Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 20:26:28 -0700
Reply-To: "Betty C. Jung" <bettycjung@yahoo.com>
Sender: "SPSSX(r) Discussion" <SPSSX-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: "Betty C. Jung" <bettycjung@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: The purpose of this list. and possible alternatives.
In-Reply-To: <0711B1034D99D3119BF800902786277601E958A2@LEGALB>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Thanks, Peter for the kinds words. This is a great
discussion!
Frankly, I think everyone who has a burning SPSS
question should just check Raynauld's Web site first
and see if the solution isn't already there. The Web
site contains a wealth of SPSS information.
And, if we're a community really into sharing, I don't
see why people just can't share their offline "Eureka"
moments with SPSS on this listserv. Sounds like lots
of listers would love to hear how you solved a problem
in your daily battles with making sense of data. I
used to have those moments and coworkers not into data
analysis could never understand what I found so
exciting...
Finally, may I suggest alternative ways for sharing
online? A few years ago I was part of an Epi Info
listserv sponsored by the CDC which started
experiencing the same growing pains as this listserv.
Listers started asking for search capability, archives
for past postings, etc.
I offered to provide a Web page for message boards
that people can use to post comments, questions,
solutions in a systematic way so everyone can find
what they need. I actually developed a structure for
organizing the postings and did set up the message
boards, which were in use for a short while.
Eventually the CDC put up their own message board
called Web Board, which adopted some of the concepts I
developed, like having topical headings under which
people can post related questions, comments. CDC
technical staff, or anyone else can then respond to
the postings. EpiData followed suit with a Web-based
Discussion Forum.
Such message boards would eliminate the whole problem
of e-mail overload. The only problem is space on the
Net to sponsor the message board. But using dedicated
space on a Web site is more efficient than tons of
messages in thousands of e-mailboxes, many of which
end up going unread and deleted.
If you want to check out the structure for organizing
postings:
http://www.bettycjung.net/Epiforums.htm
Check out how the CDC has its Web Board set up at:
http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/webboard.htm
(You have to register, but it's free)
Check out EpiData's Discussion Forum at:
http://asp.epidata.dk/
Thanks again for your time. Just trying to make life a
little bit simpler for everyone. It's no longer a lack
of information but information overload we must
contend with.
Betty
--- Peter Gao <pgao@32BJFUNDS.COM> wrote:
> Dear list members,
>
> Please allow me to express my viewpoints for the
> on-going discussion
> regarding the use of the SPSS user group list
> server.
>
> By subscribing to this or other list server, one is
> ready to expose oneself
> to a network of some sort, expecting to benefit from
> it as well as
> sacrificing some kind of inconvenience, willing to
> offer help to others and
> take the time to take care of and manage the
> information flow and one's
> email box. I and many other participants benefited
> from this list
> tremendously while I admit the daily volume is quite
> high. I gained
> knowledge and skills while gave up part of my email
> storage room and time to
> review the emails.
>
> I agree that answers be posted to the list so others
> are aware of someone
> answered the inquiry and they do not need to give a
> duplicate solution
> unless it is different or better one. It is good
> practice to acknowledge the
> receiver's thanks as well as notify that the problem
> has been solved to the
> list once one believe the (best) solution(s) is
> obtained so that others will
> be relieved of responding to questions. This way we
> can save time and
> resource for others.
>
> Suggestions to save time and resource for all of us:
>
> 1. Always put a clearly stated subject line with
> your email or nature of
> your message.
> 2. Always scroll down your email body to remove as
> much previous message as
> possible, usually just keep one piece of email of
> the most recent or most
> pertinent ones. This means a big saving of time and
> resources!
> 3. Always acknowledge the solution with your thank
> you note ASAP to the list
> so we can move on to other issues.
> 4. When it is appropriate to be off line, go off
> line.
> 5. Spend some time to identify your problems
> therefore others will not need
> to guess or ask back for more details.
>
> Thank you for your time. Thank you all being on the
> list. Thank Betty C.
> Jung's effort to improve the usefulness of this
> list.
>
> Peter Gao
>
> P.S.
> I wish some one will share his or her expertise to
> direct the spss related
> emails to a designated folder so our life will be
> made easier managing the
> info flow.
=====
Betty C. Junghttp://www.bettycjung.net/
