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Re: Creating a forum

 

Forums (forums.openstack.org) have just been approved by the PPB. Delegation on working with the community to get consensus on selecting a software for them is to Chad Keck, Myself and Stephen Spector.

I should note that based on what I read it appears Forums AND Questions seem to be the answer to the forums debate with a sticky on the forums pointing to whatever the QA software is to funnel specific questions to a questions facility but also to allow general discussion on the forums. Right now, I personally am only focusing on the forums/discussion portion since that was the only portion specifically voted on that I am aware of.

If you have a suggestion for forum software please provide it and I will get demos of every one recommended up and we can put the software to a vote for the official forums.

-----Original Message-----
From: "Chad Keck" <chad@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2011 3:59pm
To: openstack@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Openstack] Creating a forum

I was about to say ;)

My unofficial forums aren't THAT ugly!

-- Chad

On May 5, 2011, at 2:15 PM, Anne Gentle wrote:

> Oh and I use "ugly" in quotation marks to indicate that's completely subjective. No judgment from me! I only believe data. :) I didn't want to use inflammatory word choices here, sorry. 
> 
> On Thu, May 5, 2011 at 2:11 PM, Anne Gentle <anne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> We're still so small it's very reasonable for all members of the community to want to have some say here. Plus there's a lotta overlap in these two groups, dev and SA. :) 
> 
> - we're highly interested in defending OpenStack as a brand and as such, don't see value in "ugly" unofficial forums
> - we want to participate but only if it's a tool we like and feel we've given input into
> - we don't want to further dilute the resources we have with yet another login-based website
> - we somehow tied it into the Launchpad/Github debate as Launchpad Answers is one solution to the types of problems that a "forum" solves 
> 
> I think a clearer restatement of the end-goals of forums would be helpful. Here are some ideas. Please offer your input as well. 
> 
> 1. Efficiency and reduce confusion: Offer one place to ask and answer questions. 
> 2. Efficiency and reduce confusion: Decrease user-question-type traffic on #openstack IRC.
> 3. Reciprocity: Offer a place to help others expecting help in return.
> 4. Reputation: Offer a method for proving your knowledge of OpenStack.
> 5. Efficiency and reduce confusion: Eliminate the scattering of places where you can ask and answer questions now: docs.openstack.org comments, Launchpad Answers, and IRC. 
> 
> Adding a forum without eliminating at least one other of these options does not seem efficient without proving the gains you expect to see. We have to keep monitoring all sites including Twitter for questions, yet Twitter in itself does not provide a tool for a community support site. 
> 
> Since docs provide support and also an opportunity for Q&A I'm pretty vested in the solution as well. I'd prefer we find a way to integrate with a site that could become a community support site, not just a forum. I think that distinction is at the heart of this discussion. 
> 
> Does that help? 
> Anne
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, May 5, 2011 at 1:06 PM, Jordan Rinke <jordan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I don't see why developers are weighing in so heavily on something specifically for the user community? Many of you have specifically said you wouldn't visit a forum so why do you care so much about what software it uses, or if it even exists?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Chad Keck" <chad@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2011 12:55pm
> To: openstack@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Openstack] Creating a forum
> 
> What does it matter what the forum looks like? If you are implying that forums are largely unpopular today because of StackOverflow you would be wrong. Of course StackOverflow is popular, for some, and it works great for a specific type of community.
> 
> Maybe someone should clearly articulate what problem we are trying to solve here. If it's direct Q&A then a StackOverflow style site is probably better, if its a place for conversation, exchange of ideas or asking indirect questions I think traditional forums are better, IMHO.
> 
> -- Chad
> 
> On May 5, 2011, at 11:21 AM, Ed Leafe wrote:
> 
> > On May 4, 2011, at 10:44 PM, Chad Keck wrote:
> >
> >> How about this...
> >>
> >> www.stackertalk.com
> >>
> >> Since I'm not a developer I'd like to contribute in some form or another :) There is a lot more refinement that needs to go into the site but I'm happy to run this forum. If anyone would like to help moderate/administer please let me know.
> >
> >       -1
> >
> >       This looks like every other run-of-the-mill forum circa 1999. The reason StackOverflow is so popular is largely a reaction to fora like this.
> >
> >
> > -- Ed Leafe
> >
> >
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