Can you imagine trying ask this via the chatterbox?

As an aside, within the last 3 days, a relatively neophyte (but exceptionally gifted) monk told me that they were going to quit coming here; in large part because he'd witness an interaction between two monks in the CB that made him feel this place wasn't for him. He wasn't involved; nor even using the CB, he was just distracted and disturbed by it.

I showed him how to turn the CB off. Something I did almost 13 years ago and have rarely turned back on, (only ever for minutes at a time). and never regretted.

And, he's still (currently) coming around and interacting; which given his skills and CPAN contributions, is a really good thing.

But the chaotic, unadjudicated nature of the CB nearly drove him away.

Beside the shear impracticality of asking a question like 1129204 in 255 char bites; via a 15 char peephole; the reception any one trying would receive there, would make for a very unpleasant experience.

Whilst an OT section may not be necessary -- in recent months I've had some amazing responses to my frequently somewhat off-topic questions, labeled as such and posted as SoPWs. They still receive a number of knee-jerk down-votes from the "this is a Perl forum" hard-liners; but far less than in years past.

But, for the most part, the Monk's seem perfectly happy to exercise their wide-ranging, non-Perl knowledge; and vast, combined experience to tackle interesting problems no matter how tenuous a link they might have with Perl. IMO, this is a good thing. It makes this place more interesting and more viable.

But the CB is categorically NOT a viable alternative to an OT section.

I definitely agree the CB is not a viable alternative to an OT section.

And I don't see how it is useful for anything, except perhaps socializing for monks who wish to discuss about the weather or other such subject. I have sometimes answered on the CB (really rarely), but, frankly, I don't see the point of something so limited in terms the length of the message you can post, the time it will be shown and even the clarity of who is answering to whom. In brief, except for a very few exceptions, I am using the CB only for sending a private message to a particular monk, almost never to address the whole community.

But maybe I am just too old or old-fashioned for some modern technologies.

"But the CB is categorically NOT a viable alternative to an OT section."

It can be if you put your question on your scratchpad and use the CB to communicate answers/changes/suggestions.

UPDATE:
I would say that it still is a viable alternative and you just have very picky and selective opinions. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean the process is invalid -- it works for others. Why? Because they have more tolerance than you do. You really think you can play the "X is superior to Y" card here? The argument was never which is best, merely that others can do what you seem to not be able to do. Adapt.

jeffa

L-LL-L--L-LL-L--L-LL-L--
-R--R-RR-R--R-RR-R--R-RR
B--B--B--B--B--B--B--B--
H---H---H---H---H---H---
(the triplet paradiddle with high-hat)

It can be if you put your question on your scratchpad and use the CB to communicate answers/changes/suggestions.

I knew it would be suggested; but it's still not a viable alternative.

I've done it. I did it yesterday. ( See the top section of BrowserUk's scratchpad.) But as a process, it stinks.

1. If the right people aren't around when you post your question in the CB; you're sh*t outta luck.
2. If there is something "going on"* in the CB when you ask, then questions, answers, everything else just gets lost in the noise.

   *Like the recent fracas I mentioned above, which I heard you were one of those involved. (I just heard about it I didn't witness it!)

3. If questions arise, you end up giving the same answer to many different questioners.

   a) because they don't see someone else already asked; b) because they don't see it's been answered.

4. When people want to suggest modifications or alternative implementations; they then have to post them on their scratchpads; and then /msg you to say its there.

   And if you have multiple people offering solutions; it becomes a total nightmare trying to coordinate between them and you; you and them; and between them and them when they are either duplicating each others efforts or contradicting each others advice.

5. Questions and responses get out of sync.

   Its like that Monty Python sketch were the quiz show candidate opts to answer the question before the last question asked. You never catch up.

All the things that make hierarchal message boards superior to free-form irc+pastebin.

---

With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.

"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I'm with torvalds on this

In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. Agile (and TDD) debunked

"As an aside, within the last 3 days, a relatively neophyte (but exceptionally gifted) monk told me that they were going to quit coming here... he'd witness an interaction between two monks in the CB that made him feel this place wasn't for him. He wasn't involved; nor even using the CB, he was just distracted and disturbed by it."

Thanks that you mention this.

His very personal sad salute to me made me very thoughtful.

I don't know what happened but i'm glad that he is still here.

Regards, Karl

«The Crux of the Biscuit is the Apostrophe»

Hello BrowserUk,

Can you imagine trying ask this via the chatterbox?
It was that post that prompted my original post. If PM can't help him that's one thing, but to give such negative responses is regrettable.

Regards...Ed

"Well done is better than well said." - Benjamin Franklin

"As an aside, within the last 3 days, a relatively neophyte (but exceptionally gifted) monk told me that they were going to quit coming here; in large part because he'd witness an interaction between two monks in the CB that made him feel this place wasn't for him. He wasn't involved; nor even using the CB, he was just distracted and disturbed by it."

Your own interaction in this thread has disturbed me. I do not feel safe here with monks like you.

I am leaving because I feel threatened by you.

OMG me too! I am FREAKING OUT HERE! This place used to be so friendly but now people just ARGUE! This is now the only place on the Internet where people do not agree with each other and they ARGUE!

Let us all leave before more disagreement happens. This is JUST TOO MUCH TO HANDLE!