Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Coho Tech Convener

[Tom Smyth, Gather (info]

Thanks for all the info! Groups.io seems to have an API so could integrate
nicely with Gather. Currently I'm working on integrating with Mailman
(standard email list) as a lowest common denominator (and because that's
what we use currently at the Ann Arbor cohos). Integrations with more
advanced services will follow.

On Sat, Jun 22, 2019 at 12:59 PM Sharon Villines <sharon [at] 
sharonvillines.com>
wrote:

> > On Jun 22, 2019, at 8:14 AM, Tom Smyth, Gather <info [at] gather.coop> 
> > wrote:
> >
> > Discourse is a modern forum option that is really good at integrating
> with email so that you don't really have to 'go there' for basic
> interactions, but you can choose to 'go there' for extra functionality. I'm
> curious how it compares to Groups.io. I think it is much more popular and
> is also open source.
>
> I think the forum people and email people may never come together.
>
> I like email because it is spontaneous and immediate and it comes to my
> mailbox. It reminds me it exists. I can read as they come in or send them
> to a folder and read later. I can save individual messages where I can
> search for them later. I can forward them. I can reply privately to the
> sender.
>
> I use forums when I’m looking for the answer to a specific problem— CSS,
> theme particulars, etc. Mostly software and computer related but I know
> there are others. The responses do come up on Google. I’ve finally learned
> what Google search can do. Easier it use Google than wander around a
> software manual or the Adobe website.But in general, I don’t like a
> discussion separated by topic. Possible cross-fertilization is not as
> possible, if at all.
>
> Groups.io combines the two to some extent but is primarily an email
> discussion. But when you read on the website you can view messages by topic
> (subject line) or by hashtags or by individual messages in chronological
> order. There is a wiki, a database,  map, etc. Primitive but there. Files.
>
> The subgroups are wonderful. Anyone on the main list can join a subgroup
> and an unlimited number of subgroups can be set up. The moderators decide
> if anyone can set up a subgroup or only the moderator. There are many
> options. The search function is very fast—nothing like Yahoo.
>
> There are lists for group moderators and for those needing support. Unlike
> Yahoo, you can always get help. His business model is to serve businesses
> so he is developing incredible capability. I’m on the Beta list and I have
> not a clue why people need those features.
>
> People can also block messages by subject or hashtag, and I think by
> poster. On our community list, I block the messages about walking dogs, for
> example. When someone with a dog is sick it can go on and on 4 times a day.
>
> One person I talked to had a travel list. There were subgroups by
> geographic location so you could  get information about the place. For
> people who want to keep in touch after a certain tour or cruise. On the
> main list they can ask for recommendations to anywhere that…
>
> A list you can join to look around is our local neighborhood list. Send an
> empty message to...
>
> takomadc+subscribe [at] groups.io
>
> Or
>
> sociocracy+subscribe [at] groups.io
>
> Sociocracy has subgroups by language but no one uses them. My cohousing
> community has subgroups for teams and working groups. Rooms, like the
> exercise room.
>
> Choosing a forum over the email list will determine who is more likely to
> join.
>
> Sharon
>
>
>
>

-- 
Tom for the Gather Team
https://info.gather.coop