A better solution to the "culling data" problem is to add additional
categories to the posts, rather than going through the cathartic
experience of deciding what to delete. In this manner, we could filter
out "humorous" and focus on "brakes" or "radiator". The reason adding
categories makes sense is that so many of the posts have useless (and
often misspelled) subject lines. Worse, misspellings within the body are
rampant. Don't believe me? Then search the archives on "guage" vs.
"gauge" -- you'll get about equal number of "hits"!!!

Cheers,
MJS (stuck up to his neck in messy data every day)

GMBulley wrote:

> listees--
>
> jskousen has a point. There's alot of non-technical stuff in the archive.
> However:
>
> I am working this issue right now in my professional life: helping a global
> company refine their "knowledge management"; how they accumulate, refine,
> distribute, and re-use ideas, processes, and knowledge. Similar to our list.
>
> One of the substantial hurdles my client faces (as do WE with this CD!) is
> "subject matter expert review of accumulated knowledge". e.g.
>
> 1. How do we, as a group, decide someone is a "best mechanic"?
>
> 2. How do we incent/insprire these choosen folks to review reams and reams of
> contributions?
>
> 3. What criterion will they use to cull the knowledge? i.e. what is our goal
> for this CD: just pure info, info and judgement, opinion, stories, hints,
> ponderings, etc.
>
> My client has some of the best minds in HR and Organizational Development
> scratching their heads on these questions. I wish I could help point our CD
> effort in the right direction on this, but I am just learning these lessons.
>
> I've never seen the list as a place simply for straight tech answers, and hope
> that the stories, ruminations, flame, and cheer of my fellow VWers are not
> eliminated from any off-line collection.
>
> gmbulley
> cary, nc
> Prov.17:22

--
Michael J. Sullivan
Director of Catalog Design
Open Market Inc.
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   work: http://www.openmarket.com
   play: http://www.hsdesign.com
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