[Openstack] Creating a forum

Anne Gentle anne at openstack.org
Thu May 5 19:15:08 UTC 2011


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 at openstack.org> 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 at openstack.org> 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 at chadkeck.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 5, 2011 12:55pm
>> To: openstack at lists.launchpad.net
>> 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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