On Nov 2, 2006, at 3:37 AM, Mike Schinkel wrote:
Colin Barrett>> I don't like forums because I have to go to a website
Colin Barrett>> to use them.
And I *far* prefer using a forum over a mailing list. The only
reason I'm on
this mailing list is because my interest in Microformats outweights
how much
I despise using mailing lists. Which means I'm highly interested in
Microformats because I really, really despise mailing lists.
And I don't like mailing lists because I tried to stay focused but
getting
messages is a constant interruption (yes I use an inbox rule, but
Outlook
freezes for a split second every time I get messages, so I am
constantly
aware of them. I sometimes have to take my laptop somewhere so I can
work
without all the infernal email.
Perhaps you should try a different email client, then?
I hate to say it, but it sure was nice with the list server was
down. ;)
Colin Barrett>> I'd much rather work from my email
Colin Barrett>> client, which has a nice big text box,
Colin Barrett>> unlike a forum, which often have
Colin Barrett>> ridiculously small text entry elements.
"Always have ridiculously small text entry elements" would be a
valid reason
not to use a forum, but "often have ridiculously small text entry
elements"
is not. It seems like maybe you haven't actually seen some of the
newer
forums in use over the past ~5 years? Any chance you developed this
bias
early on when forums sucked, and haven't returned to use a forum
since? (I'm
not attacking you, just frustrated with having to use this list when
forums
IMO are so much better. I also had someone who is using a forum I
administer fight me tooth and nail to stick with email, and a
year later
she is one of the highest volume users of the forum.)
The only reason I say Often, is because the version of Safari I'm
using allows you to resize text entry elements.
I'd done a lot of research into forums, and I've come to the
conclusion
there is really only one forum worth seriously considering for its
features
and 3rd party support (unless you are on Windows Server) and that is
vBulletin (http://www.vbulletin.com). It doesn't have tiny little
text
boxes and have some really incredible features. And if costs $85/
year to
rent or $160 to buy w/a year of upgrades; definitely a bargain.
I use a vBulliten based forum every day and it's torture. I really
dislike forums, but the people and issues I discuss on the forum
outweigh my dislike of forums.
What's more, it has a mailing list integration module
(http://www.vbulletin.org/forum/showthread.php?t=65152) so we could
have the
best of both worlds. The envelope pushers could have their forum,
and the
lluddites could stick with email. ;-)
Er, I know that was meant as a joke, but calling someone you're trying
to win to your side a luddite isn't the best way to do so.
Colin Barrett>> Plus, the UI in my email client is much nicer than
that of
most forums.
vBulletin can be configured to send posts to your email, so you'll
be able
to still use your email client for reading if you like.
Can I *reply* from it? I'm pretty sure the answer is no, and the
composing interface of my email client is much nicer.
Colin Barrett>> There are a host of other
Colin Barrett>> disadvantages to using a forum.
Can you detail those disadvantages for us to discuss/debate?
Sure. User names. I hate them. Theyr'e tolerable on IRC, but in an
area as permanent and public as a mailinglist/forum I'd rather have my
full name associated with my (and others) posts, especially a
technical discussion. It's a chore to keep track of remembering what
crazy nick name corresponds to which person. Mailing lists also allow
you to use an already established "identity" -- your email. On a
forum, you have to create a completely new web presence and identity.
You can link it to your other ones with signatures and profiles, etc,
but still, it's another login and another identity.
The above username/identity debacle a pretty huge one, and probably my
number one complaint.
BBcode is a secondary one. It's awful. I hate having to deal with
[quote] tags. Chevrons for quoting is so easier. Plain text email for
the win.
Colin Barrett>> Granted, mailing lists aren't perfect, but we have
one now
and it works.
A vBulletin forum can be set up in a two hours max. I'll run it if
that's
an option so it would only be my time.
It also costs money. Who's going to pay for that? vB is also not
exactly slim in the markup it generates. Who would pay for that extra
bandwidth?
Colin Barrett>> Forums also require a bit more administration
Colin Barrett>> than a mailing list, and our list administrators
Colin Barrett>> are already over-worked, it seems.
How does it take more admin? I administer a vBulletin forum right
now and
it takes almost no time at all. You don't have to worry about issues
with
POP3 and SMTP so it IMO is actually easier.
There's the layout, for one. I've admined forums (phpBB, not the
greatest, but it's free) in the past and people always seem to ask for
things when you're the admin, especially related to other users (bans
of all shapes and sizes).
_______________________________________________
microformats-discuss mailing list
[email protected]
http://microformats.org/mailman/listinfo/microformats-discuss
