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Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21)

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Osmo Saarikumpu wrote:

> On 28.12.2012 0:30, Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn wrote:
>> Before you discount the value of a FAQ for a newsgroup too quickly,
>> please consider that various efforts, some by regular contributors, are
>> currently underway to fork, improve and even rewrite the FAQ for this
>> newsgroup.
> 
> I see myself as valuing the efforts of maintaing and improving the FAQ.
> At the same time I'm considering the points brought up by Mr. Korpela.
> Before I proseed, I must state that I've always valued Mr. Korpela's
> opinions and I'm his countryman === perhaps I'm biased here.

Perhaps.
 
>> And JFTR, Jukka K. Korpela is neither a (long-time) regular nor (IMHO) a
>> contributor at all here.
> 
> I'm sure that you are right in the money in a technical sense. But at
> the same time, I'm sure that he has a say in anything he sees as
> debatable. His input, in my experience, is never shallow.

You might want to review that opinion.

>> And if I am not very much mistaken, neither are you.
> 
> You are correct. I'm in a sense a regular, but not capable of technical
> contribution (== presenting code). But your point arises (or does it
> beg) the question: is it all about techniques? What about foresight?
> 
> If I've understood Mr. Korpela's point correctly, he would direct us
> (anybody that sees any need to follow this group, regardless of
> technical skills) to the future, by questioning the status quo and
> looking forward (without undermining the past).

I am not going to start a discussion about you or Jukka K. Korpela here.
My intention is not to start a flame war (and if you follow e. g. this 
newsgroup closely, you already know that it never is).  What I want to point 
out is this: It is too easy to question the status quo, and to look forward, 
being a bystander.

There is a noticable – IMHO disturbingly and inappropriately high – 
percentage of people here who have not actually contributed anything to this 
newsgroup when it comes to the topic of this newsgroup but think they should 
have a say as to the direction this newsgroup and its FAQ should be taking.

And yet, Jukka K. Korpela is a good example of that.  When has he hit this 
newsgroup last – December 1 this month, in the thread "Maintainer of the 
FAQ"?  How many postings in total since he hit it first in 2000 – 556?  How 
often has he posted here then on the average – less than one posting a week?  
How many of his postings are actually on topic?  How many actually contain 
insight on the topic, how many source code?  How many of them are actually 
flames (I leave the counting to you)?

<https://groups.google.com/groups/search?as_q=&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&scoring=&lr=&as_sitesearch=&as_qdr=&as_mind=1&as_minm=1&as_miny=2012&as_maxd=1&as_maxm=1&as_maxy=2012&as_ugroup=comp.lang.javascript&as_usubject=&as_uauthors=Korpela&safe=off>

By contrast, several others have contributed, almost daily, for years, some 
for more than a century, *thousands* of valuable *on-topic* postings here, 
containing both *insight* and *source code* instead of merely opinion.  And 
when they did voice their opinion, it was based on *professional experience* 
backed up by *sound arguments*, even *references*.

IMNSHO, there are, especially recently, too many like Jukka K. Korpela who 
should first put their money where their big mouth is.

>> A newfound interest in this newsgroup leading to future valuable
>> contributions to this newsgroup is always welcome.  But it should not be
>> up to people like you to decide or advise what should or should not be
>> done with regard to the FAQ of a newsgroup you have not actually been
>> using or making a valuable contribution to.
> 
> Please take in account that I'm not deciding anything nor advising
> anybody. I'm expressing my opinion like anybody else here, with the same
> right that you have to your opinion. Please do not confuse (group)
> seniority or technical ability with freedom of speech.

I accept that there is freedom of speech, I am in favor of it, and I value 
it.  But if you look at the situation here objectively, one cannot evade 
asking some important questions:

Is is not surprising that many people who have not even been regularly 
contributing anything here now seem like crawling out of their holes and 
giving their opinions, or rather complaints, as if they had been daily 
regulars for a century?

What will happen to those people when they find nothing more to complain 
about?  Or is that their only purpose here?

What kind of contribution to a newsgroup is that, really?

Finally, how important should one deem such opinions for decision-making 
processes?


HTH

PointedEars
-- 
> If you get a bunch of authors […] that state the same "best practices"
> in any programming language, then you can bet who is wrong or right...
Not with javascript. Nonsense propagates like wildfire in this field.
  -- Richard Cornford, comp.lang.javascript, 2011-11-14

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Thread

FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) "FAQ server" <javascript@dotinternet.be> - 2012-12-21 00:00 +0000
  Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Osmo Saarikumpu <osmo@weppipakki.com> - 2012-12-28 00:01 +0200
    Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2012-12-27 23:30 +0100
      Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Osmo Saarikumpu <osmo@weppipakki.com> - 2012-12-28 04:34 +0200
        Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Thomas 'PointedEars' Lahn <PointedEars@web.de> - 2012-12-28 12:56 +0100
          Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Dr J R Stockton <reply1252@merlyn.demon.co.uk.invalid> - 2012-12-29 19:12 +0000
            Re: FAQ Topic - How do I get my browser to report javascript errors? (2012-12-21) Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net> - 2012-12-29 22:32 -0800

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