A open letter to all here

[Orange Kid]

The category at the top says Forums > Distributed Computing

I?m thinking it should be changed to Forums > TeamAnandTech The Fight for World Wide DC Leadership

This is no longer a place that is interested in bettering computing through solving DC challenges. It is merely a locker room for a DC Team and all the half-time speeches that are spew by various different and revolving ?leaders?

We gotta be #1???.yeah

Can we actually teach, learn and help one another???not as of late.

I myself may be guilty of some of the same, but have tried to limit the extent of my rah, rah behavior.

I was hoping that Seti would wind down and I could fade graciously, but this is not going to happen anytime in the near future?so came my decision to shut down the Q.

This will be my last post here

Good luck in your quest for DC dominance.

 

[wirelessenabled]

Good post OK!

Thanks for all your effort running the Q.

 

[Evadman]

This will be my last post here

I am saddened to hear that

 

[DarkMajiq]

Originally posted by: Evadman

This will be my last post here

I am saddened to hear that

As am I.

I see OK's point about how the forum is now basically all about TA, but I think that the nature of distributed computing has changed as well. I think that probably by now most of the people who are involved with it are involved with it for the competition. Granted, there are still people who run the various projects because of their merits, and there are still people who sign up for the projects because they think they're worthwhile. I think that the competition is good for distributed computing, because it certainly gets more people involved. If it weren't for TA and the competition with other users and other teams, I wouldn't be running SETI, or any other DC project.

 

[mechBgon]

Sorry to see you go, OrangeKid I felt a twinge of the same feeling recently, when I saw that good news for another team was viewed as bad news for ours. Maybe we get too caught up in doing well, because we know eachother and want to see eachother acheiving and succeeding.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: DarkMajiq

Originally posted by: Evadman

This will be my last post here

I am saddened to hear that

As am I.

And I.

I see OK's point about how the forum is now basically all about TA, but I think that the nature of distributed computing has changed as well. I think that probably by now most of the people who are involved with it are involved with it for the competition. Granted, there are still people who run the various projects because of their merits, and there are still people who sign up for the projects because they think they're worthwhile. I think that the competition is good for distributed computing, because it certainly gets more people involved. If it weren't for TA and the competition with other users and other teams, I wouldn't be running SETI, or any other DC project.

I am one who participates mainly for the science, but I also enjoy the stats (yes, I am guilty as charged for spending a quarter hour each night preparing stats for the F@H TeAm members). I am also guilty of helping TA in the great TA vs. DSLR (aka BBR) race many moons ago. What can I do?

 

[Swanny]

Orange Kid,

I understand where you are coming from with this thread, but I don't think the forum is closed to new DC ideas. True, much of the area is used up by stats posts and bragging about new rigs and such. Still, there isn't much to be talked with projects about besides those things. All the merits and problems of a project are usually established at the beginning. As the project goes on, these things are straightened out and the only thing to talk about is the progress it is making, in est, the stats.

I would also like to say that when I post in your weekly stats thread I do two things. I quote my stats, mostly for my own good, but more importantly I say, "Thanks OK!" I really do mean "thanks" when I say it. It would truly be a shame if you would stop your input to the TeAm and this forum. I've looked to you as a team leader ever since I joined the team. It would really sadden me to see you disappear from our community.

With that said, thanks once again for all the work you've done for the TeAm!




Christian

 

[ICXRa]

I don't know what to say about this!

I guess I thought we all shared the same love of computing and that us participating as a team was the motivation for continuing our efforts and to keep in touch with others that feel the same way. I would like to be the number one team at all the DC projects that Team Anandtech is involved in (not like this would ever happen) but that has never been the real driving factor for me. I have really always enjoyed the friendship I have felt here, for me that has been a good thing

 

[SoulAssassin]

I think alot of us focus on the stats, rankings, etc is because it's alot easier to say, "I just dumped 500 w/u's and moved up 2 places in the team" than "Hey, I found this triple gaussian out of the Orion system that I think might be alien television (and boy do those alien women have big hoo-hoo's)". It's easier to quantify stats, for SETI at least, by the total w/u's completed vs best candidates opposed to some programs. If I could post a thread and say, "hey everybody, now we really need to put the pedal to the medal and get some quality candidates done. Let's shoot a goal for 100 possible signals by the end of the week" then I would. Unfortunately, things don't work like that. Given my choice between us finishing as the last team or irrefutable evidence proving the existance of intelligent life off this planet, I don't even think I need to state what my choice would be. Those who started DC for the stats, please stand up and be counted. I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of us started for the science and the stats have just become the addictive side effect.

I think situations like the job networking thread, the constant desire to help each other out (rarely does a call for help go an hour without a response), and the overwhelming support for Engineer and his family in the recent sad situation they have endured, prove that we're a great group of people with common interests willing to help others out and the science project of choice; not just people hell bent on numbers.

All of this being said, although I never got to know you very well, I am sorry to see you go and I thank you for the time and effort you have donated to the team.

 

[Crazee]

I couldn't have said it any better than SoulAssassin just did.

OK, I like many others here will miss you if you do decide that this is your last post here.

 

[MoFunk]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
I think alot of us focus on the stats, rankings, etc is because it's alot easier to say, "I just dumped 500 w/u's and moved up 2 places in the team" than "Hey, I found this triple gaussian out of the Orion system that I think might be alien television (and boy do those alien women have big hoo-hoo's)". It's easier to quantify stats, for SETI at least, by the total w/u's completed vs best candidates opposed to some programs. If I could post a thread and say, "hey everybody, now we really need to put the pedal to the medal and get some quality candidates done. Let's shoot a goal for 100 possible signals by the end of the week" then I would. Unfortunately, things don't work like that. Given my choice between us finishing as the last team or irrefutable evidence proving the existance of intelligent life off this planet, I don't even think I need to state what my choice would be. Those who started DC for the stats, please stand up and be counted. I would venture to guess that the overwhelming majority of us started for the science and the stats have just become the addictive side effect.

I think situations like the job networking thread, the constant desire to help each other out (rarely does a call for help go an hour without a response), and the overwhelming support for Engineer and his family in the recent sad situation they have endured, prove that we're a great group of people with common interests willing to help others out and the science project of choice; not just people hell bent on numbers.

All of this being said, although I never got to know you very well, I am sorry to see you go and I thank you for the time and effort you have donated to the team.

Well said.

I would also like to add that the compitition and rah rah attitude has helped make this team grow in size, that helps the project! Our team races and desire to be a top team brings in more WU's which gets us all (Seti) closer to our ultimate goal, finding a signal! I am guilty of wanting tp be #1, but I am also guilty of wanting to help find a signal, that is why I am here. We could be the last placed team and I would still be here because of the people! People like you O.K. have made this team great, regardless of stats. I hope you can understand that it is the compitition that drives these projects forward, along with the science.

 

[networkman]

We gotta be #1???.yeah

Darn straight! That's exactly where I'd like to see this TeAm - if not #1, then in the Top 10 in EVERY project.

Can we actually teach, learn and help one another???not as of late.

I couldn't disagree more!

Granted, I haven't been involved with this group as long as you have Orange Kid, but I firmly believe that this group is blessed with real talent, real leaders, and real enthusiasm for better or worse.

Am I guilty of a little DC-locker-room banter? - Yes, I surely am. Am I guilty of being a promoter of Team Anandtech and its "fight for world dominance"? Darn straight! And I have no intention of backing down from that cause!

I have helped others in the past and will continue to do so in the future as well; much of it is "behind the scenes" - exactly the way I prefer to do it, but continue it will.

Thank you for the efforts that you've made for TA - we'll keep the light on for you in case you decide to return.

 

[Wolfie]

I don't consider myself a leader. And I try to help people when I can. But at last I do have to admit that I don't know much about any of the dc projects that I do. But I do know this, I have made more friends here on the DC forums then anywhere else. I have my IRL friends, but the people in these forums want to help more then some of my IRL friends.

I have met you in real life Orange Kid. You where a great guy to hang out with during that so called lan party we had. And what you have done for the SETI team and for all of DC, is unheard of from anyone else. I guess you have made up your mind. But please don't be a stranger.

THANK YOU Orange Kid...

Wolfie

 

[CraigRT]

:Q
I'm shocked you think that OK.. I am sorry to see you go. You've been one of the more helpful guys around here. that's a shame.. good luck with whatever you're doing!

 

[Freewolf]

Sorry to see you go.
I happen to believe that friendly competition helps build a feeling of teamship and only makes the team stronger but I have yet to see anyone come to these forums and ask for help and not recieve it no matter what team they was on or what project they run. Many of us even try to help people on other forums and on other teams. And yes I would like to see the team #1 in every project that is part of being on a team. After all you don't have to join a team to run any dc project that I know of but being part of a team certainly makes it more fun and creats many more friendships and for me that's what it is really about anyway.

 

[BobTheWizard]

Yeah... I think the competition is healthy... I suppose I can see where you're coming from OK, but if it weren't for the fact of seeing everyone that is competing do so much better than I was, I wouldn't have been able to be doing as well as I am now. I do the DC for Seti for the science, but push myself to do more for the competition to make it more fun and to challange myself to keep doing more and improving.

If it weren't for the frendly competition here, and the friendly cheering here, I don't think I would feel the same team feeling.....the camaraderie... For this, I thank all of you that are here helping me and the rest of us feel as part of this group.. this team... this TeAm!!

That includes you OK! It's sad to see you go! You will be missed!

 

[mechBgon]

I'll have to ask AndyHui for a wee update to this FAQ, because Orange Kid was the first guy who crossed my mind when I needed an example of an individual user's SETIQue stats page.

 

[m0ti]

It makes me sad, OK, to see someone of your stature bow out. But I guess everybody eventually decides it's time for something new and you've been here, providing leadership to the rest of us for such a very long time.

However, it isn't just about being #1 or bragging or whatever (though these things do help bring in new members). It's also about the friendships, and sometimes even the science. I try to be the best "leader" I can be for my team, whether that's providing stats or writing utilities (even upon request) for team-mates.

Again, sorry to see you go.

We'll miss you here, and best of luck!

 

[serialb]

I know I am not one of the anchor members here, but I clearly remember it was Ass1's recruiting thread about 2 years ago brought me here. I have always been here for the SETI project because of my interest in astromony. Back in the days, it was either SETI@home or RC5 and most of the threads here were help threads about installation, stability problems or an occassional "discussion" about the real DC projects.

The only SETI stats threads I recall were HellBurner's daily team report and OhioDude's race stats. Then came the series of MTRs and the DSLR faceoff. Those events recruited tons of new members. When these "races" became big success and drew this many idle cycles to the Team, it is easy to understand how the Team transforms to TeamAnandTech The Fight for World Wide DC Leadership.

Time changed, things have changed and the nature of this DC team have also changed:
I used to be very active on DC forum.
I used to try to get 1st on OD's stats thread every morning.
I used to know 39 is the catID for the DC forum.
I used to steal my roomates idle cycles and urge him not to turn off his computer.
I used to bookmark and visit your queue stat page everyday.
And I used to live within 15 miles from you

Those are history to me and now that I think of it, I think I must be a bit crazy.

One thing hasn't changed though... It's the friendly environment in this forum which you can never find in any online community. When I first joined the Team, I was wondering myself how in the world would some fool run a server, sucking up all his own bandwidth, just for caching some data for others to run a DC project? The longer I stay in this place, the more I understand it's the idea of a team, a community, not just for a bunch of strangers you haven't even met. That's why I like it here, that's why I am spending all this time to express myself.

I hate to see you depart because of the change, but whatever you have made up in your mind, I truthfully respect your decision. I would like to thank you once again for your dedication to the SETI project and this Team, and being such a generous "fool"

 

[Insidious]

I'm sorry to hear you have become disillusioned OK.

We don't know eachother, but I sense your frustration and wish I could help bring the fun and meaning of DC back to you.

Let's face it.... it would be a pretty quiet community around here if we limited our interactions to discussions of science.

I am not a scientist, but I like the idea of helping them anyway.

My experience has been the opposite of yours with regard to support from teammates whether they be on the DF project

or another. I am grateful to the MANY people who jumped in and helped when I needed it. I don't think that has been lost at all!

The rah, rah, rah... well, I think the entire DC concept would fall flat on it's face without it. I am tremendously grateful to all

the team leaders and members who lend to this atmosphere.

The social aspect of TeAm membership is a major reason I continue to enjoy participating in DC. I do not fool myself into believing

I am the one doing the science. The competitions, the brags, the other 'silliness' that goes on in here gives me something

to do while the stats collect. And those who are willing to take the time to organize them give teammates a time and place to meet

and enjoy the connection to one another due to a common purpose.

I genuinely hope you will re-consider OK, but if not I hope you can at least leave us with the knowledge you did contribute something

very worthwhile and I am grateful!

Best of luck to you,

-Sid

 

[onebadv6]

Sorry to see you go. You're one of the few I looked up to in seti

As far as wanting to be #1. You're right, I want to be #1, I want to find ET and if I'm #1 I'll have that many more chances to find him.

For not learning anything. Guess you have been here too long and have learned to much. I however learned how to run the comand line client, what setispy was and how it worked, using you as an example I learned how to run setiq, how to run seti in linux (and because of that many other things) as well as many networking and computer tips. All of wich help me get that many more chances to find ET.

I think for me the stats have become more important now that the cheats have been highlighted. My computers work hard for this quest and it makes me so mad to see people cheat to gain the #1 spot for themselfs or team without looking for ET. I'm proud of my stats not because how many workunits I've cruched but for the fact that every one of those units is a true hunt for ET.

I hope you enjoy your next challenge what ever that may be and know that you're allways welcome here (at least by me)

 

[Confused]

Don,


I don't really know what to say that hasn't been said by everyone else in this thread.

Yes, the projects here are, in some way, driven by stats. But, in the first instance, there must have been something that tweaked inside our heads, when reading or hearing about the projects, that said "That sounds like a good project to do, I would like to participate in that". Then, after the initial Science Bit has sunk in, and the people here find out what a great bunch of people are here, then the discussion turns slightly away from the Science, and more towards the friendship.


I'd think of it like this: You see a football game on the TV, and you want to find out more about the game, and the team that you see. You get to know the ins and out of the game, and then you start to support the Team. You go along for a while just watching the occasional game, checking every now and then how well they're doing in the season, but you do this all by yourself. Then, one day, you go out, and you find a bunch of people who are all interested in the same football Team. You get talking about the game, and hang out and watch the game together. After a while, you decide that you quite like these people more than just to watch the game, so you start to take an interest in other aspects of their life. You become good friends, and have a good laugh, and can talk about anything under the sun. You also compare stats of the teams, who you've won and lost against, and get into the history of the team, as well as the history of your friends, but you still remember that deep down inside, it was the love of the game, the interest you had for the game BEFORE you ever met these people, that still draws you in, and still keeps you hooked. All the extra friendship, and the extra information and stats on the team is just extra stuff, that, while not entirely necessary in order to understand and enjoy the game, it makes it so much better to enjoy it with friends, people that you would trust your life with, people that care for you.



Every time over the past 2 years when I've come into the weekly stats and said "Thanks for the stats and the Queue, OK", I mean it, as does everyone else. We really appreciate you putting your time, effort, computers, internet connection, and your own input that you have given us in the past.

If you do decide to bow out, then I shall have to accept your decision, however it will be like losing one of my buddies that I watch the game with, things will always be different once you've gone.


Your friend,

Garry

 

[LastKnight]

Sad day. I also appreciate what you've done but respect your leaving. I hope you find what you're looking for.

I find that if I grow bored with a project, I shift. I've put units into Seti, D2OL, DF, ECCP (the first one only), G@H, and even crunched a little for F@H till the client killed that computer. Good luck in all endeavors, OK. Thanks for running the queue and your threads.

Leaders do revolve. DC projects do come and go. What you find on the team stays constant.

LK

 

[Poof]

OK - I will be sorry to see you leave but I have seen many old timer's get to the point where they needed to take a break from it all and I respect that decision.

It's a shame that I never got a chance to kick your a$$ in UT. :Q

Take care and do reconsider stopping in every once in awhile.

 

[RaySun2Be]

Don,
I understand and respect your decision to leave. I am saddened by it too, as we are losing a great teammate . Thank you so much for all you've done for the TeAm! So many others have said a lot of what I feel, such as Confused's football analogy, that I won't go on too much about it.

For most of us, it's about the science, but it's always been about the stats too. Ever since I started in RC5 back in '99, stats have been a big element, and the source for a lot of fun. Now more than ever I see a true Team Anandtech, not just SETI or RC5 or DF or UD. Many teammates are spreading their CPU cycles to many worthwile projects. This team has always had a giving heart, and that hasn't changed. David McOwen, Roy Cain, and even myself can attest to that.

Best of luck to you in whatever endeavors you chose to put your many talents to.

You will be missed, and will always be welcome here.

Take care,
Dennis