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RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUBS Web Forums Proposal and Request for Idea's/Feedback.
I didn't even know we had a web forum jon! :) Last time I checked we didn't
:)
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
[mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Jon Wallace
Sent: Wednesday, 13 October 2010 2:13 AM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] PSUBS Web Forums Proposal and Request for
Idea's/Feedback.
Hi Stewart,
We already have a web based forum online at http://www.psubs.org/webforum
which is selectable off of the main menu from our home page and is
configured into various categories. It was created nearly four years ago,
but it has never been a popular method for discussion with this group which
is why I've never pushed it as a primary solution. There are pros and cons
for both web and email based discussions, however we've made both methods
available (I created the web forum over the objections of many people) and
it appears that the email forum continues to be the favored "flavor". I
have no specific preference and am comfortable with both types of forums.
Regarding having all data in one place, we have that available in our
archives which can be searched and are browsable. While accessing specific
data from the volume of material we have archived has been criticized, the
fact is that a web forum would offer no more relief. A search of the web
forum would still be required and that search would produce hundreds of
entries that would have to be reviewed by the user.
Categories are useful at a high level, but offer no advantage at a low level
when looking for specific information.
In reference to photos, while a web forum provides the opportunity to attach
a photo to the message you have to balance that against the effect on the
reader. The problem today is that people have 6, 8, and
10 megapixel cameras that result in photos having huge file sizes and they
typically do not think to reduce them in size prior to uploading.
That can create problems for the reader since reading a specific topic means
not only downloading the text but any attached photos in any of the
responses of that topic. If a topic has a lot of discussion, with a lot of
attached photos, you're looking at alot of data transfer.
In reference to members subs and project pages, I don't think the web forum
provides any advantage here. Our current web site provides an easy to use
menu based interface for updating photos and projects by members themselves.
Here again, you have to think both sides of the coin and also account for
ease of use by the reader. In a web forum there would have to be a separate
topic for each project, and each topic would have a separate message for
each photo uploaded. Since the layout becomes sequential, and the uploader
would likely provide their photos in native format, you would end up at the
beginning of topic with lots of big files to follow through. Separating the
projects from the discussion, such as we have on the web site, allows the
reader to target what they want to look at and be presented with thumbnail
photos that download much faster and allow easier navigation.
Regardless, web forums have advantages and are a popular discussion tool.
If you believe web forums are the way to go and the email discussion is not
effective, I think your efforts would be better directed at convincing
others of its virtues and getting people to contribute more to the web forum
we currently have.
Jon
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The personal submersibles mailing list complies with the US Federal
CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Your email address appears in our database
because either you, or someone you know, requested you receive messages
from our organization.
If you want to be removed from this mailing list simply click on the
link below or send a blank email message to:
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automated process and should be complete within five minutes of
our server receiving your request.
PSUBS.ORG
PO Box 53
Weare, NH 03281
603-529-1100
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