RE: (clug-talk) Web Site and Forum

[Shawn]

My appologies - I'm coming into this late, and have only read Johnny's email...   It strikes me that it would be possible to satisfy both conditions - have a forum AND a mailing list - with a slight revision on how the mailing list is handled.  I'll state up front though that my definition of a forum may be a little different than what may have been previously discussed.   I offer as a sample the CF-TALK mailing list, which is dedicated to Cold Fusion web development. (http://www.houseoffusion.com - click on the mailing list link and then on the side bar, click on CF-Talk to select that list)   With a little work on the back end, the host of the mailing list (Michael Dinowitz) has been able to provide an archive of the mailing list, threaded by category, and only a matter of minutes out of date (that is, a few minutes after you receive mail on the mailing list, the "forum" is up to date).   This was done because CF-Talk is a VERY busy list - when I was a regular member I'd receive anywhere from 50 - 600 messages a day.  Members began unsubscribing because it was simply too much.  So, Mr. Dinowitz created/overhauled the archive to make it simpler for people to be a part of the list, without having to clog their mailboxes.   With the caliber of people on THIS list, I don't see why something similar couldn't be done.  I'd encourage you to check out the CF-Talk archives (including it's search capabilities) not necessarily to partake in the Cold Fusion discussions, but to see an alternative, and possible method to offering a mailing list AND a forum in one fell swoop (so to speak).   My 2 cents worth.   Shawn   (PS. I'm going to be reading through the other messages in this thread now, to see how far off the mark I am.....) -----Original Message----- From: Johnny Stork [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 7:15 PM To: CLUG Subject: (clug-talk) Web Site and Forum Initially I was not going to add anything to this thread as everyone has certainly expressed their individual opinions and preferences. However, since it apparently is a thread that may result in a "decision", why not reserve all the heated expressions of opinion and conjecture, and simply ask the members what they want? Any one of us could certainly dig up some independant support of our individual preferences (defined loosely as opinions outside of the list), but since the groups first concern may be the current members preferences, why not simply create a simple poll/survey? My own research background is statistics/data analysis along with a short stint as an Analyst for a Vancouver marketing firm so I would naturally see a poll as the simplest, most accurate and diplomatic solution to such a debate. Then again this may only be an expression of my own bias....reasonably sampled, "reliable" and "valid" evidence for any decision that effects more people than just myself. Example: 1: Would you prefer a Forum type environment for the CLUG List? 2: Would you prefer to retain the current mailing list as is? 3: Would you like to have the choice to use either? Could also provide links to some examples of each, beyond whats available on the CLUG site. I could slam it together in 30 minutes, post it, and when completed send the results back for the CLUG Executives to make the final decision. Just a suggestion. ________________________________ Open Enterprise Solutions Linux & Open Solutions for Business Johnny Stork, BA Calgary, AB Canada http://www.openenterprise.ca