There seems to be growing discussion about the appropriate subjects and
roles or our Vision2020 forum. Is education a good topic? What level of
detail is too trivial? Should we have different forums for different
topics? Shouldn't all political orientations be welcome (i.e., shouldn't
we be civil)? Who's listening/reading?
It is an interesting process, this evolution. I'd like to share some
thoughts.
First, I believe that this tool was intended to expand access to and
participation in discussion of community issues. What we're learning is
that the tool has the potential for building sense of community. In this
early stage, however, it is sometimes unwieldy and we may not be using it
to full advantage. I'd like to think that this forum can be made
suitable for a very broad range of community issues and citizen users.
For example, what about our children, special interests (environment to
baking), etc? In a way, my 'vision' of it is something of a community hall
or gathering place, where all are welcome, people of common interests can
find each other and speak in a group or privately as they see fit.
Yesterday, I found something of a prototype network that may suit our
'community' network development well. I'd like for you all to go visit this
network and give it a test. It is called 'Big Sky Telegraph' and is over
in Dillon, Montana. It is one of the earliest community 'freenets,' in
the U.S. (started in 1988). It has the flexibility to offer 'rooms' (or
"conferences") on a wide variety of subjects, from education to pen pal
programs for local kids to economic development. It is easy to use, has
a beginners education program and is extremely flexible in linking
people, needs, interests, etc. I was particularly struck by how far they
have gone to serve child-users. I like that. It stretches me in what I
had in mind for a community-oriented computer network.
Here's how you find it.
Get out of Pine.
At the prompt, type Gopher,<RTN>
In the Home Gopher Server window, select 'Internet Information by Subject
Area.'
In that window, select 'Government'
In that window, select 'U.S. Department of Agriculture'
In that window, select 'U.S.D.A. Extension Service'
In that window, select 'Internet Services & Information'
In that window, select 'Community-based Networks'
In that window, select 'Big Sky Telegraph'
Log on to Big Sky by typing 'BBS'
>From here on follow the very easy directions.
For anyone interested, Free-Net is a national phenomenon. The National
Public Telecomputing Network originated it in the 80s. I quote:
"Free-Net community computer systems represent a new application in
computing. A multi-user computer is established at a central location in
a given area and the machine is connected to the telephone system through
a series of devices called modems. Running on the machine is a computer
program that provides its users with everything from electronic mail
services to information about health care, education, technology,
government, recreation, or just about anything else the host operators
would like to place on the machine."
I have a Free-Net application package, due to work I'm doing in the
Intermountain region. If anybody wants to take a look at it, let me know.
As a parting shot, I agree philosophically with Susan Palmer about the
ideal of not splitting out forums. However, it is very difficult for me
to log on and try to get through dozens (sometimes over 100) messages on
Vision 2020. I'd like to log on to a menu of local topics, which shows
which have had recent postings. Then pick and choose rather than have to
wade through so much 'stuff' to find issues within my area of interest.
In this scenario, there might be a 'hot topics' alert folder that tells
us of important messages in other menu folders (e.g., in the
Government Folder, a message on another conspiracy from those criminals
involved in that 'shared facilities crap'- yes, I did take offense).
Tom Hudson
I don't log on very often, so if you'd like to reach me, my office number
is 883-2890