On 2 Dec 97 at 16:13, Judith Harrison wrote:
> >Are powerpoint presentations really what everyone wants to see on this
> list?
>
> IMHO, it is highly unlikely that everyone on the list will feel the same
> way about any particular issue. I found the powerpoint presentation
> extremely useful and would have no objection whatsoever to seeing more
> of the same.
Before this degenerates any further into an I like them, I don't, I
shall try this once more. The issue isn't whether you like them or
don't, the issue is appropriate effective use of internet bandwidth.
When someone sends an attachment, particularly one that requires a
particular program, a good proportion of the people receiving it
won't be able to do anything with it. So it's wasted to send it to
people who can't use it. (or for that matter, don't want it).
Second, most people are not aware that the internet in general is not
in such great shape. During peak times (12 hr from about noon to
midnight) the internet backbone servers are so clogged that about 40%
of packets have to be re-sent, creating additional overhead and
inefficiency. Sending stuff to people who won't or can't use it uses
up just more finite bandwidth.
Third, I pay for my email. As such I don't want people using up my
money to send me things that are useless.
Fourth, attachments can harbor viruses, often unbeknownst to the
person sending them (I don't know if this is the case with powerpoint
but it is indeed the case with Word documents).
I could also talk about the risk that attachments cause for
listserver software, and for list owners.
Now, the solutions are so simple. 1) Attachment type material can be
posted at a web site. Email an be used to notify. Only those people
that want it will get it. 2) If you have material sent regularly, set
up a mailing list (it's so easy a four year old could do it with most
email software.
I understand that we live in what sure seems to be a me based
society, but maybe we could just, once in a while consider others,
and the greater finite system we are using.
I think it interesting that if I sent folks 50 page faxes to their
toll free lines, that the outrage would be torrential, and I would
probably end up paying fines.
Judity, if you want em. You can have them. Just have a little
respect, and make the effort to get them.
Robert Bacal, Inst.For Cooperative Communication,
rbacal@escape.ca
Visit our Resource Centre for articles on mgmt.,training,communication, and defusing hostility
at
http://www.escape.ca/~rbacal (204) 888-9290
*Site Last Updated On Oct. 28, 1997*