Module 2: Lists

I don't want to forget that my first impression of Email Lists was underwhelming. I chose to try it out with the class because after looking up some random groups on Yahoo and http://www.blogger.com/www.newzbot.com/ , I just really didn't want to get involved. Is that wrong? Some of the groups looked dated, some were filled with junk, others were on topics that just didn't grab me.

The group that is created for us as a student body, http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/internetstudies/ was swiftly picked up by a few of us. Really, I have no reason to visit here, other than to compare it with the webCT discussion board. So far I have exchanged a few messages with the other members of the group and will check in from time to time to see what other think of the forum. I already know however, that once I have completed the task, I may not visit back.

Email Lists VS Discussion Boards

Email List Pros

• Exposure- Good from a marketers perspective
• Asynchronys communication- Like email, this is handy because of global time differences
• More Personal- The groups may be small, you can reply with ease to an individual

Email List Cons

• Junk/Spam Emails- this can be a positive, but from a personal perspective, a big negative
• Privacy- Even when you reply to an individual, the entire group can see the message
• Clumsy- Opening different windows to read/reply to messages feels disorganised

Discussion Board Pros

• Easy to Navigate- The ability to scroll through all messages and see the thread on one screen.
• No Junk Mail- Discussion boards are closed forums, not just anyone can get an invite
• Threads- Good for seeing how a "discussion" develops like a conversation.

Discussion Board Cons

• Regular Check-in- Fear of 100's of posts to read if you miss a day
• Participation- Loitering isn't good netiquette, and the pressure to participate is high
• Impersonal- Keeping threads "on topic" steers us away from making "real" contact

Email Lists are more suited to your business venture. There are many avenues for which to pass on information about a product you are trying to sell and get feedback on in this way. If I wanted popular opinion on something I had patented and was trying to sell online, this may be a viable way to do that.

On a personal level, I can understand the closed groups being useful. However, I still don't like that all members can see my post to an individual, and therefore would have to send a personal email message to that person. Feels a bit like double handling the information. I also found the screen switching tedious at times.

It's no secret that we are all using the Discussion Board. Like many others, it is my first time doing so, and I really enjoy the various twists and turns a topic takes. The easy scroll down screen is fantastic and the numbered posts are a terrific way to navigate where you are up to. I have very little to complain about here, even the impersonal nature of our discussion board is at times appealing.

Most who I have wanted to know on a more personal level because we are more "like-minded" study wise, I have chatted to using Skype or Facebook. Even so, the posts by those obviously more knowledgable than I, at this stage, are the reason why I love the discussion board. Such a vast array of opinion in a what is a safe forum.