[WEB4LIB] Re: Web-based message boards vs. email discussion groups

[Roy Tennant]

You've come up with a pretty good list of the differences between 
email-based discussions (LISTSERV is a registered trademark, you 
should at least say "listserver") and bulletin boards, but for my 
money you missed the only one that really matters to me. Well, maybe 
not missed it entirely, since you say under "pros" for email-based 
discussions "Most people check their email on a regular basis." To 
put this another way, I like email-based discussions because I always 
check my email, and therefore cannot ignore discussion messages. 
However, going to a particular web site repeatedly over the course of 
a day is not as natural to me, and therefore I would tend to fall 
behind in the discussion and perhaps "drop it" altogether. Therefore, 
for me, under "cons" for message boards would be something like 
"Requires the user to remember to check it on a periodic basis." It's 
like if something is put into my personal mail slot, I really can't 
ignore it, but if you expect me to get up out of my chair and walk 
over to a bulletin board on a regular basis, even just a few doors 
away, forget it. This is my personal opinion, others prefer to have 
the arrangement be just the opposite. Thanks,
Roy

At 6:15 AM -0800 3/2/01, Jerry Kuntz wrote:
>..received private responses from a couple of people about message 
>boards vs. listservs, and then checked the Web4Lib archives. 
>Although web-based message boards have been mentioned a few times 
>(under terms like "web-based discussions", "threaded discussions", 
>"web conferencing" "web-based bulletin boards"), I don't see where a 
>discussion of the merits of these have been compared against 
>listservs ever happened on Web4Lib.
>    Maybe it's just been obvious, and I've had my head in the sand. 
>At any rate,
>Listserv pros:
>--Users have only a single place to check for messages in all the 
>discussions they want to follow, i.e. their inbox
>--Most people check their email on a regular basis
>--Messages can easily be cross-posted from one list to another
>--There's more free-flow between threads and evolvement of new 
>threads from old threads, since most people read all new messages
>Listserv cons:
>--Users must have access to an email account and client
>--Messages can be missed if mailbox account host goes down
>--Prescence of and access to archives is separate from discussion
>--Volume of total list activity can overwhelm some users
>Message board pros:
>--No need for email account or email client (nice point for public 
>access workstations)
>--Past messages accessible and searchable
>--Threads can be selectively chosen and followed or ignored; no need 
>to delete messages on subjects not of interest
>--No missed messages
>--Client machine independent
>--No attachement viruses
>--No vacation messages from other subscribers
>--No "how do I unsubscribe" messages
>--Easy for adminstrator to start new message board--easy to see that 
>extensive threads might merit their own board
>Message board cons:
>--Not as intuitive to many users as email is
>--Poor cross-pollination between threads
>--No cross-posting to other discussions
>
>..so depending on the scope of the discussion, message boards may 
>work better than listservs, and vice versa. Web4Lib, for example, 
>brings up so many new topics that I really need to see every message 
>to get a feel as for what is going on.
>
>
>---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
>From: "Jerry Kuntz" <jkuntz at ansernet.rcls.org>
>Reply-To: <jkuntz at ansernet.rcls.org>
>Date: Wed, 28 Feb 2001 18:22:22 -0500
>
>>Still smarting from the imminent loss of a non-library related, 
>>web-based message board from a free hosting service (InsideTheWeb), 
>>I've been playing around this week with some open source/free web 
>>based message board software. The ones I've actually installed and 
>>looked at are YaBB and Discus. I haven't installed but have looked 
>>at the PHP-based Phorum package.
>>YaBB, with its subscriber avatars, icons, IRC and Instant Messaging 
>>links, looked too trendy for my taste. Discus, however, I'm very 
>>impressed with.
>  >So the question is this: a large, disperse organization like the 
>Ramapo Catskill Library System has need for dozens of dicussion 
>groups for our various internal staff populations, committees, user 
>groups, etc. What are the arguments for and against using web-based 
>message board software as opposed to email based listservs? (We're 
>already past the one machine/email client issue, since we're using a 
>web-based email package, Imail).
>>Links:
>>http://www.yabb.org/
>>http://www.discusware.com
>>http://www.phorum.org/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>--
>>Jerry Kuntz
>>Electronic Resources Consultant
>>Ramapo Catskill Library System
>>jkuntz at rcls.org
>>Author, KidsClick! Web Searching Skills Guide, 
>>http://www.neal-schuman.com/db/3/173.html
>>--
>>
>
>--
>Jerry Kuntz
>Electronic Resources Consultant
>Ramapo Catskill Library System
>jkuntz at rcls.org
>Author, KidsClick! Web Searching Skills Guide, 
>http://www.neal-schuman.com/db/3/173.html
>--