Eric wrote.
> As a species, I am beginning to wonder if we are capable
> of surviving.
To answer your literal question, humans won't survive. Eventually we will be
faced with a challenge we can't overcome or avoid and we'll be gone.
Hopefully our ancestors will have evolved into something beyond human by
that time. But there is no guarantee.
But that isn't what you are really asking. You want to know if this group
will achieve its stated goal of building a real system that implements
Doug's ideas. From what I've seen lately, I'm not optimistic. I don't see
much in the way of common purpose in the discussion.
One person says they aren't interested unless the resultant software is Open
Source. Another says they won't contribute if the goal is managing mere
data; it must be knowledge. No one has successfully answered your "Business
Model" question, Eric. Do we use Python or Java, Slash or Squish, WBI or
Wiki or Jiki? Can't decide. And Monday Paul pointed out that Stanford owns
all of our souls anyway. ;-)
Ideas are collected. Documents are updated. Wonderful essays are written and
read. There is a vision here. But there is little consensus. And there is no
code.
Eugene says be patient. Cool. That is easy for me. I learn something almost
every time I open up an email from this discussion list. The Colloquium has
been "the gift that keeps on giving".
I have my own opinions on what should be coded first and how it should be
done*. But success is more likely if a number of people accept a common goal
and a common path. Success matters more than any one person's opinion.
Success requires compromise.
Bill
*What: We need a better discussion server. How: join an existing OSS project
like Apache/Jetspeed, Apache/JAMES, or Zope. If necessary, you fork off
(sounds bad, doesn't it?) to achieve your goal. This leverages what OSS is
good at: extending not inventing.
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