RE: [cobalt-users] RE: Regarding new homepage

[Rodolfo Paiz <rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I read your post, and can only offer that for the newcomer,
> searching the archives is frustrating, asking a question
> here and being told to search the archives is not helpful...

Yeah, I know; searching the archives is *still* frustrating for me, and
in fact after the second time I gave it up and use Google for that. On
the question-answering side, however, it's frustrating to spend 30
minutes typing up a super-detailed answer and have to retype or search
for your own past messages once a week. I've heard this comment from
some of the more experienced people on the list, and it's true. So some
points to be had for each side.

> So, I suppose that instead of having the combined wisdom of
> so many folks on this list who have figured out the answers
> in a convenient location, those of us who haven't will continue
> to muddle along searching a knowledge base that's disorganized
> and sifting through a list archive that reads like a free-form
> nightmare.

I agree with Jeff Lasman that the fewer places to look for answers, the
better. But actually, Thom, I have a concrete suggestion for you:

* Let's keep the resources down to:
     * list
     * archives
     * knowledgebase.
* Let's make the knowledgebase work properly (Cobalt's job).
* Let's make Question #1 on the knowledgebase be "Where else
     can I look for answers?" Then have anyone who wants to
     host such a resource (http://www.raqresources.com comes
     to mind) can email the KB maintainer to have that resource
     added to the list of answers in KB-Q#1.
* Let's figure out a way to make the archives work properly, and
     then run with it. This is in theory Cobalt's job, but maybe
     one of the more experienced people here could suggest a
     better way to do archives so we can search them with less
     complications. IMHO, KB-Q#2 should be "How can I search the
     archives?" and the answers should include the standard
     archives, Google, and The AIMS Group at least.

Thoughts?

--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:rpaiz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>