I participate with a number of (non-Linux / non-tech) groups that use web-bbs boards only. Most of my tech-groups I participate with are mail list based such as this. I can honestly say that the mail lists have a better "quality" of messages in general. The web-based have a rash of Anon or false ID posts, even going so far as one person posting under the guise of another person to try to stir up trouble. Often these Anons are one-time flame bait posts and you know the person will never show their face again, although the regular readers will respond for days or weeks to come. If someone is subscribed and their email tags along with their posts, they will usually give a more honest post. This is not to say people won't be rude, obnoxious, insulting or just plain troublemakers, but those people would probably act the same way in a room full of people anyway so there's just nothing you can do about them. But at least they are being honest about who they are when they behave that way and you may take any issues up with them personally. (I'm not referring to anyone here, of course <wink>).
I believe the information exchanged on this list could be very valuable to people simply from a read-only point-of-view and for that reason I think it would be good to provide the messages for browsing via the web. However, I think there should be a note at the top of that web page that says "If you would like to participate in these discussions you may subscribe to the mail list by..." This group has always welcomed new members, both new to Linux or veteran kernel hackers, and I believe they always will. I do not think anyone will visit the board, read some interesting messages, and then say "Damn, I can't post anonymously from the web...they must be a bunch of stuck-up jerks in that group!" and go away. Instead, the web may bring them, but the mail list (and eventually the meetings) will keep them. One more opinion added to the collection...Blame Ben for asking! :-) -Lawrence -----Original Message----- From: Benjamin Scott [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 12:03 AM To: Greater NH Linux Users' Group Subject: Web gateway (was: Interesting Newbie...) On Wed, 20 Feb 2002, Bruce Dawson wrote: > The web site was created so that people who are more comfortable with the > web than with mailing lists can participate in the group - an attempt to > open a channel to a wider audience for promoting Linux in New Hampshire. > Your difficulty with the web site (and the mailing list discussion) is > making me re-think this approach. I have been thinking about that too. One thing that occurred to me is that a web-based interface perhaps lacks something. Subscribing to a mailing list requires making the commitment to participate in the forum. You can post what you want -- but you also have to read the replies [1]. With a web-based forum, it is easy and common to post a message and then forget about it, or ignore the flames and wait for the next top-level thread. I think gating the mailing list to the web for reading is a definite good idea. I suspect that, for myself, I would prefer the more "traditional" method of email being required to post. But my opinions on this are still largely unformed, and I certainly don't speak for anyone but myself, let alone GNHLUG as a whole. What do others here think? Footnotes -------- [1] Yes, I am aware it is trivial to circumvent these restrictions. I am talking about good intent here, not deliberate malice. -- Ben Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> | The opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not | | necessarily represent the views or policy of any other person, entity or | | organization. All information is provided without warranty of any kind. | ***************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the text 'unsubscribe gnhlug' in the message body. ***************************************************************** ***************************************************************** To unsubscribe from this list, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the text 'unsubscribe gnhlug' in the message body. *****************************************************************
