[MUD-Dev2] Mailing List Alternatives (was Old MUD-Dev mailing list archives)

[Morgan Ramsay]

>> -----Original Message-----
>> >> From: Johnicholas Hines
>> >> 
>> >> Some people will use a mailing list in preference to a forum, and vice
>> >> versa.
>> >>
>> >> If some kind person would set up something to synchronize the two, it
>> >> would be a kindness. 

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Ghilardi Filippo
> > 
> > Google groups could be a good choice.

We currently use Google Groups at International Game Developers
Association,
San Diego. 

I recommend using WordPress instead.

I've been developing a private WordPress "blog" for our leadership team.
Only registered logged-in users can use and read the blog, and only
administrators can create new users. RSS and ATOM feeds are disabled
since
most feed readers do not support secure feeds. Technically, feeds can be
enabled, but to remain private, feeds should contain only titles of and
links to posts. BusinessWire operates their feeds in this manner.

On the bright side for mailing-list fans, there are plugins for
WordPress
that add e-mail notification functionality. WordPress also by default
provides a "post by e-mail" mechanism so you don't have to open a
browser
window to post. I'm testing an e-mail notification plugin that can be
enabled sitewide or on a per-user basis for new posts, new comments,
edited
posts, or new posts and comments.

This solution requires some configuration to work exactly the way you
want,
but the advantages are worth the effort. Off the top of my head, users
can
format their posts and comments with HTML, such as blockquotes and
links;
static documents can be created, edited, commented on, and multiple
users
can collaborate on these documents like a wiki; files can be uploaded to
form a repository; the blog can be routinely archived to avoid data
recovery
issues that are obviously of great significance to this list's audience;
and
if you need anything else, you can find and install a plugin or create
your
own.

The major drawback to this solution is importing *threads*. WordPress
does
not allow you to easily add comments to posts as another user, even as
an
administrator. Since the discussions we have on our leadership team are
fairly brief, I had little trouble adding comments as myself, editing
the
timestamp, and changing the author's name, e-mail address, and URL. The
edit-comment interface lacks a simple dropdown menu for changing the
comment
author so it's a matter of typing that data manually. After "importing"
and
formatting 18 comments to a single post, I decided that I would only
import
threads starting with February 2007 rather than starting with nine
months
ago. But I suppose a plugin can be found or created to make this process
easier.