At Mon, 14 Jun 2004 15:51:33 +0100, Daniel James wrote: > > I can't really use web forums - I already find difficult enough to > > handle e-mail! > > I do know what you mean, but it seems to me that the mainstream > computer musician with a Mac or PC tends to use web forums as well > as, or instead of, mailing lists. > > Maybe this is because most of these people only started using the > internet after the browser was invented, who knows? Maybe it's because mailing lists are anachronistic, relatively high-commitment, and generally sucky? Yeah, I don't like 'em, and I'm signed up for 4. The forum is much nicer IMHO because you can just pop in, see whats up, possibly say something, and leave without any hassle. Mailing lists require that you fill out a form, then setup folders and filters, and upgrade your account to compensate for all the bandwidth your using. Lists are also inferior for searching and categorizing since the integrity of a thread can be comprimised by one response from a maladjusted client. Another nice thing about forums is that you can sub-categorize them. If the linux-audio scene were forumized, there would be one message board with a sub-forum for developers and a sub-forum for users. This way you could interact in both communities without having to sign-up for two mailing lists. But the biggest thing, in my opinion, is the level of commitment. Mailing-list archives flat out suck, so the only real way to see what's up is to join. It's an "are you in or out?" sorta proposition, and it makes you feel like you gotta totally immerse yourself before you're even allowed to see wtf is going on. My vituperative $0.02 -Pete
