Awh Tim, I feel your pain and so do others of like personality who crave documentation.
First off I'd like to acknowledge other 'types' of personalities who do not require such. That's what makes gathering places, like permies, so wonderful you get the geeks hanging with the artists.
Now about 'The measure of success' - I have found exactly what you speak of in youtube videos. Yes, there are a lot of trial and error, just starting out and here are my views and assumptions, as well as 'I hope this works'.
Here are the problems as I see them
(1) people are not all working for the same goals, they are not coming from the same place, and they do not all want the same things. Yes, people are the issue.
When you look at anything as an absolute your in for trouble, it is all relative. I absolutely stay away for threads where good people want to debate absolute permaculture perfection.
(2) I was just communicating with someone 'gifted in the ways of natural building' begging them to write a book, share their knowledge. Their response - They would have to sacrifice the time away from family, life and other work. They added that they had been turned off of the idea because when they share their ideas are stolen and done badly. I can see where they are coming from.
Think about it, if there isn't something good in it for them, why share, or blog or ....? I find when we are in learning mode we are all so hungry and can get discouraged when the information we seek is so very hard to accumulate. However, when we move into the doing phase we are then to busy, and producing information isn't practical, it becomes a negative unless it facilitates our lives in some way.
For example, Paul (father of Permies) takes the time to record things, write articles and post them, because he is trying to support himself while following his desire to live an sustainable life, and that is part of how he is doing it. I wonder if he would have done all this work if he had an inheritance
I myself volunteer here, and I am as often treated badly, or ignored as treated well in the process. So I mostly moderate only, trying to encourage people here and there, responding to posts that are not getting much attention in order to bring some action. Sometimes I just stir the pot, and that brings conversation. My role is moderator and not teacher, at least not here *grin*
When I move out on land and it becomes a do 'this' or 'moderate' choice, I'll be choosing to Do and write my own story.
It's up to each of us - to learn, share what we can, in the way we can and find our way. I know it can be hard and frustrating, keep gleaning.... you won't find absolutes, although some people believe they have them, but you will find your way, and that is the most important thing.
