Re: I know you're tired of hearing this, but ... re FAQs

WazoO wrote:
> In the case of the SpamCop forum,
> I'm doing what I can to take advantage of doing something
> to make it a viable resource for those that use it.

Yet another function of the forum - don't you really need another ;-)
could be to direct or encourage people to use the newsgroups.

The forum's structure lends itself to such as stickies to make the faq
more dynamic or timely;  but it shouldn't be a replacement for a
properly navigable frequently updated website faq.

The forum is also somehow appealing as a dialog place both to those
people who don't know how to use a newsreader, and also to some others
for some strange reasons which probably have to do with their personal
ideas about moderation of a forum as opposed to an unwillingness to
moderate a newsgroup, or maybe because of some kind of little html
features.

But I also think the forum could be a stepping stone to the more
efficient dynamics of a 'real' newsgroup interaction -- much as is seen
in the evolving googlegroupers.  They 'discover' news in googlegroups.
Then they learn that they can interact more 'smoothly' with a newsreader
than browser working googlegroups.  Similarly those who discover
24hoursupport.helpdesk in the iamnotageek forum gravitate to the nntp
newsgroup.

So, one can still use googlegroups for certain functions, like searching
and linking to a past discussion, but for 'everyday' communication, one
uses their nntp newsreader, not a browser.


-- 
Mike Easter
kibitzer, not SC admin