[hackerspaces] [SpaceProgram] Transitioning to Google Groups

[Matt Joyce]

Still admin on nycr:microcontrollergroup...   shit is horrendous.  Google
groups that is.  Drives me up a wall.  Totally get it.
On Oct 5, 2012 6:02 PM, "Bryan Bishop" <kanzure at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Oct 5, 2012 at 7:26 PM, Alex Cureton-Griffiths <alexcg at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > On the caretaker list we've been kicking around the idea of transitioning
> > our public list to Google Groups. We'd like to hear some feedback from
> you
> > guys before we decide whether to go ahead.
>
> Lately it seems like Google has been trying to kill their Google
> Groups product. I am sure some of you have noticed their new UI and
> how they deprecated almost half of the mailing list pages. The URL
> structure has changed dramatically; some of the "old" group pages are
> still using the previous version, but it looks like new groups are
> using the new javascript-heavy version (or however you prefer to name
> it).
>
> Why is this an issue? Well, for one, the javascript-heavy version is
> lacking a number of features from the original Google Groups. Pages
> like /about and /topics and /thread are completely missing. Although
> the RSS urls are still working, the links are gone and not advertised.
> Additionally, the "email to subscribe" text seems to be vanished as
> well, except in the footers of outgoing email which offers a helpful
> unsubscribe address.
>
> Honestly, I was sort of upset about their new URL structure. It sucks
> in comparison to the old links.
>
> Compare!
>
> old hotness:
> http://groups.google.com/group/diybio/msg/0bdf7ff01c79198a
>
> new lameness:
>
> https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!msg/diybio/_SLixhWFOzM/ihl5HPB_3wsJ
>
> Compare!
>
> old hotness:
> https://groups.google.com/group/openmanufacturing/about
>
> new lameness:
> https://groups.google.com/group/biohack-nyc/about
>
> Anyway, it looks like they are planning to deprecate a lot of these
> features, and maybe they will even force users off of email in the
> future. I certainly don't want to use their shitty forums. :-\
>
> > WHY TRANSITION?
> > * Loads of hackerspaces are already using Google Groups, meaning more
> > people know how to use it, thus lower barrier to entry
>
> Email is even lower barrier to entry.
>
> > * Much easier to read threads and do searches, so clearer communication
> > and less duplication
>
> My email client makes reading threads a pleasure. I also like
> searching mail with notmuch.
>
> > * We've been hearing comments about how bad Mailman is
>
> yeah, well, contribute a patch :-)
>
> > * Less chance of email overload, since Google Groups lets you subscribe
> by
> > thread. Less risk of email overload = less annoyance for new users
>
> I don't think information overload is a real thing. It's just
> something that people make up when they hate to configure their email
> clients, I think.
>
> > WHY NOW?
> > We're going to put out our press release and start publicizing
> SpaceGAMBIT
> > and HSP soon. It'll be easier to transition now, while we're small and
> have
> > fewer members, than to try to drag a much larger community onto a new
> > platform.
>
> Do you really want to communicate with people who don't understand
> email? Look deep inside your heart before answering :-).
>
> - Bryan
> http://heybryan.org/
> 1 512 203 0507
> _______________________________________________
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> Discuss at lists.hackerspaces.org
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>
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