RE: (clug-talk) Website and Forum?

[Ian Bruseker]

Title: RE: (clug-talk) Website and Forum?

Andrew,

 

Look, I'm sorry, but if you can't take a hint, let me spell if out really clearly for you: You said yourself "I'm getting irrirtate with responding to the same comment".  It should be a really big hint that if everyone else is saying the opposite of what you are saying, that means they don't agree with you and would prefer to use email.  You can add me to the list of people opposed to web-based forums (I receive mail from 8 lists on a daily basis - having it all appear in my mail app is much more convenient than checking 8 websites continually throughout the day just to see if there's something new).  You are being outvoted, plain and simple.

 

You say that their comments have "no basis in fact much less experience", but clearly everyone else has strong experience with email clients that you clearly lack.  It's your lack of experience here that is the problem, not everyone else's.  You also don't seem to understand the full argument for email based communication.  You think that filtering is just moving things to another folder.  Do you understand that email clients can present messages in a threaded view, the same as web forums, so that people only have to read the tread they want to read?  This is what Aaron is talking about when he refers to "a moderately decent mail application".  This might be a problem for users who get this list via Hotmail, since I don't think it supports threading, but alas, I don't think one could ever qualify Hotmail as even a "moderately decent" mail app, and maybe, by spending a little time on this list, we can help them find a better alternative.

 

You say that sticking to email just because it's something we know is a bad reason to stick to it.  Well, I'd argue that changing to web forums just because it's the only thing you know is an even worse thing to do.  If you'd like some help in understanding how to work your email client, there is a lot of knowledge here, we can probably help you (even if it's not a Linux based client - several users here, including myself when I'm at work, use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express).

 

Ian

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Barnes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2002 8:40 AM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: RE: (clug-talk) Website and Forum?

I've seen responses from roughly 7 other people - I hardly consider that a consensus.

Secondly, there is no proof that a question takes longer to answer on a forum - NONE.  Pardon, but I'm getting irritated with responding to the same comment that has no basis in fact much less experience.

Third, how does increasing the viewability and functionality of a support communication take away from helping?  Most visibility == more exposure; More exposure == more people helping...

Fourth, I want to read a topic but I'd like it organized rather then helter skelter in my email folder.  Filters don't tell me what's worth reading and what isn't - I do.

Fifth, sticking to email solely because you have used it in the past is no legitimate response either.  I've been away until now so I couldn't reply to what is claimed to be "benefits" of email.

The point is *you* made up your mind, not everyone else.  But thanks for letting us know.

Thanks,
Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: Jesse Kline [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, December 06, 2002 6:33 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: (clug-talk) Website and Forum?

It seems to me that the general consensus is that there is absolutely no
point to have a BB. Sure it MAY make it easier for newbies, but most of
us would not check the web site every hour if at all. It would take a
long time (if ever) for anyone to get their questions answered. Also a
mailing list is not the most complicated thing in the world, and most
newbies know e-mail. As for volume, we are not a large group and adding
discussion forums would only take away from the amount of help that you
are going to get. We already have an archive and if you don't want to
read an e-mail thread, then just delete it!
There are thousands of ways that we have invented to communicate with
each other. To say that we should use another form of communication just
because it exists doesn't hold any weight with me. What's next are we
going to run string to everyones house and attach a tin can to every end
just because some asshole doesn't want to use a computer?
I think we have established that adding a web based forum is not the
best idea, and that a news forum is not good either because there are a
thousand other Linux portals and CLUG is not trying to be one of them.
Plus with the amount of news that we as a group has, it would also not
warrant a BB for this either.

My $1.50 :-)

Jesse

On Fri, 2002-12-06 at 16:19, Andrew Barnes wrote:
> Once again - exactly what makes a forum so unwieldly?  It takes the same
> effort merely directed in a different manner.  More to the point would be
> that you are afraid of change.  The only way a forum ends up not being
> visited is if those who began it don't continue to support it and foster the
> community - the onus is on us.
>
> I didn't misunderstand you, because the statement was not yours but
> Christain's. 
>
> All for the "newbies" issue, I did not say you were beholden - that your
> misunderstanding.  My point was there has been an underlying tone of wanting
> separation from newcomers - even in the meeting on this past Wednesday, the
> statement was made about "not dealing with newbies".  I would then not be
> the one "making it difficult" for others to partake - rather, *I'm* the one
> who is offering suggestions for how to become more inviting.
>
> As for this "healthy mix" not working on a forum, then I guess you aren't
> aware of forums like [H]ardOCP.com, Anandtech.com, MaximumPC, ExtremePC just
> to name a few.  A mailing list and a forum are the same thing, only
> approached differently and vary  only slightly on issues - the people make
> the difference, not the medium.