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