[Wikipedia-l] I like BBS:es

Tue May 6 23:59:49 UTC 2003

Why I prefer BBS:es:

1. Discussion is closer to content because both are webbased.

2. Threads can be followed more easily. There is no way that a 
mailprogam can figure out in which thread this reply belongs to for 
example because I use digest mode.

3. I can edit my post after it has been written, if that feature is 
desireable. This also means that post publishing moderation will be 
easier which is preferable to prepublishing that a mailinglist requires.

4. How does this look?:

 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hello
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I 
really
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>wonder
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>if this
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>is
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>readable
 >>>>>>>>>>>because different mailprograms use different styles for 
quotation
bla<hej>weird eh?>

5. From time to time there comes someone who replies to the whole digest 
without deleting anything.

6. I dont have to read "Do you have Yahoo?" 2,000,000 times.

7. Many users use the Internet at work or school where they dont have 
access to mail only to the web.

8. Using webmail like Hotmail is not fun to read mailinglists on. Your 
mailbox fills up with spam instantly and the interfaces are usually very 
cumbersome.

9. Because I can write down all the e-mailadresses i get from the list 
and spam you with penis-enlargements. Bush could easily track all Afgan 
terrorists on this list down if he wanted to - would be much harder on a 
BBS.

10. I have to wait a day for new letters to arrive because I use digest 
mode and if I dont my mailbox will get clogged. BBS:es enables immidiate 
response.

11. When many topics is discussed simultaneously it becomes very hard to 
follow the threads on a list. Not so on a BBS.

12. Mentioning offsite mailarchives is out of question imho. No sane 
person should need to or want to use that.

13. No bold or italic style.

I for one would love to have some kind of messageboard instead of an 
antique mailingsystem. Both the mailinglist and the talk-pages are so 
cumbersome, there should be an EASY way to discuss!

BBS:es are not perfect either, if anyone remembers Fidonet it had an 
ultimate messageing system but it not an option. They have their flaws 
but it is the best alternative. And usually; Mailinglist = intelligent, 
low traffic BBS = dumb, high traffic and thats also something to consider.
I think its the way of the future.

Björn Lindqvist