[Manifold-l] Selection Pane with Maps

[Simon Linder]

Your Soccer Ball suggestion is asinine; everyone on the planet knows we need
a rugby projection.

Simon Linder
Wider Networks
slinder at widernetworks.com
(w) 301.951.2767
(m) 301.768.9170

-----Original Message-----
From: manifold-l-bounces at lists.directionsmag.com
[mailto:manifold-l-bounces at lists.directionsmag.com] On Behalf Of Dimitri
Rotow
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 4:59 PM
To: manifold-l at lists.directionsmag.com
Subject: RE: [Manifold-l] Selection Pane with Maps


> Obviously it hasn't reached the implementation stage yet. If 
> as Adam indicates this is because we collectively are not 
> asking for it in sufficient numbers, maybe a few more Listers 
> could add their own voice to the wish list - just send an 
> enhancement request to Sales requesting the Selection Pane be 
> made available from Map Window Components.
> 

I can understand your frustration, as there are items in Manifold I've
wanted to have since 4.50 that still are not in the release. I find it
particularly hard to accept that some of my pet interests (like a wish for a
"soccer ball" projection together with a pre-built "soccer ball cutout"
print layout) appear to be shared by few others on the planet :-)  But, a
wave of brief "I agree with this" letters spurred by an advocate usually
have little impact on the planning process, for the reasons discussed in the
link on the Support page offering advice on making suggestions.

The Darwinian truth behind this is that when people really want something
they are not shy about demanding it without any need to be prompted. "Not
shy" is an understatement, as every day Manifold gets many suggestions and
plenty of letters advocating various things, at times very emphatically and
with great power and detail. Such letters tend to have much greater staying
power with continued appearances long after a flurry of letters prompted by
an advocate ebbs. 

I would suggest different advice.  If someone takes the time to send in a
suggestion, I'd strongly encourage that person to really think through what
he or she would find most important to have improved in Manifold or to have
added as a new feature.  Write about that.   It's the things that people
really care about most that should be done first.  It's also usually true
that those things that you care about most are the ones that are the easiest
to advocate with real vigor and detail, because your desire for them causes
words to spring almost unbidden from your keyboard.

I'm not saying that one should refrain from writing until something of
Einsteinian depth comes to mind.  If your number one hot button is a small
thing, no problem.  Write about that.   I'm just suggesting that before
writing you think your priorities through and start your suggestions career
with those things that are most important to you. 

Cheers,

Dimitri

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