On 4/24/06, deedee deedee@writestop.com wrote:
Forums can tend towards cliques. So-called "popular" forums, especially, can have this quality -- because popularity frequently equates to regulars who always show up and post.
In a way this holds for mailing lists as well, but I think the difference is that forums usually have: - Large sections containing non-technical discussion - 'Post counts', often used as a measure of status - Signup date, also used as status symbol - A visible power structure, being able to see which posters are moderators/admins. In a mailing list people tend to treat each other more as peers. - Graphical avatars and signatures - "See who else is online" features
Without those things, such as if you implemented a simple web interface ontop of the mailing list, I don't think there would be as many cliques.
n0dalus.