Re: NodeNet: how not to scare away experts

From: Alex Future Bokov (alexboko@umich.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 05 1998 - 09:46:30 MDT


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, Michael Nielsen wrote:

> On Thu, 4 Jun 1998, Alex Future Bokov wrote:
>
> > I hope the nodes become respected fora in their fields (with a
> > strong but intangible Extropian slant) rather than outlets for raw
> > propoganda.
>
> I'm curious as to how you plan to attract experts to use the nodes. Why
> should they use ExI's system when other perfectly good systems exist? I
> know many of my own most productive research discussions with other
> people involved in quantum computing go on in email; sometimes quite a
> large group of researchers is involved in a single discussion. What would I
> gain from using ExI's system over this system of discussion?

You probably wouldn't use it instead of your normal professional channels,
but rather in addition. Here are a couple of ways it might benefit you:

1. If this goes the route of propogating certain messages to other nodes
that may be interested, you get improved interdisciplinary sharing of
ideas.

2. You get to talk to lay-persons who have the sort of interest in your
work that is all too rare among the general public, while at the same time
talking to colleagues.

3. You get to set the record straight. What gets passed off as "science
reporting" on TV and in the papers these days is really inadequate as a
conduit between the lab and the living room.

4. You get whatever else it is that motivates you to join intereting
online discussions.

Besides, you and your circle of professional contacts might be ahead of
the game-- not surprising given the nature of your research. My specialty
(gerontology) however, can definately use more efficient means of
electronic communication.

                                            --Sincerely, Alex F. Bokov

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: 2.6.2

iQBpAwUBNXgS2JvUJaRNHMexAQF3aAKaAs2HmffvTeRVrFSB8s5i+GOJioUP3wpr
vcDEgupW5yVaTzMBByEEESuwN/HhZkuBP2ESfwODTvrrGMqtWW5cMnBBHAIxie6K
HmKLz5051xo04fRJ
=Ximk
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 14:49:10 MST