"... What happens when you don’t date your articles? ..."I read a lot of articles and going through through them is a bit like undertaking an archeology dig for useful bits of information. The best sites include subtle hints that convey context. Useful if you are evaluating, "do I continue reading?"
How?
Authoritative sites are good because they convey more meaning than just an article. They tell you "who" is writing, "when" it was written and most important their viewpoint and intent, the "where". You find this out using subtle hints.
Date is an important clue for understanding context. Writers who don't including perceived affordances such as date, mark themselves as the writer equivalent of a first time ice skater constantly tripping over. A writer newbie, who doesn't grasp the concept of readers who use context to search and evaluate. Some sites where I have found a motherload of stuff:
- http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/
- http://htmlarchive.scripting.com/
- http://www.scottberkun.com/essays/
- http://paulgraham.com/articles.html
- http://www.avc.com/a_vc/archives.html
I read these sites again and again, because the value of the posts are increased by the "perceived affordance" of details such as the date a post was written.