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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 256 responses total. |
sidhe
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response 50 of 256:
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Nov 7 15:36 UTC 1994 |
First of all, let me apologize for being a bit of an ass. I've been
moer than a little ill lately, and I think that the frustration of being
physically miserable had some effect on my statements, above.
Now, let me state it more clearly, and less harshly (you guys don't
deserve harshness, you're only trying to help). I merely suggest that this
project should be undertaken before anything gets any more crowded with
new people who don't know unix from Eunuch. The way things are headed, he
says as he rubs his crystal ball, any online service that doesn't have
extesive help networks set up for begginner's usage will collapse under the
weight of all the questions and accidents. I agree, wholehartedly, that a
living helper is much better, but I certainly wouldn't want to be one in
a system becoming overcrowded with people who don't know where to look up
the relevant data on their own. I'm afraid that until I read robh's www
home page yesterday, I wasn't at all certain what "hypertext" was, but
now that I realize that it is much like lynx, I think that it would be
an ideal platform. I just had an idea! If anyone is willing to put up with
my stupid questions, I'll help organize the hypertexy system with you.
I do have the perspective of a newbie, still, but I know enough to not
drive you nuts (hopefully). What do you think?
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popcorn
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response 51 of 256:
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Nov 7 18:13 UTC 1994 |
After I entered #48, I talked about it with my friend at lunch today.
He suggested that we replace picospan's help command with something
friendlier, since it isn't very helpful to the new user and it doesn't
cover topics other than Picospan. He suggested doing it in hypertext.
He pointed out that new people really don't know enough to go to the
info conference and start looking for things, but that well-organized
hypertext might make it easier for them to find things.
This dovetails neatly with the earlier responses about a hypertext
system of frequently asked questions. I was figuing it would be a pile
of work to create yet another obscure command that new people wouldn't
know how to find, but if we called a hypertext help system *named* "help"
then I think it's very intuitive and a great idea.
For folks who don't know what hypertext is: it's a system where you
read a page of text and certain words are highlighted. When you
select a highlighted word (or phrase), you get more information on that
topic. The "more information" consists of another hypertext page,
also with highlighted words that you can select. Some examples of this
are the help screens in Windows, Hypercard on the Macintosh, and the
text in Lynx.
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kentn
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response 52 of 256:
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Nov 7 18:20 UTC 1994 |
I think it's worth a shot. popcorn's information from the info
conference would be a starting point, as would information from
relevant Usenet FAQs, and other Grex cfs and items. We already have a
committee (?) for hypertext applications on Grex--should we have a
sub-committee for hyperhelp, or just add sidhe to the committee and put
him to work? The latter, I think :)
Let me add, too, that I don't mean to be rude when I say buy a book
(I'm kind of tired out by intelligent college kids here at UM who
won't crack a book to save their lives). Go ahead and ask questions,
sidhe. Just don't be surprised if at some point you are referred to
one of the several excellent beginner tutorials already in existence
(as an alternative to on-line help--sometimes a hardcopy explanation
*is* best).
Anyway, a hyperhelp system is probably where we're all headed
eventually, so let's give it some thought, planning, and action! I'm
willing to help with such a system, also.
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carl
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response 53 of 256:
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Nov 8 10:12 UTC 1994 |
I'd be glad to assist someone who wanted to put together such a set
of hypertext documents for Grex. It would be easy for me to set up
an area under /usr/local/lib/lynx for document preparation. I could
also create a sample file which could be copied and then edited
(rather than creating multiple documents from scratch).
If there are several people interested in this, I'm sure we could
ask the staff to create a new group for us, which would make the
easier. Would anyone be interested in coordinating the effort?
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roz
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response 54 of 256:
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Nov 8 12:14 UTC 1994 |
Hey, thanks. I agree that a hypertext "help" would be great. In
the meantime, I'll go browse "info" and "newinfo" on a more regular basis,
trying to anticipate when I'll need to know about something. I agree that
probably most of the information is in "info" somewhere -- just hard to find
or one step above my level of understanding when I do find it.
I'm impressed all over again by the dedication of folks around here.
<set praise/flattery=off>
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popcorn
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response 55 of 256:
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Nov 8 21:26 UTC 1994 |
I'm going to create a conference for houseplants and gardening.
I've wanted to do this ever since Grex was first founded, but it's only
recently that I think Grex has had enough activity to support it.
People could use the conference to arrange to exchange seeds and
cuttings, and to share help with weird plant problems, such as that
african violet that just won't bloom.
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remmers
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response 56 of 256:
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Nov 8 22:04 UTC 1994 |
Hey, not having enough activity to support a conference hasn't stopped
people before. :)
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carson
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response 57 of 256:
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Nov 9 00:05 UTC 1994 |
you can type that again.
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robh
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response 58 of 256:
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Nov 9 00:14 UTC 1994 |
Definitely count me in on creating a hypertext version of the
Picospan help.
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srw
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response 59 of 256:
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Nov 9 00:42 UTC 1994 |
I also think hypertext help is a great idea, and in my case, I wish I had
more time to work on such a project. You have my moral support, anyway, folks.
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jshafer
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response 60 of 256:
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Nov 9 04:49 UTC 1994 |
Not that I have any time to give to the hyperhelp project, but I will
volunteer to help out...
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snafu
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response 61 of 256:
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Nov 21 23:28 UTC 1994 |
Anyone got an idea for a name for an acting conference? if so, is it a good
idea?
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snafu
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response 62 of 256:
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Nov 21 23:33 UTC 1994 |
Sorry about 61, it's supposed to say "Anyone got a name for an
actors conference? And is it a good Idea?
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snafu
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response 63 of 256:
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Nov 21 23:38 UTC 1994 |
Or, how about one named "The Zone" for bizzare and paranormal
experiances?
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popcorn
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response 64 of 256:
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Nov 21 23:39 UTC 1994 |
"Acting"? "Theater"? Hm. It can be joinable by several different names,
though you'd still want to pick one as the conference's main name....
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remmers
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response 65 of 256:
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Nov 22 02:30 UTC 1994 |
I can think of a couple of people online who are involved in theater,
but I don't know if there's enough interest in the topic to sustain a
conference. The Arts conference includes theater -- you might try
entering an item or two there about acting and seeing what kind of
response you get.
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popcorn
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response 66 of 256:
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Nov 23 05:45 UTC 1994 |
[#63 slipped in and picospan didn't tell me. #64 was a response to #62.]
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peacefrg
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response 67 of 256:
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Nov 23 20:06 UTC 1994 |
I would like to create a conferance about Native American Spirituality. I
really don't know how to do this or what it involves because i'm new. But, If
someone could mail me some info before you create I would appreaciate it.
peacefrg@cyberspace.org
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robh
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response 68 of 256:
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Nov 23 23:53 UTC 1994 |
Actually, have you considered starting up an item on Native
American sprituality in the Synthesis conference? We'd
love to have you there! "join synthesis" at the next Ok:
prompt, then "enter".
And you don't have to tell us your address here, we can
figure it out. >8)
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peacefrg
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response 69 of 256:
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Nov 24 01:08 UTC 1994 |
Okay, I'll do that.
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eldrich
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response 70 of 256:
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Nov 27 21:13 UTC 1994 |
Hi, Eldrich here! In colaberation with Orinoco and Snafu I have come to ask
for the initiation of "the ZONE", a confrence dealing with the paranormal,
supernatural and other X-filesish stuff. I invisioned it as a place where
people like myself could talk about UFOs and such meaningfuly, I was also
hoping to run some sort of bazare RPG. If this .cf should come into
exstistence I volre Snafu, Orinoco and Myself to co-FW it (Don't worry about
the FW commands that keep on coming up, info 20-something, right?)
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eldrich
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response 71 of 256:
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Dec 2 23:48 UTC 1994 |
Things are going slightly slow around here now aren't they!
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popcorn
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response 72 of 256:
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Dec 3 03:49 UTC 1994 |
I was waiting to see if people chimed in with cries of "Oh! That's
covered in Synthesis!" Since I've never personally joined synthesis,
I don't know if it really is covered there or not.
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anne
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response 73 of 256:
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Dec 4 03:23 UTC 1994 |
Well it's not exactly covered in synthesis now, but I don't see why it
couldn't be put in there....
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popcorn
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response 74 of 256:
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Dec 4 23:29 UTC 1994 |
So... shall we go ahead and create a "the ZONE" conference?
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