[mb-users] A ML... and a forum!?

[Kerensky97]

Steve Wyles wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 6 Dec 2006, Frederic Da Vitoria wrote:
> 
>> Exactly. obviously forums offer a better organization of the posts,
> 
> Not really. The forums dictate the threading and layout. Depending on the 
> mail client and filtering configured, there can be far more flexibility 
> with a mailing list. Mailing lists are also more suited to mobile devices 
> and low/expensive bandwidth situations.
> 
> Steve
> 

That's actually one of the reasons I think the forum format is better for
MB-style is to keep things on subject.  There is a definate bennefit to side
discussions, but in the process of discussing style decisions the majority
of potential style issues have died simply because these side discussions
overwhelemed and suffocated the main point.  Alot of potential RFCs are
neglected because even though everybody agrees the idea is good the argument
on the wording to be used in the wiki smothered the idea and people lost
interest.

A perfect example of how convoluted the mailing list can get is this thread
itself, looking at it in nabble it's already beginning to look nightmarish
with side discussions that begin to repeat what is discussed in other side
discussions.
http://www.nabble.com/A-ML...-and-a-forum%21--tf2756172s2885.html
The multiple side threads are making for an overly complex discussion and
side issues are making duplicate posts happening inside one thread.  At
least in a forum format you don't have to repeat yourself in a side
discussion because it's all linear.  If you do feel the need to discuss
something that was passed up there is the option to quote previous posts, if
it really demands a seperate discussion a new thread dedicated to it can be
made to keep issues from getting mixed up.  That way one problem can be
solved in one thread and another problem in another thread without one
smothering the other.

Depending on the setup a mailing list can offer alot of flexibility, but
that flexibility creates complexity and that's currently the key problem
with involved style discussisons; we end up debating side issues that are
small potatoes to the main issue and everything stops.  And if a new user
doesn't have the proper setup to organize the mailing list the complexity is
compounded to the point that people are missing out on discussions or
rehashing something that has been discussed ad nauseum.

A simple analogy would be getting from point A to point B.
The forum is a tunnel from point A to point B; it's more restrictive and
going backwards can be a pain but each step is a step towards the otherside.
The Mailing List is an open forest between the two points; you're free to
take any path you want but you may get lost, end up at the wrong
destination, or get so tired of walking in circles you give up.
People are getting lost in the forest; questions unanswered, issues
unresolved, and style changes distracted and forgotten.  I think keeping
people on subject at hand would be a big help to something as involved as
MB-style.

At the very least it would be nice to have the ability to use a web search,
or go back and make edits to clarify a previous post.  And if luks can get
Polls in the forums so we can vote on style issues I think it would be a
no-brainer.

-Kerensky97
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