Why ISOC-AU should NOT be a chapter (long!)

[Thomas P. Koltai]

On Mon, 23 Sep 1996 12:31:58 +1000 (EST)  Damien Miller wrote:
<Big Snip>
>
>To artificially elevate the researcher's status in the ISOC-AU's eyes is
>prejudicial and ignores the vast majority of Australian internet users.
>
<snip>

This raises an interesting conundrum.
According to Colins (Third Edition Updated 1994)
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Research is the act of: 
1. systematic investigation to establish facts or principles or to collect information on a 
subject.
2. to carry out investigations into (a subject, problem, etc)

>From the French "recercher" meaning "To seek".
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A recent Neilsen study showed that 55% of US residents who had both Cable access and Net 
access preffered net activity to Cable TV.

This appears to suggest that man is becoming more interested in knowledge for it's own sake 
and that the Internet is providing the tool for promulgating the methodology of sating that 
increasing thirst.

This then brings us back to the original point that Rachel made...
>
> We should be listening more to the people who *designed* the net and
> those who use it for it's original intent.

errrr, Rachel, that was not really a good thing.... But I'm sure that the reference was to 
ARPA and not DOD/BNS/MILL.

> I think ISOC-AU should have as its prime philosophy a tenet to support
> the researcher - the persons who use the Internet for its correct purpose,
> not necessarily academic - but those who are in harmony with its
> original goals.

She didnt stipulate Academic Researchers. In fact, her next sentence eschewed that specific 
potential conotation.
I think what she was saying is that the people that use the net for self education should
have more say in its development.

A simple statement with complex and (I think) long term positive socio implications for
humanity. Almost pure co-operative socialism (an obvious anathema to the 'old boys 
network'.)


Tom (A Liberal... sob sob)
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Thomas P. Koltai
Phone: +61-2-261-4884
Mobile: +61-414-574-242
185 Liverpool Street,
Sydney NSW 2000
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