OT: Lurking, and Invitations to the Archives

In a message dated 7/17/00 10:29:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, mbrown@pldi.net 
writes:

<< If I have a question I have  learned to check the archives by repeated
 directives to do so by the responses to others questions.>>

I'd like to say something in general about the Archives and people receiving 
the suggestion that they check there as an answer to a question. 

I don't think anyone intends to brush a questioner off by suggesting they 
visit the Archives, or suggest that their question is not worthy, or worth 
the time to answer. 

But there are some discussions that have occurred here over and over and at 
great length, and these detailed discussions, many containing really great 
observations, often very specific to certain localities, do not lend 
themselves to being distilled into a single response to a new question. 
Indeed, they may require the questioner to evaluate all the materials from 
their unique position and arrive at independent conclusions.

All the contributioins in the Archives were made by active members of this 
list, past and present. Every one took time and effort, sometimes a lot of 
time and effort, for someone to think about and type up. Many called for 
research in books. We refer people to our Archives because we are PROUD of 
them! They are the single richest storehouse of detailed information on 
irises ANYWHERE. People from all over the world have contributed. People 
interested in all kinds of irises have contributed. People have provided 
FIRST HAND information in considerable detail. The Archives are where the 
COLLECTIVE WISDOM of all of us here is stored. We could not begin to give 
better answers to some questions than those already given, and we know this. 
So, sometimes we suggest a visit to the Archives. 

Please don't feel like a suggestion to poke about in the Archives is a brush 
off; it is not. It is an invitation to a great opportunity for self-education.

I will now go make myself a large cup of tea and see if I can write a brief 
tutorial for our newer members on how to use and love the Aladdin's Cave that 
is the Iris list Archives. Maybe it will help somebody.

Anner, in Virginia
ChatOWhitehall@aol.com


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