> In the same way as we can identify printed journal references (ie Volume
> number, part number, page number, date etc) should we not also get into the
> habit of putting a date and time onto Web pages?
This bags a question. It may fix the particular state of
the argument to which you are referring, but is this of any
use if no-one can go back and see what it said at that date
and time?
I am a little worried that behind a lot of the comments in
this (extremely interesting) thread there is an assumption
that knowledge always progresses, and that what we need is
the latest version. That *may* be true in the sciences -- I
expect it is not as universal as some people think, if you
look at the use made of past printed volumes -- but it is
certainly not true in the humanities, where a particular
idea may be subsequently retracted by its author, but yet
may stimulate other very valid scholarship.
A thought: where would science be if the only way Galileo
had had of publishing his ideas was on and ephemeral medium
such as the Internet?
Ian
Ian Lovecy
Cyfarwyddwr / Director
Gwasanaethau Gwybodaeth / Information Services
Prifysgol Cymru Bangor University of Wales
Ffon / tel 01248 382960
Ffacs / fax 01248 383826
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