Kryptosfan: I think it’s interesting that you don’t read the Yahoo groups. I also don’t read them. Some of my reasons:
+ I don’t want to fall into someone else’s mental traps. Obviously they haven’t solved it yet, so whatever they are doing, no matter how good it looks to them, isn’t completely working
+ It’s a nice feeling working alone, just me vs. the void. Also, I have a good feeling for my own repertoire of ideas that come out of that work. Something I find some day may remind me of something else I found a while ago, since both of those ideas were my originals. I don’t know if I’d be as attached to someone else’s idea that I read about, and may not draw it up seven months later when it might be relevant.
[ I'm sure there are some cognitive bias type problems with working alone, oh well ]
But most importantly:
+ The folks on the yahoo group(s) are involved in a group effort. They share what they find, but I don’t want to share. It wouldn’t be right for me to take and not give.
What are your reasons? Also, why are you referring to yourself in the plural?