> On Oct 1, 2019, at 4:50 PM, Jeff Zeitlin <xxxxxx@freelancetraveller.com> wrote:
>
> In the run-up to TravellerCON/USA, I'm seeing ZERO traffic. It didn't used
> to be this way, not even when we were having teething pains because of host
> changes.
>
> I really don't want to get tied to forums and "Social Networks"; I like to
> keep an archive, and I like to be able to download when I'm not at my
> computer, and read and respond at my leisure - especially if I'm having
> network problems and need to let stuff accumulate until the network
> problems are resolved, and still not miss anything. Unlike email and nntp,
> Social Networks and Forums simply don't allow that; I essentially have to
> be able to participate in real-time or risk missing a lot.
>
> Can we somehow resuscitate the list? Can we possibly arrange feeds or at
> least summaries from Those Other Places That Are More Ephemeral?

I’m a firm believer in email lists.  They’re the best way to share information, especially for hobbies like this.  Sadly they’re nearly dead.  The same is true with USENET, although I think there are actually some USENET groups that are healthier than this list.  I know that I was off the list for a few years, until I was able to find my way back.  I’m assuming that was due to one of the host changes, or problems with my previous email account.

I’m still on a lot of email lists, only three are somewhat healthy.

I hate using Forums and Social Networks for something like the TML.  There are decent forums out there, and I’m on a few, but not often.  Social Networks are a HORRIBLE way to exchange info, and worthless for preserving it in a usable fashion (they preserve for data mining and analytics, not for their users).  I have TML archives going back to the mid-90’s, and I’m sure some others have better ones.

Zane