Re: Apple II Google Group

["Chris Alaimo" <cpalaimo@gmail.com>]

Wow.  I am not sure where you get this from, but let me do my best:

Michael Black wrote:
> "Chris Alaimo" (cpalaimo@gmail.com) writes:
>
> > I am not saying that it is.  I am just saying that it would be nice to
> > be able to use the Google Group as an 'advanced interface', acting as
> > sort of a web portal for the usenet group.  I am not suggesting moving
> > anything anywhere.  I am trying to figure out a means of doing so right
> > now.
> >
> But this newsgroup is "mirrored" at google, since google archives
> newsgroups.
>
> If the only purpose of this new "group" is to mirror this, then
> there is no purpose for it.

Do you not understand that there are a couple of neat features that
this space has available that the usenet group mirrored on Google does
not?

> This is another case of someone creating a new space because they
> can, rather than because there is an existing need.

No, there is not a need, but if there is a way (and I am working on it
right now) to be able to read and post to CSA while simultaneously
having some nice extra features at your disposal, then why not try to
set it up?

> Note you came here and posted about it, yet most of the people here
> have no problem with here.  You expect us to flock to your space,
> when if you really need people to make this new space viable (and
> you don't have a viable space unless there are posters), you need
> to find the people who aren't already here.

I do not expect anyone to flock anywhere.  Basically I came here and
said "here is this cool new tool.  You can choose to check it out, or
not."  I also do not understand why someone who is "already here" would
not want to try something new.  Why is everything a black and white
"this or that"?  I am not trying to take anything away from CSA2.

> As for the filespace, in the old days everything was really open.
> Then the commercialization of the internet came along, and instead
> of communal and cooperative spaces, we get branded spaces where you
> have to register to get access.  That may not mean anything to
> recent immigrants to the internet, but it is a radical change
> for people who've been around even a decade.  So those files
> are not accessible to the world at large, only members of your
> little group.  And that's the notion of the commercial space,
> not because you've decided the files should be accessible only
> by "members".

This shows me that you have obviously not even looked at the Google
Group.  It is set up to allow open access.  You do not have to sign up
or be a member to access files.  Anyone can go there and download
files.

> You've followed the traditional route for this sort of group.
> Make an announcement in an existing newsgroup, and basically
> say the purpose is because you don't like newsgroups.  Dismiss
> the existing discussion, yet too often the new "group" has
> virtually none.  And any files collected are not open to
> the world.

Yet again, you are wrong.  I have never said that I didn't like
newsgroups.  I have been posting to this group on and off for about 4
years.  And all files collected are open to the world.

> This happened last year with a radio related group last
> year.  Discussion is a trickle, and basically it's lost
> to a wider audience, and the "group" loses the context of
> a wider number of participants.  The "useful files" are
> not so useful if you have to register to a commercial entity
> in order to see them.

I would think that you would have looked at the group if you were going
to keep going back to this argument.  YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REGISTER FOR
ANYTHING TO SEE THE FILES.  NO LOGIN INFORMATION IS REQUIRED.

>   Michael

I do not understand why there is so much resistance around here to
something like this.  No one is suggesting that this thing be used in
lieu of the newsgroup.  Instead, it can be used as a handy aid for
discussions in the newsgroup, for people to host files or create small
pages if they do not have web space of their own, and do not want to
sign up for free web space laden with ads.

I really like this newsgroup, but I have seen often enough how any
attempt to alter the procedure around here is met with fierce
resistance.  As an admitted computer nerd, I love playing around with
stuff like this.  When I saw that Google allowed the creation of groups
with page creation and file hosting I immediately thought how cool it
would be to have an Apple II group and started tinkering with it.  I
find it surprising that a group full of computer junkies would not at
least want to toy around with something like this.

Again I will state this.  I have created a neat little tool.  Anyone is
welcome to check it out.  If not, then no big deal.  

Chris