Devdas Bhagat has a nice observation about the "value of the network". The question he was answering is in italics
Seen from this perspective, the value of the network probably would be between n to the power 1.414 (square root of 2) and 1.732 (square root of 3).
I would say that it does grow a bit faster than that. Also, as people learn to use the network better, they create value that the original designers of the network never dreamt of. That act of creation drives up the value of the network even more.
My email sig prouldy proclaims that I am a "DBA, programmer and
slacker". Most people assume that I am a Slackware user (I am not, I prefer Ubuntu ). In worst case, some
assume I am a lazy bum.
Slackers are not lazy. A good slacker knows how to do just the
optimum amount of work. This is a hard line to draw. For example, if
I have to replace some text in a file, I will use a sed one-liner to
do the replacement, rather than using a text editor to do a
search-and-replace. The first time I do this, I will take more time
than the guy using a text editor, since I will have to read the manual
and do a bit of fiddling around. However, the sed method is more
sclable - when the time comes for replacing text in 5 files, I will
have to just modify my one-line script. However, most people who will
see me reading the manual and fiddling with the one liner the first
time will definately think - "This guy is wasting his time". Being a
slacker is the reason why I put up my website. I noticed that on the
mailing list and IRC there are some questions that are asked more than
the others. So I started documenting my answers in my Wiki. Next time someone asked
the same question, I had to point out a single webpage instead of
typing in a whole (gasp!) email
Some people think that being a slacker means "doing the least
possible in the workplace". I think a true slacker applies
slacker-techniques to all parts of his life.
When I started my website (on Geocities), one of my first thougths was - What good will it be (beyond helping my ego) ? There are already so many webpages out there and I possibly cannot say something that others have not said before . I now realize that differences in ideas and opinions matter a lot. When I am looking for a review, I want to hear the good sides as well as the bad sides of the product (book/piece of hardware). I think I am an (almost) normal human being. So, if I want to see ten different opinions about something before investing money into it, I assume others do that too. In a world where companies are always in the run to create a positive image about themselves, it is good to see a page which is not afraid to pull off the ugly mask. If I want to listen different opinion, maybe it would be a good idea to put up my opinion up there too. Maybe someone else will find it useful.