Date:         Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:44:28 +1000
Reply-To:     sas-l@anjgroup.net.au
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Andrew Howell <sas-l@ANJGROUP.NET.AU>
Subject:      Re: Can SAS-L be improved?
In-Reply-To:  <201007141123.o6EAkpmP019402@willow.cc.uga.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

  Gerhard,

I have posted BI/DI/Metadata questions (early on) and another one
recently, but they all generate 0 replies. There are now other forums
that provide the support in those areas, so I see little benefit posting
to SAS-L as well.

I'm simply responding to the subject "Can SAS-L be improved". I think it
can by not trying to claim to be the primary contact for SAS users -
instead identify & broadcast its specific benefits to users, and
acknowledge other channels (who may very well reciprocate).

Regards,
Andrew.

On 14/07/2010 9:23 PM, Gerhard Hellriegel wrote:
> Andrew,
> if you are interested in that things, why don't you post your questions? I
> think there are many members of SAS-L which deal with that tools with high
> skills I think, but if there are no postings...?
>
> Gerhard
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:04:00 -0400, Joe Whitehurst
> <joewhitehurst@GMAIL.COM>  wrote:
>
>> Andrew,
>>
>> I use the others too.  What I am seeking determines which source I will
> use.
>> I agree that there are many important SAS topics that are not addressed
> by
>> the SAS-L community.
>>
>> Joe
>>
>> On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 6:20 PM, Andrew Howell<sas-
> l@anjgroup.net.au>wrote:
>>> Joe,
>>>
>>> I'm glad for you that SAS-L does everything you need it to for you.
>>> However it isn't all things to all users, otherwise none of the other
>>> alternatives would be even remotely viable - yet other groups, blogs,
>>> twitters and online sites such as SasProfessionals.net not only exist,
>>> their membership continues to grow at exponential rates. What is SAS-L's
>>> growth? I doubt it is doubling every 6-9 months like other SAS sites.
>>> Why do you support this is, if SAS-L is "pretty good already"?
>>>
>>> SAS-L is probably an excellent resource for the "grass-roots"
>>> programmer/statistician/researcher (and some reporting) who is using
>>> either the SAS Display Manager or running jobs in batch.
>>>
>>> However, there is VERY little here beyond that - EG users, even less for
>>> those who use any of the other BI/DI interfaces - DI Studio, Management
>>> Console, Information Map, Web Report Studio, Portal, etc. Platform
>>> Administration, metadata management, WebDAV, installation,
>>> configuration, integration with Websphere, etc.
>>>
>>> For some, the "single stream" approach of SAS-L appeals because they get
>>> to see everything and can draw ideas they may not otherwise have
>>> considered. Other users may prefer "centres of stregth" that specialise
>>> in the areas of interest, so they are not having to sift the things they
>>> are after from the noise of every email.
>>>
>>> To be a truly good resource for all SAS users, there's a _lot_ more
>>> SAS-L can do - the first one is to promote its strengths, but second is
>>> to acknowledge its weaknesses and thirdly is to recognise&  collaborate
>>> with alternative channels.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Andrew.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 14/07/2010 1:50 AM, Joe Whitehurst wrote:
>>>
>>>> Proc me,
>>>>
>>>> Absolutely nothing!  I'm not so sure SAS-L _can_ be improved.  It's
> pretty
>>>> good already.
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 10:23 AM, Proc Me<procme@concept-delivery.com
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>   Joe,
>>>>> I wasn't sure what your suggestions for improving SAS-L were.
>>>>>
>>>>> My tuppence: volume is king, as people get interested in SAS, one of
> the
>>>>> first resources they find is likely to be the SUGI/SGF papers. It was
>>>>> from
>>>>> one of these that I came across SAS-L.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, I'd suggest citing SAS-L in papers, as many people frequently do,
> as
>>>>> a
>>>>> way of driving traffic here,
>>>>>
>>>>> Proc Me
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>