listserv vs forums

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Sarah Winchester

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
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186
Loc
Michigan
I've used forums, like this one for years, and generally like them. Some are better than others. But now a friend is trying to tell me I should join a listserve (for a different business). At first glance listserv seems rather cumbersome. Do any of you have much expeience with listserv's and how do you like them??
 
If the forum has value and happens to use listserv technology then use it. For example the PPFA forum uses listserv.
 
All the forums I've used have been similiar to 'The Grumble". There are some I've seen that list the posts, just by title, in a rather cumbersome listing....Is that what listserv is?
 
Sarah here is a listserv definition:

Mailing list program for communicating with other people who have subscribed to the same list. Using e-mail, you can participate in listservs pertaining to your topics of interest. When you submit a message to the server, your message is relayed to all those on the listserv. You receive messages from other participants via e-mail. It is similar to computer conferencing, but a listserv is asynchronous.
 
As Andrew says, the PPFA "Online Exchange" aka Hitchhikers is a listserv.

The only problem I see with it is it fills up your inbox even when you aren't interested in the topic. Then, you delete the messages and oops, you discover that it went off topic and you really DID want to read them. Well, you can go to the archives, or forget it. I usually forget it.

I think they're cumbersome.
 
Cliff

To overcome the problem of clutter just set up a sub-directory and a rule in Outlook such that all inbound mail from PPFA goes directly to the sub-directory. Easy to do ... just check the Help function in Outlook if you don't know how.
 
You can also subscribe in "digest" form. You get all the messages for the day on one page.
 
David, the problem with digest is timeliness. You become fundamentally an observer. OK, if that's what you want.

Andrew, I use a web based mail client (at&t worldnet), so nothing gets downloaded to my machine unless I want it to, also, all my folders and mail are at whatever computer I am at. I believe, I could still set up a routing pattern, but all that does is move the clutter.
 
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