[aarhus2004]

The thread title comes from a childhood ditty "London Bridge is falling down...".

A review. Maybe a commentary?

I cannot imagine the effort and care brought to bear on the creation of this now widely-known Forum. So many decisions had to be made. Involved were damned hard-work and tons of creativity.

The main thrust though, because of its name, was technical and to do with computers and computing. Sensibly, in terms of attracting members, concessions to other interests had to be included in the overall plan.

The main forum page is a top to bottom affair. It has five separate elements. One, two and three offer an assortment of sub-forums where-in may be posed questions related to problems in the many areas of computing and computers. Four is the concessional element, offering sub-forums in assorted categories which do not have to include computing-related/computer-related anything. It is pleasantly named "Community". The final (bottom) group/element is "Miscellaneous Tech".

All creativity has a downside. A creator having achieved a peak of satisfaction tends to find the thrust (the driving force), is slowly perhaps but surely indeed, eroding. It pulls in other directions. Or, if his/her/its name is God, well, a walk away from something so grossly and evidently a failure is a reasonable option. However a creation is, by definition, on-going. A work of art is what remains when the creator has walked away and time has chiseled away at those limitations in the human mind - which inevitably longs for perfection.

Perhaps that has happened (or is happening) to the creative force behind TSG. The maintenance routine (the behind the scenes nuts and bolts checking) is about as exciting as cleaning one's teeth. The planning to accommodate the hugely increasing number of computer-users pouring out a growing welter of words becomes a prison of sorts - for a creative mind. What author, having produced a best-seller, has any real enthusiasm for the published work years down the line? Unless (and again I need perhaps) it's a seminal work.

Why was Miscellaneous Tech's place at page bottom? Is that a smile or a smirk on the face of the Mona Lisa? Did Shakespeare write anything at all? Does it really matter?

There has been so much tinkering done to TSG down the years, a great deal of which has been done in response to suggestions made in good will by many others. The site is a complexity away from which the duller mind tends to shy; even its creator barely remembers some of the less obtrusive tinkerings!

If Bill Gates made an offer for TSG would he be turned down? If he weren't what would he do with it?

5+ million posts - a space-mile dustspeck. How many of that 5+ million posts have future value - or would be of interest to other intelligences from galaxies at the edges of the universe? Would their finding 1 post of interest make it all worthwhile? Or would they find just another soup-kitchen? A place where the cyber-hungry travellers are given a hand-out of instructions to effect a cure from whatever is ailing them - an ether way-station of rest and recuperation on a wearying journey.

Has anyone hit the 100,000 posts mark? They may well have. 100,000 posts is one fiftieth of the 5 million. And in terms of numbers that's 'drive' right there. In terms of readability or meaningfulness - well, that's debatable (civilised of course).

So, Bill, if you are thinking of diversifying and acquiring TSG, I can only hope you will for starters double the number of Moderators. Then move the Miscellaneous Tech group above the Community one, making the separation between the two colourfully visible. And how about getting rid of that God-awful red which reminds me of blood (old blood at that) and offends my sensibility. Next, making it clearer, much clearer, much much clearer that Miscellaneous Tech is essentially a computer-creative space; not just one more place to review any 'old thing', to ask questions of any kind or to post 'funny' stuff (which has its own sub-forums - should that be sub-sub?). And, of course any other changes you make, would inevitably be stimulating but not necessarily improving (Me, XP, Vista, blah blah ha ha)! (Just an in-joke, Bill, please disregard). We do know you have moonie-and-beyond ambitions and we wouldn't mind going with you - you can't do it all, you know. Or do you know?

Step aside, Bill.

Let me think in terms of blueprints. How can a blue-print (I like blue) truly show the inconceivable, the unknowable? Is TSG a blueprint? Is it a rudimentary drawing (scratches on a cave wall) pointing towards, yet unable to describe in detail, the vision of its creator. Is it a building? Are those vertical, brief and clustered scratches people? They seem to be surrounding the 'building'. What are they doing? Steady, we are not sure it is a building or that those are people. OK, try a box surrounded by grass. Why draw a box when what is in the box can't be seen? Hold-on, does it matter what it is? It exists. So does a hole, but which comes first the hole or what surrounds it? Is TSG a hole or is it matter. Or both. Can a hole, enclosed in matter, be, or hold, a vacuum?

Try a Search in TSG. It well might be that somewhere in the welter of words the unique will be returned. Something which has no existence anywhere else in the universe. It won't be easy to find. And you won't know if someone else has already found it. What will you do with it? Will you keep it to yourself? Or share it?

And, if there is only one creator, where-from came all the blueprints? And where-from TSG?

Yes, I have left 'stuff' out - it wouldn't have been as much fun had I not.

BTW Read the ditty and learn how you can support TSG. It is reassuring, I promise.

aarhus2004

'Appy turkey gobbling, Canuckiennes,

and

Vive, Jason Lewis.

Edit 1. Who was "My fair lady"? Of course you all know where-is London Bridge? BobJam probably lives underneath it or close! Ekim's taste in literature also plays a part in this 'starter'. The canny GoJoAGoGo would count the stones (of the bridge) and buf, well buf gets to cross it for free! I ask for the forgiveness of the following: for taking a name in vain: hannab: for roundly scolding these: Cookiegal, TechGuy and JohnWill; for giving poor advice to all and Farmgirl22 in particular, and for the sarcasm I heaped on the 'blind' (if you know who you are please excuse - and if it helps - I got bonked for so doing).

No promises made or intended.

I did debate making the thread-title a question (briefly, I must admit) but I have a licence permitting such liberties - as do you. Take all the care you can muster as we hurtle thru space. Face into the wind, close your eyes and think... hurtle.

Ben.

[Ben1220]

very large post... and a very deep post... I can see what you mean by maintainance, it would take a lot of work and dedication towards the forum, and just yesterday we peaked the most viewers online at the same time, of over 6000, TSG is growing... hopefully it doesnt change too much.

[aarhus2004]

Ben1220, hello,

I met a mouse in the house of neighbours some days ago. It was the strangest mouse. A very contrary mouse. When I moved one way it would move another. I needed that mouse. I knew it was a mouse because it had a vlong tail.

I was reminded of that mouse when I read the very thorough specs of your computer system. And I briefly wondered whether the steel pad your mouse has would offer an explanation as to why the mouse I met was so contrary. The laptop I was trying to fix lacked a mouse and a pad and my fingers are largely disinclined to adapt to the new. After I 'cornered' the mouse and played with it on the carpet, the sleeve of my sweater and anything with the slightest resemblance to a pad (there was no room on the coffee-table) I realised this was an untameable critter. Every move I made was met by pointer-motion 180 degrees au contraire. Perhaps it was a high-speed mouse and would only work properly on a steel pad?

I imagine you to be adaptable, both to the speed of change and the need for it. Can a musician be other?

Thanks for posting a reply, Ben.

'See' you around.

Long-winded Ben (and very short too).

[bp936]

did I miss something, aar? Is this an essay or a warning that Bill takes over everything??
I would love to know just how many people are needed to run this site and how many tasks have to be done daily, monthly etc. I support TSG because of its quality, quality information, quality of its owner and members.
Your post is thought-provoking, interesting and confusing. We won't have an election in Canada, so you don't have to hold long speeches. =I am easily confused and gullable, hope your post is not a rumor.

[gamerbyron]

I like TSG because its free and helpful to other beginners. I don't like calling Tech support because sometimes it charges maybe and not helpful and not worth at all, and you have to stay on the phone for hours.

[grandma77]

I came here for computer help at first...then I joined the "community". The first year I stuck mainly with the tech side...wanting to learn as much as I could...reading thread after thread of computer problems. Having my eyes opened to how very little I really know and how to be careful not to mess my computer up. Then I had a lady named Angelize wish me a happy birthday..and that started me in the community.

Mike has provided a nice place for average people to come get help without having to break the bank to have a working computer. From what I have read the help is all voluntary. These people are special...many spend many hours a week doing this work for just the satisfaction of helping someone. I commend all involved. I wish I had the ability to do what these people do. I know the set up of this forum is beyond my comprehension and I for one am truly thankful for all Mike has done for us. I don't know what his vision is but he has created something pretty neat in my eyes.

[Jimmy444]

TSG is a great site..

losers hate it []

[ashes@work]

Originally Posted by aarhus2004

The thread title comes from a childhood ditty "London Bridge is falling down...".

A review. Maybe a commentary?

I cannot imagine the effort and care brought to bear on the creation of this now widely-known Forum. So many decisions had to be made. Involved were damned hard-work and tons of creativity.

The main thrust though, because of its name, was technical and to do with computers and computing. Sensibly, in terms of attracting members, concessions to other interests had to be included in the overall plan.

The main forum page is a top to bottom affair. It has five separate elements. One, two and three offer an assortment of sub-forums where-in may be posed questions related to problems in the many areas of computing and computers. Four is the concessional element, offering sub-forums in assorted categories which do not have to include computing-related/computer-related anything. It is pleasantly named "Community". The final (bottom) group/element is "Miscellaneous Tech".

All creativity has a downside. A creator having achieved a peak of satisfaction tends to find the thrust (the driving force), is slowly perhaps but surely indeed, eroding. It pulls in other directions. Or, if his/her/its name is God, well, a walk away from something so grossly and evidently a failure is a reasonable option. However a creation is, by definition, on-going. A work of art is what remains when the creator has walked away and time has chiseled away at those limitations in the human mind - which inevitably longs for perfection.

Perhaps that has happened (or is happening) to the creative force behind TSG. The maintenance routine (the behind the scenes nuts and bolts checking) is about as exciting as cleaning one's teeth. The planning to accommodate the hugely increasing number of computer-users pouring out a growing welter of words becomes a prison of sorts - for a creative mind. What author, having produced a best-seller, has any real enthusiasm for the published work years down the line? Unless (and again I need perhaps) it's a seminal work.

Why was Miscellaneous Tech's place at page bottom? Is that a smile or a smirk on the face of the Mona Lisa? Did Shakespeare write anything at all? Does it really matter?

There has been so much tinkering done to TSG down the years, a great deal of which has been done in response to suggestions made in good will by many others. The site is a complexity away from which the duller mind tends to shy; even its creator barely remembers some of the less obtrusive tinkerings!

If Bill Gates made an offer for TSG would he be turned down? If he weren't what would he do with it?

5+ million posts - a space-mile dustspeck. How many of that 5+ million posts have future value - or would be of interest to other intelligences from galaxies at the edges of the universe? Would their finding 1 post of interest make it all worthwhile? Or would they find just another soup-kitchen? A place where the cyber-hungry travellers are given a hand-out of instructions to effect a cure from whatever is ailing them - an ether way-station of rest and recuperation on a wearying journey.

Has anyone hit the 100,000 posts mark? They may well have. 100,000 posts is one fiftieth of the 5 million. And in terms of numbers that's 'drive' right there. In terms of readability or meaningfulness - well, that's debatable (civilised of course).

So, Bill, if you are thinking of diversifying and acquiring TSG, I can only hope you will for starters double the number of Moderators. Then move the Miscellaneous Tech group above the Community one, making the separation between the two colourfully visible. And how about getting rid of that God-awful red which reminds me of blood (old blood at that) and offends my sensibility. Next, making it clearer, much clearer, much much clearer that Miscellaneous Tech is essentially a computer-creative space; not just one more place to review any 'old thing', to ask questions of any kind or to post 'funny' stuff (which has its own sub-forums - should that be sub-sub?). And, of course any other changes you make, would inevitably be stimulating but not necessarily improving (Me, XP, Vista, blah blah ha ha)! (Just an in-joke, Bill, please disregard). We do know you have moonie-and-beyond ambitions and we wouldn't mind going with you - you can't do it all, you know. Or do you know?

Step aside, Bill.

Let me think in terms of blueprints. How can a blue-print (I like blue) truly show the inconceivable, the unknowable? Is TSG a blueprint? Is it a rudimentary drawing (scratches on a cave wall) pointing towards, yet unable to describe in detail, the vision of its creator. Is it a building? Are those vertical, brief and clustered scratches people? They seem to be surrounding the 'building'. What are they doing? Steady, we are not sure it is a building or that those are people. OK, try a box surrounded by grass. Why draw a box when what is in the box can't be seen? Hold-on, does it matter what it is? It exists. So does a hole, but which comes first the hole or what surrounds it? Is TSG a hole or is it matter. Or both. Can a hole, enclosed in matter, be, or hold, a vacuum?

Try a Search in TSG. It well might be that somewhere in the welter of words the unique will be returned. Something which has no existence anywhere else in the universe. It won't be easy to find. And you won't know if someone else has already found it. What will you do with it? Will you keep it to yourself? Or share it?

And, if there is only one creator, where-from came all the blueprints? And where-from TSG?

Yes, I have left 'stuff' out - it wouldn't have been as much fun had I not.

BTW Read the ditty and learn how you can support TSG. It is reassuring, I promise.

aarhus2004

'Appy turkey gobbling, Canuckiennes,

and

Vive, Jason Lewis.

Edit 1. Who was "My fair lady"? Of course you all know where-is London Bridge? BobJam probably lives underneath it or close! Ekim's taste in literature also plays a part in this 'starter'. The canny GoJoAGoGo would count the stones (of the bridge) and buf, well buf gets to cross it for free! I ask for the forgiveness of the following: for taking a name in vain: hannab: for roundly scolding these: Cookiegal, TechGuy and JohnWill; for giving poor advice to all and Farmgirl22 in particular, and for the sarcasm I heaped on the 'blind' (if you know who you are please excuse - and if it helps - I got bonked for so doing).

No promises made or intended.

I did debate making the thread-title a question (briefly, I must admit) but I have a licence permitting such liberties - as do you. Take all the care you can muster as we hurtle thru space. Face into the wind, close your eyes and think... hurtle.

Ben.

Very Wise you are Ben

Originally Posted by bp

I would love to know just how many people are needed to run this site and how many tasks have to be done daily, monthly etc. I support TSG because of its quality, quality information, quality of its owner and members.

We all help here at tsg... really if you think about it... every post has meaning and helps along the way... mind you some of those might only mean something to someone...but they all have meaning...
In all reality... though... Mike, the Admins, the Mods, the community mods... sometimes the work load for one person is more then what one person can do at a time... I dont think you could actually figure out what you want to know... as the work load grows daily.. along with the amount of mods... as you can see them hanging out everywhere these days...
I honestly hope that TSG stays the way it is. Its a wonderful place full of wonderful people and info for those who need it. Almost 19,000 posts and not one of them in tech... other then misc tech stuff which is really not usually about the techy stuff anyways. More sites comments & suggestions... some to come from a non techy person to keep reminding people that its not just techies around here. That many of us have come to love this place and do not even know the world of the techs.