[kwlug-disc] Posting without subscribing to the KWLUG-Help list

[Insurance Squared Inc.]

I think we're running the risk of opening a can of worms on paul again, 
which he's already noted is something he's trying to avoid :).

However, I would approach this as follows:
1) We want to create a resource outside the current mail list?  If not, 
we're done.  If so then:
2) what do we use to encourage the success of that newb/help facility? 
Possibilities:
  2a) mailman list
  2b) forum
  2c) something like the ask an expert blog that I use (and as I noted, 
I'd be happy to provide the setup instructions and even the entire 
domain to the lug)
  2d) something else.


And somewhere in there we need to appreciate that we've got an entire 
community acting as a committee on this, driving one or two poor 
unfortunates trying to get something done and keep everyone happy.  So 
I'll also say that I don't have strong feelings either way as to what 
gets done - though I did want to offer my opinion about the probable 
success of a mailman list.



On 02/06/10 02:09 PM, unsolicited wrote:
> Paul Nijjar wrote, On 06/02/2010 9:59 AM:
>> As for the other issues: this is a long discussion we have had several
>> times. If we use a web forum then our experts won't check it. If we
>> use a mailing list newbies won't join. If we try integration then
>> everything blows up. 
>
> A web forum means experts won't check in? If I subscribe to a forum I 
> (optionally) get forum posts via e-mail. Depending upon the forum 
> software, that can be the entire message, or just that someone has 
> posted. (Or perhaps that's a profile setting.)
>
> Wouldn't the experts just subscribe to the forum and receive and reply 
> via e-mail, as always? (Guess it depends upon the sw.)
>
> I've seen webforums (forget where) where people can sign up, and post, 
> immediately, but the moderator has to approve them before the posts 
> are actually visible. i.e. In actuality, probably as long as it takes 
> until the moderator next checks in - and they probably get an e-mail 
> notification of an admin action required, when the new member signs 
> up. So, anonymity issues go away, and some, less awkward, moderation 
> functionality is present.
>
>
> A serious and significant advantage of a webforum over an e-mail list 
> is the very newbie friendly ease of 'archive' viewing. The same 
> question would repeat less if they can use the forum via web and 
> search it.
>
>
> Presumably part of any kwlug-help response will be an encouragement to 
> join the web forum support of the particular distro they are using. 
> The advantage of kwlug-help is presumably geographical proximity, and 
> the ability to voice interact at a kwlug meeting. Is it not reasonable 
> that anyone wanting to join kwlug-help be able to join their distro's 
> forum? Albeit, perhaps with a little kwlug-help help?
>
>
> The forum experience I'd be looking for (assuming acceptable e-mail 
> integration), is similar to that at OpenWRT (punBB) or ubuntu 
> (vbulletin). phpBB?
>
> I cannot recommend, from experience, BigTent 'forums'. It is quite 
> awkward compared to other forum software. It is VERY e-mail friendly, 
> hard to tell from a mailman list actually, but rather strange on the 
> web. It looks more like an e-mail list, on the web, than any other 
> forum I've ever used. Used via e-mail, especially if people hit reply 
> and remember to remove the body of what they're replying to, it works 
> very nicely. Used that way, the web forum flows nicely. If the replies 
> are left in, the web gets very, very long, with lots of redundant 
> text. BigTent feels more like facebook, actually, than a traditional 
> forum. But I can't recommend BigTent forums, if a more traditional 
> forum experience is at all possible. (But it can be tried, if people 
> would like to.)
>
>
> A forum module under drupal / kwlug.org isn't viable?
>
> http://drupal.org/project/modules?text=forum
>
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-- 
Glenn Cooke
Insurance Squared Inc.
(866) 779-1499
www.insurancesquared.com

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