Wed, June 1st, 2005 by Brandon Stone
Alright, now we're cooking... I've just set up the Photoblogs Discussion List. Join up, say hi, let me know what you think.
The mailing list will be the best way for anyone to get in touch with me regarding Photoblogs.org questions. And I'll be actively using the list as I'm making changes and improvements to Photoblogs.org. So, if you're interested in helping to shape the future of this site, join the list and join the discussion.
I'm also hoping that this list will help manage the volume of emails that I get every day... Which means I'll have more time for programming. Yay!
New server!
June 1st, 2005 at 2:49 pm
~another xlnt addition to the photoblogs.org community, thnx Brandon~
June 1st, 2005 at 3:04 pm
Does anyone know how to unsubscribe to this and resubscribe using a different email? I'd like to be a part but have put in an email that I'd rather not clutter up with all the posts to this group. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks.
June 1st, 2005 at 3:14 pm
Alex, when you initially signed up, you should have received a welcome email. In that welcome email is instructions on how to unsubscribe.
June 1st, 2005 at 3:59 pm
okay!
June 1st, 2005 at 5:13 pm
interesting... i wonder if that will impact the discussions here at all. we've noticed with our nyc.photobloggers.org site and yahoo mailing list that there tends to be overlap and that often one suffers from the other's activity. but in this case, the list is for you with eavesdroppers, yes? so perhaps that helps to separate content and discussions...
June 1st, 2005 at 6:42 pm
"interesting... i wonder if that will impact the discussions here at all."
Yes, I'm sure it will impact discussions here on the blog. There are already several topics of discussion in the mailing list that blog-only visitors are missing.
I see this as a good thing, though. I've noticed that this blog can get a little unwieldy and cluttered at times. I'm hoping that introducing the mailing list will act as a pressure valve to release a bit of the steam that has been building up here.
"so perhaps that helps to separate content and discussions..."
Yes! Exactly... I'd like this blog to be more for announcements, spotlights, and news... whereas, the mailing list will be for discussions.
For example, I'll be asking for feedback on new Photoblogs.org features as I'm building them. Once things have been refined and finalized, I'll actually announce them on the blog.
June 1st, 2005 at 6:53 pm
Google groups is nice for support and things, but I think photoblogs.org really needs to bite the bullet and just install phpbb forum/board (or get vbulletin but thats $). We need a full community rather than a low tech discussion system. Makes life a heck of a lot easier over at Pixelpost.org at least. Plus I am a forum junky...design, photography, you name it I am probably a member.
June 1st, 2005 at 7:05 pm
"I think photoblogs.org really needs to bite the bullet and just install phpbb forum/board"
Photoblogs.org will never have a pre-built forum package such as phpBB, vBulletin, or YaBB on it. Eventually Photoblogs.org *will* have a forum, but it will be very tightly integrated with the site and not just a 3rd party add on. (Think in terms of how Flickr has integrated its message board system... That's more along the lines of what I'm going to do.)
PhpBB may be a great idea for some sites, but in the long run it will be a nightmare for Photoblogs.org. Trust me, I've really given this a lot of thought and consideration.
June 1st, 2005 at 7:17 pm
Also, for anyone who is still wondering how to unsubscribe from the mailing list, this URL seems to work:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/photoblogs/unsub
June 1st, 2005 at 7:21 pm
Brandon, doesn't the Discussion List actually mean more emails?
June 1st, 2005 at 7:32 pm
I just dont see how a google groups discussion section is any different than a forum script, other thangroups has less options/control for individual users.
just leave it seperate from pb.org
June 1st, 2005 at 7:34 pm
Whoa, this is great, but I do suggest to anyone who has not signed up yet to create a new mailbox just for this. I signed up this morning and when I got home I had 68 new messages in my mailbox!
I've since unsubscribed, created a new mailbox just for this forum, and that should work out well.
June 1st, 2005 at 8:33 pm
Remember you can also opt to just read the discussions online and not have anything mailled to you.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:18 pm
"Brandon, doesn't the Discussion List actually mean more emails?"
More emails, indeed, but people on the list will be able to help me answer questions. So, now I'm actually getting help with one of the most time-consuming parts of this site. This is a huge weight off my shoulders.
And if we get frequently asked questions, then you guys can help me maintain the FAQ in the wiki:
http://wiki.photoblogs.org/wiki/FAQ
Mainly, I just need *help* and this is the best way I can think of to facilitate that.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:37 pm
I entered my name in the link provided, received the e-mail that I am now a member; however, when I go to sign-in, I receive a message that my e-mail is not registered.
So I'm receiving e-mails from the messages and I can't stop it. Joy!
Google groups is uiseless because it is saying my email address is not registered: jonathan@shrued.com.
Any advice?
June 1st, 2005 at 9:38 pm
"I do suggest to anyone who has not signed up yet to create a new mailbox just for this."
Or, if you're like me and don't like multiple email accounts, you can also create filters for the group messages so that they skip your inbox. Then you can go read at your leisure.
Many people have Gmail accounts and are using them for the discussions. The conversation format of Gmail makes it very easy to read. I, for one, love it! Don't really have to worry about space either since Gmail is up to 2200 MB of storage.
I believe anyone with a Gmail account can now send invites, so if you don't have one already just drop me a line and I'll send you an invite.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:45 pm
"I just dont see how a google groups discussion section is any different than a forum script"
Google Groups...
1) ...is already in place and working.
2) ...solves my immediate problem of needing help answering email.
3) ...was easy to configure.
4) ...isn't on my server, so I don't have to worry about security patches and upgrades.
5) ...allows me to use an email interface, which is all I care about right now.
Forum Software (PhpBB, vBulletin, YaBB)...
1) ...requires me to install security patches. If I don't install these security patches, then my server can be compromised.
2) ...doesn't have the feature-set that I require for Photoblogs.org. I know it's "wrong", so I'm not going to waste my time dealing with it in the first place.
3) ...will probably require some level of moderation that I don't care to deal with right now.
4) ...will cause confusion when I migrate to the new message board system. I'll have to either abandon the old forums or deal with integrating legacy data into the new system. Bleh.
I'm sure there are other reasons that I'm not thinking about right now, but I hope these reasons are enough to explain my decision.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:49 pm
"I signed up this morning and when I got home I had 68 new messages in my mailbox!"
I'm pretty sure the list won't always be this active. People are just excited to try it out for the first time. The novelty is sure to subside after a while, then we'll start to see what the real usage will be.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:52 pm
"The conversation format of Gmail makes it very easy to read. I, for one, love it!"
I agree with Andy.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:55 pm
"Google groups is uiseless because it is saying my email address is not registered: jonathan@shrued.com."
I'm sure it's just some silly simple thing. I'll send you an email and we'll figure it out.
June 2nd, 2005 at 10:17 am
Google groups seems to be a very nice system. I'm all for it. Thanks for another great feature Brandon. You are doing amazing things for photography and touching a lot of lives.
June 2nd, 2005 at 2:45 pm
At first, I thought a mailing list thing wouldn't be appropiate at all, and that a forum would be much better suited.. but now, I think Google Groups is perfect!
Everyone gets to interact and you can change the the way you recieve emails about new topics and discussions. It's a whole lot better than hitting refresh at a forum index, and much more personal.
June 2nd, 2005 at 4:58 pm
I think google groups is a bit confusing. A better board system will be better because read all messages without order someone could be crazy
. I you dont want to install phpbb or similiar perhaps yahoo groups or sited that host boards.
June 2nd, 2005 at 9:20 pm
I'm kinda bummed about this. I'm probably a rare breed, but I'm a lot more involved in this blog than my onw photoblog. I hope the discussion group doesn't slow down this blog. I don't really want to have to deal with hundreds of emails. I like this blog because it is easy to leave for a while and easy to pick back up when I come back.
I understand the motives. But I'm sad.
June 3rd, 2005 at 10:49 am
What Lane said. I also liked the "single point of contact" nature of photoblogs.org, as well as the record of previous comments which this place provides; and although I've subscribed to an nyc-based mailing list, I like getting the occasional digest.
OOC, how is this new mailing list different from the other one you set up through Yahoo!, Brandon? Different goals?
June 3rd, 2005 at 10:55 am
yeah... i would have been interested in a forum. listserves always end up becoming a pain in the ass... just a notch above spam. i really enjoyed this blog as a place to view discussions. i think, while it's his show, brandon has made the wrong choice for my tastes.
June 3rd, 2005 at 12:40 pm
"brandon has made the wrong choice for my tastes."
Fair enough. I welcome your opinions.
I do think, though, that you have come to judgment too quickly. Have you experimented with Google Groups? Do you realize that you can still read the list *without* getting email? (It is very similar to a forum if you play with your settings a little.)
In any event, I have also said that I *do* plan on having a forum on Photoblogs.org, but just not right now (and not in the form of PhpBB).
Eventually, the blog, forum, and mailing list will all *compliment* each other and serve *different* purposes, but I don't have the resources to make that all happen right this very minute.
We are growing and evolving... If you're patient with me, then you'll be able to see what I have planned. If you're not patient, then you will probably be disappointed at one moment or the other.
My plan is in motion now and we're on our way to better things. Honestly, I'm more excited now about Photoblogs.org than I have been in the past year.
June 4th, 2005 at 11:47 am
Although I have reservations about the current changes, I'm inclined to trust you when you ask for patience, Brandon. I've come to really respect you over the years.
June 4th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
i think the google group is a great solution until all of brandon's ideas come to fruition. for those of you who dislike receiving discussion emails, or the digest emails, you can choose from a few different atom feeds:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/photoblogs/about
thanks again brandon for all of your hard work!
August 24th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
thanks for sharing