[Hidden-tech] Time to Use the FORUMS!

[Robert Heller]

At Tue, 27 Feb 2007 12:07:20 -0500 Michael Muller <michael at mullertech.com> wrote:

> 
>    ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee.
>    ** You too can help the group
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> 
> 
> 
> The path of least resistence.
> 
> When automobiles came "get a horse" was a catchphrase, but eventually the customers got it.
> 
> When refridgerators came thousands of people lost their jobs because the customers got it right away.
> 
> When forums came they weren't fully explained and the benefits weren't evident, so the customers vacilated, and stayed with what they knew and was easiest, because, in the end, for the more active members, the list was really 90% of what the organization was all about. The rest didn't care either way or were too busy to participate in the dialog. 

If someone were to implement a QWK interface to the forums, I'd use
them in a heartbeat, esp. if there was a *well documented* programmable
interface (not a point-and-click interface -- something I can write a
script to login and download .QWK from/upload .REP files to).  Reallly.
 I use an 'off-line' Mail/News reader using (FidoNet) QWK techology.  I
have a (slow & unreliable) dial-up interface, so a graphics &
formatting heavy forum is a total pain to deal with (way to slow).  I
also find most (well pretty much all) web-based forums interfaces
really hard to use.  *I* don't like a point-and-click editor interface,
have no need to silly markup nonsense (HTML or otherwise).  I am *very*
used to my (micro-)emacs editor -- my fingers have completely
memoryized all of the editing keystrokes. If this list 'vanished' I am
not likely to use a forum instead.  I *probably* won't read the forum
with any regularity (read: maybe once a week or once a month), unless
the forum had a 'E-Mail notification' hook.

> 
> And so it goes. And so it goes.
> 
> As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was on a similar list and though there was a related topic-based website, no one used it because it was easier to just hit reply to an email. When the list went away the website swarmed and is still busy to this day... 1400 members strong.
> 
> And so it goes. And so it goes.
> 
> Mik
> 
> 
> At 08:36 AM 2/27/2007, Andy Klapper wrote:
> 
> >What is the reason for the push to use forums?
> >
> >I appreciate the time, effort, and money that Rich spent building the
> >forums, but that is not a reason to force their use.  The customer is always
> >right.  The use of the forums has been pushed before without success.  It
> >seems like the customer has spoken.
> >
> >Is there a cost involved in the use of the lists that is pushing this desire
> >to move to the forums?  Is there a large group of people unhappy with the
> >volume of messages the discussion list produces?
> >
> >I've been on the other side of the table telling a customer "But this is
> >better!  Why don't you understand that this is better!".  Eventually you
> >learn that sometimes the customer has different priorities then you do and
> >that the customer has weighed all the benefits, but in the end, what I saw
> >as better isn't as important to the customer as it is to me and what the
> >customer has to give up that I see as insignificant is important to them.  I
> >may still think they are ignorant and don't know what they are missing, but
> >they are always right and pushing the point only makes for an unhappy
> >customer (and just gets me agitated).
> >
> >
> >
> >Andy.
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
> >[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of
> >Michael Muller
> >Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 5:36 PM
> >To: A - Z International; Hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
> >Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Time to Use the FORUMS!
> >
> >
> >   ** The author of this post was a Good Dobee.
> >   ** You too can help the group
> >   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
> >   ** If you did, we all thank you.
> >
> >
> >
> >Amy, the only way that's going to happen, really, is if this list were to go
> >away. Just like water and electricity, people will always go the path of
> >leaste resistence.  The forum software also has to have a subscribe feature
> >where all new topics/threads started generate an email to everyone who wants
> >anything from that discussion board. If we're interested then we click the
> >link in the email, log in and subscribe to the rest of the thread. Otherwise
> >the site goes out of mind and people forget. No one is going to go to the
> >site every day. Hell, I don't even go to MY site every day. The technology
> >has to help us along or it'll diminish the buy-in and traffic. That's why
> >email works as well as it does. But then again it's whole hog or nothing, so
> >there's the rub.
> >
> >Mik
> >
> >
> >>Hi all,
> >>
> >>While away in the Bahamas in heavenly Eleuthera at The Rainbow Inn (amazing
> >place, by the by), I got thinking how little people use Hidden-Tech's best
> >HIDDEN resource -- The FORUMS on the web site. Rich Roth spent a lot of
> >time, energy and personal income to build those tools for us and they lie
> >wasted because it's easier to use the discussion list.
> >>
> >
> >--------
> >Michael Muller
> >Muller Technologies
> >24 3rd Street
> >Turners Falls, MA 01376
> >work:  (413) 863-0030
> >cell:   (413) 320-5336
> >skype: michaelBmuller
> >http://support.MullerTech.com
> >
> >Eschew Obfuscation
> >
> >
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> >
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> 
> --------
> Michael Muller
> Muller Technologies
> 24 3rd Street
> Turners Falls, MA 01376
> work:  (413) 863-0030
> cell:   (413) 320-5336
> skype: michaelBmuller
> http://support.MullerTech.com
> 
> Eschew Obfuscation
> 
> 
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> 
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>                                           

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