On Mon, Apr 14, 2008 at 08:56:47AM -0400, Herbert Graf wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 2008-04-14 at 20:14 +0800, Xiaofan Chen wrote:
> > I do not understand why the admins are so stubborn on this one.
> 
> Where does it end Xiaofan? Assume we add another tag, how long before
> something else comes up causing another request for another tag? And
> then another?

Tag creep is certainly an issue. But I think this is a special case due to
semantic misinterpretation. It would be like folks posting Avionics stuff
into the AVR forum because AVR stands for: Avionics Virtual Reality. I mean
you can call it whatever you want but the inferred meaning in most folks
mind doesn't change.

> This is the "P" "I" "C" list; the fact that other discussion is here is
> VERY useful IMHO, but we have to keep in mind that something may be lost
> if so many topic tags start appearing that people can't keep track of
> what goes where. What then would be the point of coming here when there
> are so many forums that cater to pretty much everything out there?
> 
> Amazingly, only 2 tags are causing a firestorm, imagine what 10 tags
> would be like?

If the new tag is decidedly a generic catch all, then you won't get tag
creep. It's possible to bound this new tag:

A discussion of science, technology, and engineering topics that falls
outside of the scope of electrical/electronics engineering.

It's not so broadly bounded as to be completely off topic. However it
segregates electrical/electronics engineering, which is much more closely
PIC related than these other areas, into isolation.

So Avionics, Global warming, rocketry, and other science/tech/engineering
topics would fit nicely while analog, PCBs, motors, and other topics of a
electrical/electronic engineering bent would go to EE.

You don't need 10 more tags. Honestly, and I'm sure that Russell will
disagree, it really can be done with the existing tags we have. But one
more tag will subdivide the topic areas into groupings that folks seem to
cater to. PIC and EE for the narrow focused, PIC, EE, and SCI/TECH for
those with a broader base, and everything for those who don't care.

But in my mind, either administratively, or by additional tags, the issue
does need to be resolved. Bob Blick leaving isn't a good thing. Scott
Dattalo not participating isn't a good thing.

So if adding one tag can fix it, then let's do that.

BAJ
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