WASTING MY TIME?

THANK'S!!!!!
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I think it is helpful to realise that Seti by its very nature is a bit of an esoteric project. By that I mean we don't know if there are any ET's out there, let alone if we might be able to contact them. In contrast other projects searching for cancer cures, malaria cures, clean water, or prime numbers seem to have much more chances of realistically finding a result to their search. But if we don't look we will never find.

But, and there is a big but, being part of Seti is much more than just crunching workunits. Just take a look at the boards, forums, and threads here. Look how vibrant and active they are, you don't get that at any other Boinc project. In fact for many many people, Seti is their social life.

To pick up on Bernies point about green stars. Having one signifies that you have donated withing the past 12 months. Not having one doesn't mean that you never have. Personally I would like to see a system where a green star is for a current donation, and a yellow star means one in the past. People of course may still wish to be anonymous.

As we have said before, if Seti is not for you, then there are other Boinc projects, and we wish you well.

I think it is helpful to realise that Seti by its very nature is a bit of an esoteric project. By that I mean we don't know if there are any ET's out there, let alone if we might be able to contact them. In contrast other projects searching for cancer cures, malaria cures, clean water, or prime numbers seem to have much more chances of realistically finding a result to their search. But if we don't look we will never find.

But, and there is a big but, being part of Seti is much more than just crunching workunits. Just take a look at the boards, forums, and threads here. Look how vibrant and active they are, you don't get that at any other Boinc project. In fact for many many people, Seti is their social life.

To pick up on Bernies point about green stars. Having one signifies that you have donated withing the past 12 months. Not having one doesn't mean that you never have. Personally I would like to see a system where a green star is for a current donation, and a yellow star means one in the past. People of course may still wish to be anonymous.

As we have said before, if Seti is not for you, then there are other Boinc projects, and we wish you well.

Well done Mark and Thankyou. What gets me cross is those people who regularly use the Seti boards to propagate their own particular, usually religious or political, dogma. But, haven't given a dime to the project, and never will do. That to me is just taking the p**s.

Well done Mark and Thankyou. What gets me cross is those people who regularly use the Seti boards to propagate their own particular, usually religious or political, dogma. But, haven't given a dime to the project, and never will do. That to me is just taking the p**s.

The ego and self-importance of some people is surfacing again (maybe it never went under) with the ridicule of people without a green star.

Perhaps I didn't make myself as clear as I should have done, and for that I apologise.

If people genuinely crunch for this project, but choose not to donate, that is fine by me.

If people genuinely crunch for this project, and donate, but choose to be anonymous, that is fine by me.

I get cross when people only make the minimum effort to crunch here, with no donation, with every intention of just using the boards as a place to give "free" vent to their personal views. That is what I had intended to say.

Following a dream, "try to help to find our little green ET" will never be a "waste of time", the thread title is wrong!
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:) Ok, got it, Chris. One may only post personal, and hopefully objective views if one donates cash. And if one crunches and doesn't say anything, that's ok too. I've been confused on that fine point for 10+ years.

And Mark(?), I certainly did not intend to target you. But, in a nutshell, well meaning attempts to coerce folks to have what someone else thinks is appropriate behavior is too centralized for my taste. People should just give to the cause if it moves them and forget about receiving some sort of pat on the back, or in this case green star.

The ego and self-importance of some people is surfacing again (maybe it never went under) with the ridicule of people without a green star. It is quite apparent that we each contribute resources to this project, those who are computing continuously. I'm sorry I have to remind you of that. Most of this community's PC's no longer waste energy all night as they did when the project started, with automatic sleep mode, etc. So we choose to contribute a portion of our energy bucks on S@H. Isn't that enough? Many of us go out and update our hardware periodically in order to "keep our stats up". That is a contribution as well, assuming our work is useful and appreciated. Unless I'm missing something, it is at that point the community recedes back and let's the S@H work its way. Pretty much that is where I am now.

There are a number of members who draw more out the project that the typical member, and that is fine. The get invovled with software development, networking gestalt learning, and raw competitive computing. More power to them, but most of the time the satisfaction they derive they derive "for free" and independent of S@H's mission. Obviously, I don't know all/any of you so you can speak for yourself. But, for example, the stat-monsters I read about here are really into themselves when everything is analyzed, not into the stated S@H mission.

Then there is the question of what is S@H's mission and how should the work be evaluated or critiqued. This is a personal question because no one is robbing my meager wealth (by way of big bro's taxes) and paying it out to S@H in a visible way. Putting the question of mission aside (because I think the project has been confused on that score for a while) it seems that when ever one critiques things, the fan boys come out and pounce on the raw meat. Ignoring that consquence, I will merely ask: what has S@H actually accomplished. I don't see much. A paper at a conference once in a long while is not much. They tend to be engineering or PR papers and not fundamental science. Perhaps I missed something but the "science" listed on the homepage is years old and not "fundamental" or results oriented. So, what is going on with all these wu's we compute? Nothing. How does that merit grants or contributions? This project is over a decade old; nothing. I don't mean that we should have found ET. But does anybody really use this work for the next step? If so, they are pretty quiet about it. On the other hand, I have personally contributed to and volunteered at a private food bank; the results are obvious. I donate a ham, and a small family goes out the door with a smile on their face. Probably a good use of my money, I conclude. Turning back to S@H, the most common feedback I get when I look (which admittedly I do less and less frequently) is that the server is down, or the network is choked, or some unix software isn't right, ... . You all get the message, I'm sure.

So, whereas, I really respect those who contribute to the project, I really reject the green star concept as classist and devisive.

Looking ahead, the S@H staff are great to do what they do on the shoe-string they have; don't get me wrong. They deserve our thanks and respect. But at some point, a little introspection should be made and strategic thinking should be applied and courses re-charted.

:) Ok, got it, Chris. One may only post personal, and hopefully objective views if one donates cash. And if one crunches and doesn't say anything, that's ok too. I've been confused on that fine point for 10+ years.

And Mark(?), I certainly did not intend to target you. But, in a nutshell, well meaning attempts to coerce folks to have what someone else thinks is appropriate behavior is too centralized for my taste. People should just give to the cause if it moves them and forget about receiving some sort of pat on the back, or in this case green star.

Good post Richard, I fully support your stance.

I agree with a lot said here, but primarily, whether someone has a green star next to their name should have no bearing on how they are though of or treated. We are all exactly equal green star or not.
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The ego and self-importance of some people is surfacing again (maybe it never went under) with the ridicule of people without a green star. It is quite apparent that we each contribute resources to this project, those who are computing continuously. I'm sorry I have to remind you of that. Most of this community's PC's no longer waste energy all night as they did when the project started, with automatic sleep mode, etc. So we choose to contribute a portion of our energy bucks on S@H. Isn't that enough? Many of us go out and update our hardware periodically in order to "keep our stats up". That is a contribution as well, assuming our work is useful and appreciated. Unless I'm missing something, it is at that point the community recedes back and let's the S@H work its way. Pretty much that is where I am now.

I'm not sure why people think I'm attacking people who have not contributed.

I may have been a bit tart. But it was just an observation and just trying to help the lab.

Why asking for contributions to seti@home, or any other non-profit institution, would be considered negative is beyond me.

So... Continuing to crunch Seti, Einstein, and perhaps others. I'll leave these blogs to others.

PS - BLESS ERIC, MATT, AND ALL THE OTHERS IN THE LAB.
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