Thanks for the input so far. I don't think I would want the mailing list to stop or be replaced. I see your points, and like you all have said, if I feel like there should be one to do it. I do agree with the points, and I guess it is pro's and con's on everything. I will see what features I can easily do with forums, which I can not. I am not the well up on things like the torrents, but I am sure I can find out information easily. As for the forums > wiki, I hate the K12 Wiki, phpwiki just looks so blah...I think that is my problem with most things...I hate massive lists, I am very hierarchy and tree oriented. Plus, I like step by step instructions and details, things a Wiki can be great for, but Wiki articles should be clean, clear, and refined. I feel a forum can do that part, were a mailing list goes on and on. Again, thanks, and I will see how I feel and how others way in at. Hopefully if I do get a forum up I can put aside enough time to contribute good topics and set it up with some useful initial information. Hopefully I can help make the community stronger, as I am just starting out with K12LTSP I will likely be making many mistakes and discoveries on my own, so I hope I leech knowledge and give something back. Be it forums, or if I decide not to that, perhaps we can get the Wiki together better. <div>On 11/13/06, Petre Scheie <<a href="mailto:petre@maltzen.net">petre@maltzen.net</a>> wrote:<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"> Yes, I wish the k12ltsp wiki had a *prominent* link right on the first page of <a href="http://k12ltsp.org">k12ltsp.org</a>. OTOH, Ubuntu has Canonical driving it; k12ltsp just has...us. ;-) Petre David Trask wrote: > I agree...a wiki is a better idea, but it must be added to. The problem > with a forum is that someone with the answer actually has to go there and > post an answer to a question. The mailing list....while a bit unorganized > will get much quicker results. A more active wiki....like the Ubuntu > wiki will give us a place to put more permanent help. Just my $.02 > > <a href="mailto:Darryl_Palmer_Jr@acm.org">Darryl_Palmer_Jr@acm.org </a> writes: >> On 11/13/06, Shane Sammons <[ mailto:<a href="mailto:shane.sammons@gmail.com">shane.sammons@gmail.com</a> >> ]shane.sammons@<a href="http://gmail.com">gmail.com</a>> wrote: >> >> >> Hi Everyone, >> >> I had a little side questions about a forum in a previous question. >> However, I wanted to be a member here for at least a week to see the flow >> and organization of stuff here. >> >> Now I have decided it is time to ask your thoughts and opinions on >> forums. Not to replace the mailing list, but to offer a more interactive, >> community driven, better organized, and active resource to add to the >> items K12LTSP and such might have. I think a lot of good can come from >> it, but only if many people agree and willing to use it. >> >> >> My vote is NO. >> >> Let me quickly go through your list of Pros: >> >> >> >> >> *We can organize, categorize, and sub-forums things >> Think of things broken down like Client Setup -> Brand -> Model with >> topic for each system, how much cleaner could it be? >> >> >> We should capture information and put it on a Wiki. A set of >> messages/problems do not necessarily fit one category, or is not posed in >> such a way to fit an existing category, but can be post-edited to follow >> some hierarchy. If someone is having severe issues and can't categorize >> it as being their client, their server, or their switch, then most issues >> will originally end up in a catch all group anyway, or worse the wrong >> group. >> >> >> >> *Its able to be searched, no need to use Google, though we all love it, >> you need not take an extra step >> >> K12OSN can be searched also from the mailing list webpage I thought? If >> not, then is using Google really that hard? Some people may not realize >> there is a mailing list and by using Google they can find it, it will be >> much harder if Google can't spider our forum boards as easily. >> >> >> >> >> *We can rank members, give awards (special ranks), and if modded even >> more potentially >> >> I don't see a need for this. Most people on the list are naturally >> helpful and don't have to be tossed trinkets such as a rank or award to >> help others out. >> >> >> >> *We can moderators to help manage posts and topics, editing, and more is >> available. >> >> I for one am bogged down as it is with all the Linux and educational FOSS >> mailing lists I am on and I don't know if there are too many people that >> will raise their hands to do more work. I also believe in the free and >> open flow of information, without moderators. >> >> >> >> *It is database driven, which we can export and move elsewhere is the >> time comes >> >> >> *It is convertible, most major forums convert between each other without >> topics loss >> >> These really don't count. You assume we want a forum to begin with so >> not losing the information and converting the forum data to another forum >> system is a good thing. >> >> >> >> *Member groups allows easy identification of developers, contributors, >> company reps, etc. and can be optional >> >> Just have people add it to their signatures, but please no more then 6 >> lines or 200 characters. >> >> >> >> >> *You can still "subscribe" to topics and forums to still get email >> updates of events. >> >> This could be useful. >> >> >> >> *We can make guides and topic solutions that can be submitted to the Wiki >> >> Nothing stopping us from doing it now. >> >> >> >> *Because of categories the community can have "other" topics to help >> branch out beyond the scope mailing list >> >> There are already other mailing lists and associations out there. To >> think that we can take something that is very technical and branch out >> and get more members might be harder then you think. Hosting for other >> groups or creating an umbrella association may be better, but then we >> already have SchoolForge. >> >> Darryl >> _______________________________________________ >> K12OSN mailing list >> <a href="mailto:K12OSN@redhat.com">K12OSN@redhat.com </a> >> <a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn</a> >> For more info see <<a href="http://www.k12os.org">http://www.k12os.org</a>> > > > > David N. Trask > Technology Teacher/Director > Vassalboro Community School > <a href="mailto:dtrask@vcsvikings.org">dtrask@vcsvikings.org</a> > (207)923-3100 > > > _______________________________________________ > K12OSN mailing list > <a href="mailto:K12OSN@redhat.com">K12OSN@redhat.com</a> > <a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn </a> > For more info see <<a href="http://www.k12os.org">http://www.k12os.org</a>> > _______________________________________________ K12OSN mailing list <a href="mailto:K12OSN@redhat.com">K12OSN@redhat.com </a> <a href="https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn">https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/k12osn</a> For more info see <<a href="http://www.k12os.org">http://www.k12os.org</a>> </blockquote></div>