[alicebot-archcomm] strangers

[Dr. Richard S. Wallace]

This is really interesting.  How do you define "friend" and "stranger" in
the web age?

Noel and Nika are stranger to me than David, Russell and Elizabeth.  I never
even met Nika in person.

Nobody has more seniority in ALICE and AIML than David Bacon.  He has been
here since the beginning.  An itenerant lurker, his post count may be low,
but he is certainly a valued member of the community and a lifelong friend.

Russell and Elizabeth are local and I see them weekly or even daily, so
there is nothing strange about them either.  Brenda was here once.  Noel
too.  Someone I never met in person, say Chris Fahey, would be more of a
stranger than my local friends.

Until a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable to even try what we
did.  Every Board was local.  It's hard-wired into the bylaws and Robert's
Rules in the concept of a physical meeting.   Should we be very surprised
that we didn't know how to manage such a far-flung Board?  No one has this
experience yet.  Congratulations to the outgoing Board for even trying!

Rich