discuss: Al Devs HOWTOs (was Re: Is PHP-HOWTO some kind of joke ?)
Subject:
Re: Al Devs HOWTOs (was Re: Is PHP-HOWTO some kind of joke ?)
From:
"Rodolfo J. Paiz" ####@####.####
Date:
12 Nov 2003 08:23:29 -0000
Message-Id: <6.0.0.22.0.20031112020117.024e0d98@mail.simpaticus.com>
At 00:00 11/12/2003, David Lawyer wrote:
>At one time not too long ago, we blindly accepted HOWTOs without any
>review. That's how Al Dev's stuff got into our collection. Thus I
>think that since they were never reviewed in the first place that we
>have every right to remove them.
As I keep saying, I just got here. But it sounds to me like there is a
mountain being made from an anthill here and you guys are going in circles.
As I see, the "LDP" is some sort of entity, it doesn't matter what type.
That entity at one time accepted a document for inclusion into its set of
documents. At no time did that entity (a) guarantee, promise, or suggest
continued inclusion of any document, (b) acquire an obligation to include
any document, or (c) specify in any way which criteria it would use in the
present or future to accept, review, or remove a document from its collection.
The LDP has a responsibility to its readers, to provide the best possible
docs it can. It also has a responsibility to its authors (both current and
potentially future) to help them write better docs which is a win-win
proposition. That responsibility to its readers is not being fulfilled as
well as everyone (LDP people and readers) would like... that's a sad but
real truth, since many was a time past where I had a problem and _did not
turn to the LDP out of experience that most docs are old, rusty, and not
particularly well-written.
The LDP has an important responsibility to its readers and authors.
However, it does not "owe" anyone anything, and it can be as undemocratic
as it damn well pleases in its processes. Democracy is _not_ the only
solution, nor is it always the best; and if you try to be too democratic,
some people will trample all over you. Allow me to quote this little gem:
> Simply removing without any substance is not
> democratric. Since Linux is open source you just
> cannot remove any documents, you can make
> modifications and corrections. Perhaps SCO corp
> may be playing mischief to remove the Linux from
> internet???
_What_ is this guy smoking?
I have also attempted to read the PHP-HOWTO in the past, and frankly it's
impossible to swallow. The past couple of days I have taken cursory look at
four other Al Dev HOWTO's and they uniformly suck (speaking as a newbie to
PHP, C++, etc. such that I _am_ the target audience for those docs). They
suck so badly, they put black holes to shame. My recommendation: pull them
from the collection RIGHT THIS MINUTE, since you are doing no one any good
by having them there: not your readers, and not your reputation. If Al
wants them included again, let him meet the standards the LDP demands of
him, and me, and every other author.
Someone please point out the error of my views here... otherwise, we're
wasting time on bad docs which would be better spent on making good docs.
And on a personal note, I am also not going to take the time to try to help
someone directly who does not want to be helped. The LDP has made this list
available to me and other present or future authors to discuss documents,
and I will respectfully use the method provided rather than demanding that
everyone send to me directly. I will not humor one who values the community
so little as to flagrantly disregard the group's preferences and requests
(or mandates if that be the case).
Cheers,
--
Rodolfo J. Paiz
####@####.####
