A Possible Discussion Board (or Forum) for www.eogn.com

Is this a good idea? I need your opinion.

I have received suggestions from a number of newsletter readers to add a discussion board (some people call it a "forum") to the Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter's web site. I am not sure if this is a good idea or not and would like to obtain your opinion. If enough people think it is a good idea, I'll do it.

While the present web site has the capability for newsletter readers to add comments, questions or corrections to the articles that I write, there is no present capability for readers to ask NEW questions about new topics or to post their own articles of interest. The proposed discussion board would allow readers to post messages about ANY topic of interest, constrained only by the guidelines of good taste, no spam, no profanity, etc. I would expect the discussion board to generate discussions about a much wider range of topics than what the present newsletter provides.

So what is a discussion board? Think of it as a big global meeting place where everyone is welcome to come in, sit down and enjoy the conversation. People ask about genealogy, software, DNA, and any of a myriad of other topics. If you've got a question about anything related to genealogy, that's the place to go. You never know what you might learn.

The proposed discussion board will be divided up into groups where like-minded individuals get together to discuss certain themes. You can join as many groups as you wish.

Is this a good idea or not? I need your opinions and insights. I have created a simple online survey that you can take right now to provide your feedback. I will keep the survey open for a week or more, then collect the responses on October 6. If enough people want it, I'll create the discussion board. If not, I'll chalk it up as "another idea that didn't interest enough people."

Click Here to take survey

I'll ask you to take the survey even if you don't plan on participating in a discussion board. In fact, negative answers are at least as valuable as positive ones!

Thank you,
- Dick Eastman

Comments

[SKay]

There are topics in genealogy that I would appreciate comments from others that are more knowledgeable, so in that respect I do feel a forum would be advantageous. Have, in truth, never participated in a forum so do not know if I would.....I do think that there are numerous persons that would, and even if I just read the forum it would most likely be of help to a beginner in your field.

[Zadruga Guy]

I am not sure I see the need for more genealogical forums. There are already a bunch out there.

[R Walker]

I don't see a need for a forum. There is room for comments on any of your topics.

Perhaps instead, a notation when new comments have been added so people can go back and look.

But this would almost be like a forum, wouldn't it?

I like your newslist the way it is now.

I have especially enjoyed your video interviews at the various Genealogy conferences.

[Dick Eastman]

Thanks for the comments. If you want your opinion to count, please fill out the survey form by clicking on the link in the article. That automatically tallies the yeas and nays.

Thanks.

- Dick Eastman
(in a hotel room in Los Angeles)

[Bob Schimmel]

There already are a number of 'forums' in operation - as one respondent mentioned above. Since the main purpose for seems to be a provider of information, I suggest rather than forming another duplicating disussion group you review/inform about some of the already operating forums and include their URL. That way folks can choose the group (or groups) that suits their particular area of interest.

[Jeanne Bunting]

As a Member of Dick's original Roots Forum on CompuServe back in the mid 1990s I found it invaluable and made many friends, indeed, many of the people I met there became members of the Society of Genealogists Committees and some still are. But here's the rub! Dick had to start a 'non-genealogy' section because many messages strayed away from genealogy, indeed towards the end of Dick's 'reign' Cyberloonies (as the section was called) had more messages than any of the others.

At the time, the Roots Forum had few rivals, but now that there are so many similar Forums, Mailing Lists and Newsgroups on every subject under the sun, I agree with others that another seems unneccesary.

There are pros and cons

[Penny]

Dick, the forum is unavailable. When I click on the link, I get a message that the survey is closed and to contact you. What's up?

[jacqui]

The survey link isn't working at the moment. I think the fact that you can add comments to an article is useful but presumably what people want is a forum where they can ask questions, ask for help and just generally socialise. This would presumably be divided into topics, would require some monitoring to bring comments to the fore move them to more relevant areas etc. There are quite a few around linked to websites. 1914-18.net for instance has one which is very useful for anyone interested in WW1 and from which I obtained much useful information from members who looked up an RFC pilot in the London Gazette for me without asking.

[Don Michel]

The survey link is no longer operable, but I do like the idea of a forum. While it is true that there are many in operation already, they tend to attract a group that are either just "fooling around" or not serious genealogists. Dick seem to have a better and much more serious group of subscribers. I think a forum of those seriously involved in geneaogy would serve a very useful and desirable purpose.

[Dick Eastman]

The survey is now fixed and is again available.

I never expected that many responses. The survey runs on www.surveymonkey.com and and I had only purchased enough credits for 100 responses. I never expected to receive that many. I just added more money to the account and it should now handle up to 1,000 responses.

Thanks for your patience.

- Dick Eastman

[Bobbi]

I think it would be a great idea for many of your readers. I ones that don't want to participate don't have to. I highly doubt there are many readers that read every last bit on your web site.

Bobbi

[Dick Eastman]

To find the survey, read the above article and click on the link in that article that says, "Click Here to take survey."

The survey is working well this morning, more than 60 people have completed the survey so far today.

Thanks.
- Dick Eastman
(in a hotel room in Los Angeles, headed for the cruise ship terminal shortly)

[Betty Clay]

Dick's Roots Forum on Compuserve was one of the most helpful places I ever found for learning to do genealogy. It was my privilege to work with Dick there as an assistant moderator - to do that moving of messages to keep them on topic, etc. For many years, the participants there were serious genealogists and they gave invaluable help to each other and to beginners. I never read that board without learning something helpful.

It is true that there are many genealogy boards available. Yet none of them measure up to what the Roots Forum was in some ways. The value of any forum depends on the quality of the questions asked and of the replies to the questions. It also depends on the scope of the topics to be covered. I think a forum here could be of great interest and help, and is certainly worth a try. I hope it happens and that it is successful.

[Wizardluffy]

Seems as though it would replicate Genforum's General Forum. And GF is plaqued by repeated submissions like "Looking for my ancestor John Smith of VA." Still, I'd be for it.

[Samuel Josovic]

I would prefer to see all the comments to your newsletter in a RSS feed.

[Samuel Josovic]

I would prefer to see all the comments to your newsletter in a RSS feed.

[Samuel Josovic]

I would prefer to see all the comments to your newsletter in a RSS feed.

[Marilyn Clark]

Anecdotal evidence: I began a forum for those members of a mailing list who wanted "categories" of topics -- so they wouldn't have to plow thru a lot of messages that didn't interest them. So I set one up. Now there is less activity on the entire forum than there was on the original Yahoo group.

There are tons of genealogy forums and resources in cyberspace already. I cannot see the value in duplicating this effort. It will require a moderator or two, also. Do you have time or staff for that?

Thanks for your great site. I enjoy the variety of topics!

[Sarah Sheffield]

I find the comments on these topics adequate. Or a link to forums would be good. I can't honestly say I would participate in a forum. I find it difficult to just to keep up with reading the newsletters I receive.

[jack carlson]

The idea of a forum should be tried for a period of say three months to see how it goes. You, Dick, can then do another survey to sound out the users reception and you determine the response.

I am very interested in the idea.

[Chip Lary]

The only discussion forums that I have seen both remain active and relevant are ones who have multiple moderators who basically function as "judge, jury, and executioner" on the boards. What should be allowed and what should be banned? What should only get a warning? How many warnings before being banned? Who monitors ISPs to ensure banned posters do not just register under a new name? Etc. Etc. Etc. The moderators enforce their own code of conduct when it is their turn on the boards.

Without people both willing and able to do these things the forum will quickly get filled up with junk and people will stop using it. Without people willing to enforce an arbitrary, non-specific set of rules and take the anger they will receive when someone feels their post should have been allowed, then it will fail.

The problem is that what is relevant/irrelevant, offensive/inoffensive, or whatever is different from person to person. The moderators will attract both people whining about posts they don't like, and people whining that their posts should not have been deleted.

I suggest that you try a forum for a while to see not only if people will use it, but if the moderators have the stomach for the job, while also not becoming mini-dictators drunk with "power".