tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Sat Sep 27 00:15:40 1997
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
Re: Virtual Postal Course
- From: "David Trimboli" <[email protected]>
- Subject: Re: Virtual Postal Course
- Date: Sat, 27 Sep 97 07:13:48 UT
[email protected] on behalf of Kenneth Traft wrote:
> I will agree that EMAIL is easier to communicate, and that when
communicating
> people get a little sloppy, but I find it "distasteful" to be told that
> because I'm doing something "on-line", I'm not going to think about it. If
> this is the case, the entire reason for this EMAIL list fits your non-
> thinking
> senerio, so it too should be dropped and "put to paper" and mailed.
While Qov's statement was a gross overgeneralization, there is a measure of
truth to it. E-mail is very quick and easy for some people, while postal mail
seems more "formal."
This, I think, points to the most important reason that the postal course has
not yet made it online. The Internet has so many casual users, who jump into
something and then decide it's not for them. This would happen with an e-mail
postal course. David Barron tells us that the number of people who complete
the second lesson of the existing course is a lot less than the number who
complete the first, and this gap would only be magnified with an e-mail
course. Furthermore, e-mail is very, very easy for many people these days.
Simply put: David doesn't have the time to handle the virtual tons of e-mail
he'd get if he did this on his own. Let alone trying to keep track of
everything!
I'd rather see the KLI take its time and come up with a good, solid online
course than do a quick job and have someone crushed in the process. In the
meantime we've still got our other means of teaching online, including this
list.
And there is something to be said about putting pen to paper. These days I
only write with fountain pens. I won't use ballpoints anymore. The
scratching it makes when I write is just so lovely . . .
SuStel
Stardate 97739.4