[Foundation-l] Is popularity a good thing for us?

[Ray Saintonge]

Thomas Dalton wrote:
>> Please add more. Is there a case for trying to make ourselves less
>> popular so we can get on with work?
>>     
> IMO, no. There is no point making content if it isn't going to be
> used. We talk about reuse all the time, but really, it's just regular
> use which is most important. It's important that we support reuse, but
> by far the best way for us to spread knowledge is simply by having
> people read en.wikipedia.org (etc.). There are a lot of downsides to
> this popularity, but since it's the whole point of our existence, we
> just have to live with it.
Writers can only hope that their books will be read.  Writers write 
because they have something to say.  They have no way of knowing ahead 
of time whether a writing will be popular.  If they let themselves be 
distracted by egotistical consideration the writing will suffer; they 
might as well be writing Harlequin Romances.

I see no basis whatsoever for your notion that popularity is the whole 
point of our existence.  Where is your evidence for that sweeping 
statement?  This doesn't change the fact that Wikipedia has become 
tremendously popular, but let's not confuse ends and means.

Ec