Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 11:13:43 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug <Doug@gorean.org> To: Brad Knowles <blk@skynet.be> Cc: Jamie Norwood <mistwolf@mushhaven.net>, "Daniel C. Sobral" <dcs@newsguy.com>, "Paul M. Lambert" <plambert@magiclemurs.com>, stable@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: Roasting Newbies Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.10.9910141109130.8744-100000@dt050n71.san.rr.com> In-Reply-To: <v04205521b42bc1262ab9@[195.238.21.204]>
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On Thu, 14 Oct 1999, Brad Knowles wrote:
> At 10:08 AM -0700 1999/10/14, Doug wrote:
>
> > It is cabable of that, but managing this on the scale we're
> > talking about with the FreeBSD lists is just not an easy task. This idea
> > has been proposed often, and always rejected by the very people you claim
> > to want to help.
>
> I can't speak for whether or not it is practical in the context
> of the FreeBSD lists (I'm not the postmaster, after all), but I can
> speak within my experience. [0]
Let me rephrase. It won't work. Even if it would work, it won't
happen because the developers don't want it. End of story.
> > As much as I applaud any efforts to increase the level of user
> > education, I have to say that I think an automated response just will not
> > do.
>
> IMO, if it's not an automated response, the rules won't be
> implemented with any regularity, and the inappropriate questioners
> will not learn.
>
> You've got to set things up so that it is impossible for humans
> to screw up this task
That's not possible. Since it isn't possible, you have to start
looking at next best alternatives.
> because they're not real good at following
> precise recipes for exactly how to act, and reliably applying those
> rules each and every time. However, computers *are* real good at
> precisely these sorts of things.
Actually you've proven my point here. It's precisely because human
behavior is so unpredictable that "automated teaching solution" is an
oxymoron. I'll stop here because experience tells me that no further input
from me on this topic will improve the situation, however if you want to
look at realistic solutions to the problems at hand I think -doc is
probably the best list to continue this discussion on.
Good luck,
Doug
--
"Stop it, I'm gettin' misty."
- Mel Gibson as Porter, "Payback"
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