[mapserver-users] slightly offtopic -- mapserver forums

[Eric Hillmuth]

A few of the mailing lists I follow have moved onto Yahoo Groups. One 
can access the discussions from either the web or email and upload 
files, images etc. The downside of such a setup of course is that folks 
are dependent on an internet startup as our only means of community / 
tech support for a particular piece of software.

-- 
Eric Hillmuth
Principal
Digital Meridian
http://www.digitalmeridian.net
Phone: 303-809-8972
Fax: 303-443-9427



Hockaday, John wrote:

>I agree with Daniel.  I wouldn't look at the web pages but I do look at
>emails.
>
>Please keep the email list.
>
>John
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From:	Daniel Morissette [SMTP:morissette at dmsolutions.ca]
>>Sent:	Tuesday, December 18, 2001 9:13 AM
>>To:	Puneet Kishor
>>Cc:	mapserver-users at lists.gis.umn.edu
>>Subject:	Re: [mapserver-users] slightly offtopic -- mapserver forums
>>
>>Puneet Kishor wrote:
>>
>>>Hmmmm... I knew there would be detractors, but I didn't expect the voice
>>>
>>of
>>
>>>dissent so soon. :-)
>>>
>>I was waiting quietly in the hope that there would be more supporters of
>>the web option to consider their arguments... but since you ask... ;)
>>
>>... I vote for keeping an Email-based list (just like I did last time
>>this question came up)... I *never* have time to browse the web for
>>interesting threads to read... so if it doesn't fall in my Inbox then
>>I'll never know that an issue came up.
>>
>>This being said, if you want to mirror the list on the web somewhere
>>with a better archive then I'm with you on that, but the basic concept
>>has to remain IMHO: there has to be a 100% Email service for those who
>>prefer that.
>>
>>
>>>>To address a couple of your wishes: you can search the
>>>>archives for this
>>>>list at http://mapserver.gis.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wilma/mapserver-users and
>>>>you'll find the archives there as well. You can browse by date or by
>>>>thread, in one-month chunks.
>>>>
>>>I know. I've done that. And it sucks.
>>>
>>I agree with the need for a better archive and search engine.  But that
>>can be done without changing the current Email-based system and could
>>address most of the needs that you expressed.  You could even host this
>>secondary archive yourself without even telling UMN if you wanted.
>>
>>
>>>That said, how do I do the following with the current setup --
>>>
>>>1. Get emails only on a particular thread (most impt) ?
>>>
>>But how do you learn about that thread in the first place?  Most threads
>>on the MapServer list are 2 or 3 messages long at max, so by the time
>>you subscribe then it's over.
>>
>>>2. If I am following the thread by searching the archives (as suggested
>>>above), then how do I post to the thread -- I can't post unless I am
>>>subscribed, and as soon as I subscribe I am back to problem #1 above.
>>>
>>The requirement to subscribe in order to be allowed to post was added in
>>order to limit SPAM AFAIK.  If you switch to a system where you can post
>>by Email in a specific thread (you suggested that in your reply to
>>Allan) then you're back with the SPAM problem.  More limited maybe, but
>>the potential for SPAM comes back.
>>
>>>3. How do I access my emails when I am away from my computer (I am
>>>
>>assuming
>>
>>>not everyone has IMAP)?
>>>
>>You can always browse the web archives...
>>
>>>4. And (2nd most impt. after #1 above) how do I send an attachment for a
>>>
>>few
>>
>>>folks to view without having it broadcast to all 4 million (last count)
>>>Mapserver users :-)?
>>>
>>How about sending a personal Email to those individuals with just the
>>attachment in parallel to the list message? 
>>
>>>I understand not everyone is gonna like the web way of doing forums. I
>>>
>>do
>>
>>>think it has some major advantages over the old listserv way.
>>>
>>I guess I'm old then... and probably getting stubborn too!  ;)
>>
>>-- 
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>> Daniel Morissette               morissette at dmsolutions.ca
>> DM Solutions Group              http://www.dmsolutions.ca/
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>  Don't put for tomorrow what you can do today, because if 
>>      you enjoy it today you can do it again tomorrow.
>>
>