Re: [GSAS-board] A forum

["Matt Staroscik" <matt@wrongcrowd.com>]

Here's how I see it.

I think it is clear that for announcements from the club to the maximum number of members, a mailing list is the best solution. 

The question is whether a forum will allow for better discussion, which depends on our members and the forum's features--and whether it is worth the effort to run it. 

The effort of running one is not trivial. I am a Unixy web guy too--not professionally, but many years as a hobbyist--and I understand how maintenance has to work. People who don't do that kind of thing can underestimate how much work it is. I don't consider this a barrier with the members we have to draw on, just a factor. 

The concern about the forum being with a third party is very valid. IMHO, a member or the board must have the keys and backups. It must be a perpetual resource, like the list archives. 

In the end, I do not see so much traffic on the list that I think a forum would be worth the effort. Even assuming that participation doubled... That's still a volume that the list could handle fine! And I think doubling participation is unlikely. 

I like the idea of making the club forum the next great internet destination for fishos, but with so many other boards out there--again, I think it is unlikely. If I have a question, I'm going to search Aquaria Central first, because I bet it's been discussed there already. 

However, if we tried, I'd be happy to help and share the admin duties if needed. 

Would it be beneficial to split the mailing list into a one-way Announcement list, and a more free-form Discussion list? 

- MS
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