Descent Magazine
- Thread starter Hughie
- Start date
Cave_Troll
Active member
indeed. sorry forgot compeltely about life on a line.
Still printed my own copy out though. Even then because it was printed out on a4 rather than niceley bound book with a glossy cover, I suspect my copy is slulking around underneath my bookcase along side the the folder of PBolt checking and isntallation records
Still printed my own copy out though. Even then because it was printed out on a4 rather than niceley bound book with a glossy cover, I suspect my copy is slulking around underneath my bookcase along side the the folder of PBolt checking and isntallation records
cap n chris
Well-known member
This debate about printed sheets versus internet seems to have left out the obvious: compromise (i.e. both). There does not need to a victor where one or other medium is vanquished. Magazines serve specific purposes and so do internet forums. The original thread was about Descent magazine and although some VERY GOOD POINTS have been made about the longevity of digital archives things seem to have digressed; mind you, whom I am to talk? - chunks of my life are digressions.
I would be very interested to know what maths/finance is involved in small print run magazines; I expect it provides an OK living without much luxury for no more than one person who would still be wise to keep their day job. What's the circulation in accurate figures? - 2,000 copies, 1,000 copies,.... less?
I would be very interested to know what maths/finance is involved in small print run magazines; I expect it provides an OK living without much luxury for no more than one person who would still be wise to keep their day job. What's the circulation in accurate figures? - 2,000 copies, 1,000 copies,.... less?
bubba
Administrator
I'd love to debate this one but I'm off on holiday shortly but just like to say this - paper archives are no more reliable than electronic archives unless the appropriate care is taken in their storage.
In fact, a local caving club is finding that many of it's archives are almost unusable due to the fact that they weren't stored properly. Look after disc backups and I can't see why they will last as long as any other media. Well, ok, probably not as long as carved stone or something, but I guess we've moved on from there.
In fact, a local caving club is finding that many of it's archives are almost unusable due to the fact that they weren't stored properly. Look after disc backups and I can't see why they will last as long as any other media. Well, ok, probably not as long as carved stone or something, but I guess we've moved on from there.
cap n chris
Well-known member
HOPING YOU HAVE GOOD HOLS! CHEERS!
L
Lincolnshire poacher
Guest
I personally think Descent is ok. Keeps me informed of what is going on etc and as i dont have webaccess at work, it allows me to have something do when work gets boring.
graham
New member
I like Descent & reckon Chris does a pretty good job overall (thanks Chris :hi: )
Having said that, with regard to the rest of the thread; take two opposing examples: If the BEC folds next year, there will still be complete sets of Belfry Bulletins and BEC Caving Reports in libraries up and down the country. If CUCC folds next year then the web site which seems to be their only way of recording stuff these days will vanish completely shortly afterwards unless some private individual takes it on. That will mean it vanishes a decade or so later when he can no longer be bothered, his computer crashes, he dies.
There are some out there who seem to think that maintaining 'net resources is both easy and free. They are wrong on both counts.
Having said that, with regard to the rest of the thread; take two opposing examples: If the BEC folds next year, there will still be complete sets of Belfry Bulletins and BEC Caving Reports in libraries up and down the country. If CUCC folds next year then the web site which seems to be their only way of recording stuff these days will vanish completely shortly afterwards unless some private individual takes it on. That will mean it vanishes a decade or so later when he can no longer be bothered, his computer crashes, he dies.
There are some out there who seem to think that maintaining 'net resources is both easy and free. They are wrong on both counts.
Andy Sparrow
Active member
Chris is a good chap and is entitled to make a living from the magazine, but I think he would sell more copies if he commissioned specific articles and that relying entirely on contributions may be a false economy. For example, there is very rarely anything in Descent about caving techniques. A regular series on ropework would certainly attract more readership. I get a bit bored with 'what we did on our social weekend' type of report and don't really find yet another photograph of cavers gathered in a bar very inspiring. There are an awful lot of cavers who don't read Descent for these very reasons.
kay
Well-known member
But that isn't very long nowadays!
When I started work
ldgit: our scientific data was held on paper tape. Since then we have moved through magnetic tape, floppies and cds. Unless someone has an active interest in any particuar archive, it's easy for it to slip through the net when one medium becomes obsolete and is replaced by another.For anyone concerned about the Doomsday Project - I understand that it has now been rescued and transferred to a more readable medium and format. But professional archivists are always very pleased to tell you that there are no problems at all reading the original Doomsday Book (that is if you can cope with the funny writing and the funny language - not too different from computer storage in that respect, then :wink: )
C
cucc Paul
Guest
I know this slightly off note but its related to sharing knoledge... Discovery Science (tv channel on sky) just showed a good program on caves and cave life. featuring on larger fauna than were used to in the uk such as cave fish and cave crayfish (fresh water lobster thing) that live for 40-60 years... and the micro biology that exists in caves to support them, a kind of rock eatting bacteria. it also looked at cave diving and caves in california. I know its a bit late as i only stumbled onto it by accident, however it is on a sky channel so it will be showing again in the future as a repeat. if you have access to such channel and you notice it on its really worth watching lots of interesting things on there...
C
cucc Paul
Guest
sorry it was part of the understanding series specific episode i saw was called : caves... short and to the point name i guess
Cumbrian Neil
Member
graham said:
I agree with you Graham. Chris Howes does a fantastic job presenting the information he is provided by correspondents from all areas of the UK. I think Descent is only limited, and always has been, by the amount of information he has been given.
If I have any comments for improvement, it would be to have the magazine accessable through .pdf files that can be "bought" by the reader. Unfortunately, that might be abused by folks who don't wish to subscribe.
CN.
cap n chris
Well-known member
It could do with more nude women in it, IMHO.
A
andymorgan
Guest
Can't reach the top shelf in the newsagents then Chris? You have the internet though.....
I think descent is decent (!) and is an interesting read. However it only takes about 10 minutes to read. I personally would like to see more about UK caves, rather than far off places I am unlikely to visit. I would like to see descriptions of classic trips etc, especially with the demise of some of the guide books.
I think descent is decent (!) and is an interesting read. However it only takes about 10 minutes to read. I personally would like to see more about UK caves, rather than far off places I am unlikely to visit. I would like to see descriptions of classic trips etc, especially with the demise of some of the guide books.
M
MSD
Guest
If it is really the case that many guidebooks are not going to be reprinted, the caving community is going to have to think differently. Why not start compiling a series of on-line guidebooks, which are free to download? If everybody in the on-line caving comminuity wrote a few cave descriptions, it could soon grow and become useful.
The key things would be to establish a format and a site to host it.
The key things would be to establish a format and a site to host it.
A
andymorgan
Guest
Absolutely, that would be a great idea. Perhaps something along the lines of Wikopedia where users can update and modify entries would be useful. Going back to the debate earlier in this thread, this is where the internet has a big advantage. For caving guides it is desirable for them to be bang up to date: a web guide could even give hazards particular of that day, such as weather and bad air problems for example. By contrast guide books rapidly go out of date when the diggers are hard at it!
Obviously finding the people to write, pay, host it etc. will be the difficult part....
Obviously finding the people to write, pay, host it etc. will be the difficult part....
