It is true that statalist does contain answers to questions answered
elsewhere. But people sometimes get a little . . . testy when the answer
is already known to be available in those locations. So, I guess my
question really is whether people recognize and accept the additional
obligation a wiki will mean, i.e., that there is yet *another* place they
will be expected to check before submitting a question to statalist.
This could add a bit of inefficiency to all our lives if the wiki has a
lot of the same info one has already waded through in the other
locations, but of course if the wiki has lots of new information it may
add a great deal of efficiency to our lives instead.
So, I have no position on this. I am just observing the systemic
implications of innovation. One implication of starting a wiki is that
people may be expected to do more research in more places before
submitting a question to statalist. And, thus, there may be a general and
dispersed cost to creating another location for people to check. But, of
course, the wiki may also produce efficiencies. My only point--one should
think about both possibilities in evaluating the wiki proposal.
Take care.
Sam
On Sun, 7 Jan 2007, Neil Shephard wrote:
> On 1/7/07, SamL <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Just a quick question or two. Will it be necessary to amend the FAQ
> > advice on using statalist if a wiki is developed, advising users to check
> > the wiki before posting to the list?
>
> I'd imagine this would be a natural addition, as well as adding a line
> to the default signature.
>
> > Are statalist members willing to
> > address questions that are answered in the wiki?
>
> Statalist members already answer questions whose answers are in the
> manuals, online help, FAQ and statalist archives so I don't see that
> this would be any different.
>
> Neil
> --
> "Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute
> rejection of authority." - Thomas H. Huxley
>
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