aron (12/13/82)
In a recent news article, someone made a comment about all the time spent reading news, saying we would be more productive spending that time coding. Well, that's probably the most wrong-headed opinion I've seen on the news in months! Personally, I have cut nearly all the non-computer related newsgroups from my .newsrc. But even including those, I think the following observations are true for nearly all Usenet subscribers: (1) Usenet is one of the best sources for keeping current on what's happening in the computer world. It's probably the only reliable source for what's happening in the Unix computer world. I spend several hours a week reading ComputerTurld, Infoshmurld and all the other rags. I have to, to be on top of the market. Usenet beats them all out, because I can enter into a dialogue with the purveyor of information! I can get more information, because I can make a human connection to an information source. Not only do I get more, better and more reliable information, I find out about things I never would have heard of had I not been a Usenet subscriber. Much of it may be (currently) irrelevant to my work. Some of it is *highly* relevant. (2) Beneath the tons of flames (which usually can be n'ed) there have been many intelligent discussions on a wide range of topics, some computer related some not. I have found these discussions stimulating and thought provoking. Intellectual stagnation is the enemy of quality work. Usenet thus can only make us all better at what we do. (3) Finally, I have made contact with people all over North America, sharing information and ideas. Even if its a waste of time its helluva alot of fun! aron shtull-trauring harpo!seismo!presby!aron