On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:55:32 -0500, Richard Wordingham
<richard.wordingham@...> wrote:

> Perhaps we should spin off a new group to discuss the technology of
> writing. I've grabbed a Yahoo group name, 'vellum', and thrown together
> a quick description at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vellum/. Seshat's
> thoughts on the matter would be appreciated. She could be owner, or
> joint owner, and the terms of reference of a spin-off group need to be
> discussed.

> I for one enjoyed the account of the typewriter, and do not object to
> the discussion of how one gets a computer to produce writing (rather>
> than arbitrary pictures), but others are profoundly uninterested in such
> matters.

"...profoundly..." Well put.

Richard,

Imho, setting up a spin-off group seems like a very sensible solution!
Glad you did it. One software company had cascaded spinoffs; it has no
fewer than three levels. Top is for direct attention to the developers;
second, for alpha testers and developers; third, for alpha testers only.
Third one is open to any topics, except politics and, one assumes, sex and
religion. The latter serves as a "safety valve" for off-topic comments.

Another, a YahooGroups list, also spun off a cousin group. In both
instances, the software company and the Yahoo group, there was very little
problem created by the spinoffs.

Surely, I'd like to know whether Seshat has concerns about the spinoff.

A couple of my messages, posted today, have offered apologies for getting
carried away. A third might be overdoing it.

I'm glad that somebody liked the description.

Of course, I just joined [vellum]. It would have been nice had I read new
e-mail chronologically; would have saved comments about Justowriters. (I
was scanning from newest, back...)

My regards to all,

--
Nicholas Bodley /*|*\ Waltham, Mass.
The curious hermit -- autodidact and polymath