Re: [AGA-mcm] AGA and internet forums

[Larry Lampert <l_lampert@yahoo.com>]

EO Wrote: 

"My perennial question is, what would make an AGA
Internet Forum better 
than the other ones out there?  Clearly we already
have a mailing list 
that people can ask questions of this nature, and it
is very lightly 
used. "

Well in the beginning it won't be "better" than APC or
Planted Tank or Algae Alley (Obvious made up name of
what my current tank forum would be called ;-)), but
give it time, C02 and light and a little fert it will
grow. 

It goes without saying for me that TAG is and will
still continue to be the single greatest reason to
join the AGA period. There are other free forums as we
have noted so why join just for a forum. Others may
not agree but a forum simply can't compete with TAG,
its apples and oranges.

Our mailing list for whatever reason never really grew
past a certain stage, why I don't know but I think the
fact that we did not want to "compete" with the APD
may have had something to do with it.

The forums have a life cycle as just as List Serves do
as Scott mentioned. Our forum has the potential to be
bigger and have more staying power than any of the
others. If done right it will complement our other
offerings. 


Look there will always be the "you can't satisfy
crowd" so what? We aren't trying to satisfy the
unsatiable. We just want to have an electronic means
of providing a community for our group. If done right,
and I know this crew will allow nothing less, it will
become an invaluable resource. 

"Why would the AGA's forum be any better than APC for
getting answers? 
There is a far bigger pool of experienced hobbyists
over there willing to answer questions.  That's my
concern."

Why will it be better? Because we are the AGA that is
why. The other forums are established ours is not but
give it time. With the right people running it, this
will fly. The experienced hobbyists will come. 


"But maybe I'm completely wrong here, and by making it
available, "they 
will come".  And I'm willing to try.  From a technical
standpoint, just 
like the whole whoop-de-do photo gallery (that Jay was
advertising 
would 
fix the AGA's online presence), I could have BB
software running here 
in a 
day if we are OK with the legal issues.  I'm so tired
of having this 
discussion and speculation every 9 months that I'm
ready to just do it 
so 
we can prove once and for all whether it "would help"
or not.  One 
volunteer to be the head op, and I'll do it. 
Seriously."


If we build it yes the will come, but only if we do it
right. I don't want to do a forum just to do one
either. I will volunteer to be a moderator and help
out as much as I can since I have been harping on this
for so long, but I don't have the skills to be the
lead person on this. In fact, what are the skills we
need?

As much as I hate to say it the APD is nearing the end
of its life cycle whether it dies or not it likely
will not ever play the significant role it did in the
late nineties when I first started reading it.

With all of these new forums the hobby is splintering
somewhat. Maybe its not a bad thing I don't know but I
do know that our forum has the unique ability to serve
as a hub for the aquatic plant hobby. That is what in
the end will make it better.
Regards,
Larry

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