RE: A websited dedicated to iNation Citizens - WHY ?????? !!!!! -- MIDRANGE-L

Sajidul,

These are great questions.  So I sure didn't take any offense.  See (>>)

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
[mailto:owner-midrange-l@midrange.com]On Behalf Of Sajidul Bruno
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 11:08 AM
To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject: Re: A websited dedicated to iNation Citizens - WHY ?????? !!!!!


jt,

No offense, but I don't understand the point of all of this.

(1) There is already an Open Source site that I believe Leslie or James has,
so why not join that and marshall resources there ? Why reinvent the wheel,
so to speak ?

>> This new site arose out of the thread "alternatives to Webfacing".  Some
people sounded like they had an interest in actually doing something, and
the issue was brought up that a website would be needed.  Nobody even
mentioned the possibility of using James Kilgore's site to do this.  I think
that's because that site is dedicated to the WyattERP project, and this
"alternative to WebFacing" is an entirely different beast.

>> So I volunteered to put one up.  Part of my interest in doing the
"alternatives" project was I thought it might be possible to do this
development under the flag of the iSeries Nation.  And I thought that the
iNation might be able to take a role in supporting the effort.  In other
words, I see this as an entirely different wheel.

>> Now I'll admit that maybe I emphasized the iNation part too much, if it's
obsured how important it would be to develop an alternative to WebFacing.
To me, both are important.



(2) There are already TWO iNation sites, IBM's and the non-IBM site.
This is getting confusing enough and if there is ANY hope to get this all
going we should concentrate on these two for this purpose rather than
splintering off in MORE directions, don't you think ?

>> There is a lot of truth to what you say here.  Clearly if there are 50
different sites about the iNation, you'd have... well, you'd have the same
thing you have now with all the different forums and listservs that serve
the 400 Community.  That wouldn't be a step forward, to have too many
iNation sites.

>> But I sure don't think the right number is necessarily going to be two.



We all want to help and have FINALLY been presented with the avenues to do
this, but we also have very busy work schedules pulling at us so this needs
to be as straightforward and focused as possible. I'm afraid this will
detract from that.

>> I agree that the efforts need to be as focused as possible, but I
absolutely disagree that this new site will detract from that.

>> What, precisely, can you contribute to the iSeries Nation through IBM's
website ? ?  ...So now we're down to two sites for any activists who want to
contribute some time to the cause.

>> I hope there's room for two sites, given the size of the iSeries
Community.  I think that each site will serve a different purpose.  The IAiC
site is only going to happen thru the efforts of people who want to
contribute some time and energy to it.  So the site will probably find a
small audience, at best.  But I'm pretty convinced that, if formed, this
tiny community will actually contribute more than either of the other two
sites, precisely because the people involved will be the true activists of
the Community.  That would be a small minority.

>> I realize that the iSeries Nation, Inc. site is run by (at least) two of
the biggest names in the 400 Community, and probably a lot of people will
want to concentrate their efforts over on their site, for that very reason.

>> And I also know I don't have any name in this Community.  And in some
peoples eyes, that will mean the IAiC site is not really legitimate.  That's
understandable.  I can't win that one.  But instead, I think I can turn that
disadvantage into an asset:  there is no predetermined agenda on the IAiC
site.  Whoever wants to contribute to the work, gets to determine the
agenda, in my mind.  I believe that makes this site unique.

>> I set it up, initially, but I don't claim any rights of ownership.  If
you and a handful of folks want to change the direction of the site, or set
up a faction within the site, that's fine by me.  I'll go by whatever rules
are established same as everybody else.  If the rules become unacceptable to
me, then I'll have to find some other project to work on, just as any other
member would.

>> I can say that with complete sincerity.  I'm not worried that some people
will come in and take over the leadership of the IAiC site, and cause me to
lose my position of authority in the Community.  Because I NEVER HAD ANY
position of authority in the first place...  In fact, anyone can get a group
of people together, who are true activists, and they can form a consensus
and decide to actually do some good works for the Community.  Then they can
elect whoever they want to run the IAiC site.  (Don is welcome to, and he
can run both of them....:-)  All I ask is that the people that vote actually
contribute some work to the cause, but then even that rule hasn't been
established yet.

>> All that to say, all these sites are working towards the same overall
goal.  But, while I certainly agree there's such a thing as "too much of a
good thing", I also think there is room for more than two iNation sites.



You have done a nice job but give serious reconsideration to the purpose :-)

>> Thanks a lot!  But as far as serious consideration to the purpose...  I
hate to remind you, but the fact is that I proposed a concept identical to
the iSeries Nation to IBM execs, back in October of last year.  So I'd given
a fair bit of consideration to this even before Mr. Haines conceived of the
iNation back last February.  So it may appear like I'm going off
half-cocked, but that is not entirely the case.


Thanks again for your questions, Sajidul!  They were really good, and
thought-provoking, questions.  I don't know that I've answered them to your
satisfaction, but I hope so!

jt

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