On 07/25/2010 06:03 AM, Cat Scratch wrote:
On Sat, 2010-07-24 at 15:42 +0800, Frederic Muller - SFI wrote:
We've been considering a move to using a forum as our main discussion platform
I really don't like using web forums.
I find them much harder to follow - you need to click through lots of different web pages to follow different threads. It's hard to see what's new, and what's relevant - whereas I can catch up on a mailing list by quickly scanning through the folder where I have filtered the mail.
It also comes to me, I don't have to remember to go and check a web page.
I understand some people do prefer web forums, but I don't think you should disengage those of us who prefer mailing lists.
The situation is that today the mailing list(s) is limiting us in the way we interact with our audience. A community like us should have way over 10000 followers (not necessary team organizers), people who have been to events, people who are curious about it. Those people are not here and we need to use better ways to reach out. Modern forum software allow you to RSS feed and get all the latest posts well organized (no need to use your web browser - even though I am sure we all have one open all day long), you can subscribe to threads and receive emails notification, some even allow you to send emails to post to the forum. I believe we can find a way to accommodate everyone in order to extend our reach (which is everybody's goal, if they organize an SFD event) even if this might change our habits. I'm uncertain of the benefits of keeping both a mailing list and have a forum. The way to ask question becomes unclear and might confuse users (maybe it's just a matter of presentation only), however we might also go along that road based on the community feedback. Thank you for voicing your opinion. Fred