[snip]
What do other people think? Should I move to a forum for the tech support? Or would better promotion of the existing web archives of the list be good enough (you can read the list there, but not post)?
I don't see having both as a good solution, by the way, except for a transitional period.
Stephen, as I see it, the discussion so far boils down to this:
* The people who want answers would prefer a web forum, because
they can go to a website, post their question and then look at
the answers, without having to subscribe to a list and get a
whole lot of email they're not interested in. Fair enough, 'cos
when you've got a problem to solve you want to solve it *now*. * The people who supply those answers would prefer a mailing
list, because then they see the questions roll past and are
prompted to answer the ones they're able to answer. And that's
fair enough too, because they're basically giving free advice.Speaking personally, if analog-help became a web forum it would disappear from my radar, and I'd probably never answer a question again.
OK, I don't answer *that* many questions, especially when compared with your own sterling efforts and those of people like Jeremy Wadsack and Klaus Johannes Rusch whose names I see frequently. But I try to do my bit.
Each morning I look at the of email that's come in overnight. I'll flick through the subject lines, and if I'm having a hectic day I'll probably just delete everything. But if I've got a moment, and if I see a question that I can answer, and it's not someone who's just been too lazy to read the documentation at all, I'll answer it. The email is a nice prompt, right there in my face, that provokes me into doing a favour for someone.
But a website? I can't see myself saying "Oh, I have fifteen minutes free, I think I'll browse through a web forum and see if there's anyone I can help today." I'll probably go and read something that's related to *my* needs.
Now, some people have said they don't want to subscribe to a mailing list to get their question answered. I figure that's a tiny burden on them in exchange for getting a consultant working on their problem for free. They're already getting Analog for free, and they'll usually get support questions -- even the lamest ones -- answered by the main developer and his community of users free within 48 hours. Often within 48 minutes! How selfish *are* these people? :)
So...
It clear from responses like mine that the mailing list is what helps keep the support level high. But a website is useful for the consumers of all this free help. Where I'd head:
* Keep analog-help as a mailing list, so the questions get seen and
answered. * An improved search interface to the list archives, perhaps with
something like ht://dig which is fairly easy to install and it's
lightweight and reliable. * A web form through which people can post a question to the list
without having to subscribe. Since this could be easily abused by
spammers, perhaps have some requirement for them to register and
supply a real email address before their question is posted. I'm
guessing this could be a simple stand-alone thing that'd wouldn't
require much workJust my 2c worth...
Stil
-- Stilgherrian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Internet, IT and Media Consulting, Sydney, Australia. ABN 25 231 641 421 mobile 0407 623 600 (international +61 407 623 600) fax 02 9516 5630 (international +61 2 9516 5630) +------------------------------------------------------------------------ | TO UNSUBSCRIBE from this list: | http://lists.isite.net/listgate/analog-help/unsubscribe.html | | Digest version: http://lists.isite.net/listgate/analog-help-digest/ | Usenet version: news://news.gmane.org/gmane.comp.web.analog.general | List archives: http://www.analog.cx/docs/mailing.html#listarchives +------------------------------------------------------------------------
