find every single thing they seek.
Our list helps one to become a better searcher of information in the
Internet from helping others as well as themselves, find information.
We sometimes give suggestions and guidance on better searching
techniques but the best teacher is experience. Our list questions are
diverse and provide wonderful assignments for those learning to search
better.
While those members who are learning to search better practice
searching, those of us on the list that have greater experience and
abilities, stand by to help those with less. Teaching by example is
one of the best methods I know to help people learn.
In discussion mailing lists that involve some technical knowledge, I've
always been an advocate of "passing down the baton." Those with the
knowledge today will teach other's that knowledge so that they in turn
will teach others on the list in the future. That is how one
perpetuates a mailing list.
Besides teaching and helping others, our list performs another service
to the Internet community. Many of our members are from countries
whose costs of telephone and/or Internet services are very high, making
online research very expensive. There are many times I will spend an
hour or more searching for an answer to a question. Many of our
members could not possibly afford to do that. So those of us in the US
with comparatively low rates in telephone and ISP costs stand by to
help others in the spirit of International cooperation, that need
assistance.
> Don't think that I don't appreciate the list. The collective whole of
> intellect is of value. But the list members who do offer up their
> services have to admit that if the comp was not an appliance, as it is
> recognized today, then there would be no need for this list.
I do what I do on this list because I enjoy it. I don't question why
the seeker was not able to find the information themselves nor make
stereotypical assertions of their "illiterate computing." I simply do
the searching because it is fun for me. Perhaps that is why I
developed pretty good skills in searching.
Alan
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
