In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Anthony
Pottrell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
>Hi Julian,
>
>Are you still planning on going over to Topica? I didn't realise you were
>planning ahead with it and I think I've jumped the gun... :{
>
Hi!
Thank you for your kind offer to have moderator privileges.
The issue is that this list does things by consent. I have set up the
Topica list and deliberately not invited subscriptions because there had
not been an opportunity for the members to decide what they want to do.
I grabbed the [EMAIL PROTECTED] account simply to ensure it was
available if necessary. I was not planning on inviting subscriptions
until everything was properly agreed so that we could agree a date when
we would transfer over. We have until June before the current server
will close the GML so there was no hurry.
Unfortunately things have moved much faster than I was anticipating so I
have arranged for Topica, which has full 24/7 browser access to posts,
archives etc to send an invitation to all GML subscribers. All anyone
has to do is reply to it to be automatically subscribed.
Like you I have a Blueyonder account. We can all run listservers if we
want to. But I have serious problems with a server on a private server.
The list needs to be in public ownership. For example, some time ago
there was a person who had a very successful gerbil bulletin board and
other services on a large and popular website. When he disappeared and
his site closed without warning there were problems because the users
had no way of contacting one another except through the GML. If the same
happened to the GML it would be disastrous. Topica have proved to have
very good customer service. I know Michelle says she has lost some
Topica posts, but I have never experienced that.
Unless a mailing list is on a computer that runs 24 hours a day, has
backup of systems and power to ensure availability in emergencies, it
will not be as good as Topica or Yahoo.
I am of course happy to go to Yahoo, but I find there screens noisy and
difficult to use and their advertising in e-mails can be annoying.
I am also worried that the Blueyonder mail system is not always very
reliable. I no longer use it and have all my mail collected by POP3 from
outside Blueyonder's mail system. I would be unhappy with the GML being
dependant on this mail system, especially as the company that runs it
(Telewest) is losing money fast and is looking to be bought out by NTL
whose system is even worse.
Although I am inviting people to subscribe to Topica I do not want them
to stop posting here. I am merely giving people the chance to try it
out. I do not want discussion of the future of this list to stop
either. I just want to make sure there are options and that we do not
leap to a decision. Remember , we have months to resolve this.
--
Julian
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
National Gerbil Society
http://www.gerbils.co.uk/
