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

[Darryl Friesen]

> "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."

With some additional software and a little admin time, mailing lists can
deal with viruses/attachments, and provide (up to the minute) web accessible
and web searchable archives, negating many of the Pros attributed to message
boards.

The biggest advantage of mailing lists, as Roy pointed out, is the ability
to stay current (because it's so "in your face").  I start my mail client
first thing in the morning, and shut it down before I leave at the end of
the day.  It's always running, and notifies me when new messages arrive.
It's part of my life; ya, I know that sounds sad, but the rest of you are no
different :)   If it's something interesting, or something I think needs
commenting on, I'll deal with it right away, or within a short period of
time [occasionally "real" work needs to get done :) ]


- Darryl

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  Darryl Friesen, B.Sc., Programmer/Analyst    Darryl.Friesen at usask.ca
  Education & Research Technology Services,     http://gollum.usask.ca/
  Department of Computing Services,
  University of Saskatchewan
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  "Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes"