Mailing lists

[John]

Matt Zimmerman wrote:
> On Sun, Oct 03, 2004 at 11:12:42AM +0800, John wrote:
> 
> 
>>I suggest a division along these lines. I don't think that these 
>>categorisations are perfect and there is some room for debate on whether 
>>these suggestions should be implemented, and if so, what lists are 
>>desirable. Ultimately, the final decision rests with Canonical.
>>
>>[getting started, settling in, folding and spiking, using, testing]

> My feeling about an ubuntu-beginners list is that if we divide the lists

I didn't say "beginners." I expect a lot of first-time installers won't 
be beginning users of Linux, and if Canonical wants to have someone keep 
an eye on the list, then the workload should be relatively light,


Mostly, I read everything on lists I follow, but I find that doing so on 
this list takes more time than I wish to spend. Particularly, when I 
miss a day or so,

Volunteers tend to make great gobs of stuff read just to catch up, or to 
leave the list altogether.

If anyone's paid to read this stuff, then their employer will get a 
better return if the questions can be categorised in some way.

I think that inviting people to subscribe before they download or 
install will help ensure that questions regarding installation issues 
will be directed to the appropriate list.

Similarly, ensuring that they know about the next level of (free) 
support _after_ successull installation will help ensure those questions 
go to the correct list.


However, people wanting questions dealing with more advanced topics 
shouldn't have to cope with the volume of questions on (to them) trivial 
matters.


I note with interest in people's interest in discussion forums. My 
experience with them hasn't been so attractive. I think that it is more 
likely that users will visit, register if they must, ask their questions 
  and leave. Clearly some stary longer than that, but I find I have to 
make a special effort to go to a forum whereas in contrast, mailing 
lists arrive in my inboxes and demand my attention.

If I think the demand reasonable then I accept it; otherwise I am likely 
to leave (as I did wrt some Debian lists recently).


If this list were a forum, I'd have dropped out long ago.