Re-proposal: web forums

[Molle Bestefich]

Scott Ritchie wrote:
> This makes perfect sense to me: I _hate_ mailing lists, especially the
> kind that I have to subscribe to in order to post - it's far easier to
> run a search on a web forum (rather than googling the list archives),

Can you explain what's so different between Google and a forum search?

> and if my issue isn't resolved I can create an account and not have to
> worry about receiving emails or unsubscribing.

Agreed, the mailman subscribe function/pages are NOT nice.

For a mailing list, the problem you describe could be solved by:
 * changing the word "subscribe" to "register",
 * turning off delivery of list emails per default,
 * providing a web form for posting to the mailing list.

That would make the mailing list act just like a forum in this respect.

> Integration with AppDB would be great, but it's hardly as essential as
> getting a forum up in the first place.  Seriously, the worst thing that
> can happen is it doesn't get used much...

I disagree, I think the worst thing that can happen is that we get a
forum up, and it's a half-ass solution because fx. communication between
list members and forum members aren't happening, but it's not bad enough
that anyone does anything about it.

I'd like it if we could make a solution that didn't divide users between
a mailing list and a forum.

(Others might not see that as a problem.  Please do argument why!)