As quiet as I've been on AML-List over the past few years, I have to agree
that this change is quite dangerous, and could well mean the end of the
list.
D. Michael is right when he says:
>AML-List will die. That's my prediction. I've seen other groups die when
>they made this same transition--and they didn't even charge for the
>privilege to continue participating.
I have a few points to make about this switch:
1. I think the premise that email is somehow obsolete or antiquated is
short-sighted. Email will probably never go away, not even in its straight
text-based form. It is unfortunate that vendors of email software (esp.
Microsoft, whose software is used by default by so many people) haven't
been able to provide the functionality needed to follow the standards and
give users what they want.
2. There is a very real possibility that those excluded because they can't
or won't pay the bill will start their own version of this list -- one that
still uses email -- and drain away both potential members and activity from
this list. I hope that doesn't happen, but it is one of the common
responses when part of a group doesn't like a change.
3. D. Michael is also right that the new format isn't anything special.
Bulletin Boards like this one actually pre-date email, as I understand it.
This one doesn't use the most sophisticated Bulletin Board software, and
features that would be most useful in making the transition, like the
ability to be notified by email when a post is made, are absent as far as I
can see.
4. My biggest problem with bulletin board systems like this one is that its
too easy for me to forget that they are there and that a discussion is
going on. Unlike email, I have to go to the board and remember that I
haven't caught up on the messages there. Yes I know and use (and love) rss.
But even rss doesn't quite fit my way of reading. I prefer email. And even
with rss, I think I will be less likely to visit and participate on the
board than with email.
5. Strategically speaking, this change seems to actually be two changes at
once -- one from an email-based format to a bbs-based format, and the
second a shift to only allowing dues-paying members to participate.
It seems to me that making both these changes at the same time is asking
for trouble. If nothing else it multiplies the possibility that something
will go wrong or that a large portion of the audience will not make the
transition.
In addition there are significant logistical and policy aspects to limiting
membership to only those that pay dues. Who will keep track of dues and
allow and disallow participation. What kind of turnaround can we expect? If
I pay dues today, will I be able to read messages today? The current
paypal-based system of getting dues requires that a human being handle each
transaction, so I'm sure there will be some kind of delay.
On the policy side, will there be a grace period when a membership has
expired? Or will my access to the board suddenly be cut off when the
membership expires? Will there be reminder emails sent out letting me know
that the membership is about to expire? What if I send a check and it
bounces? Am I cut off immediately? Is there software in place to take care
of all this?
Unlike those who feel that they can't pay the membership fee, I don't have
a problem with it. $25 is so little, in my New York City-based life. I
can't even get a parking ticket that is only $25 (lowest fine is $65). If I
don't have a membership at the moment (I guess I don't because I'm not
getting Irreantum, even thought I paid for a 3-year subscription at some
point that I don't think was completed), its because I haven't been hounded
enough about it. No one seems to be following up and asking me for my
membership.
This makes me think that there are bigger problems that AML should be
worrying about than whether or not everyone on the board has paid a
membership fee. I'm certain that if joining the board simply meant that you
were fair game for organized membership recruitment efforts, AML would get
more members in the long run than by restricting membership to those who
have paid.
I guess what I'm saying is that AML-List or the AML Discussion Board should
be viewed as a promotional tool, not as a membership benefit. The cost of
providing the list or the discussion board is essentially $0 (in fact, if
AML is paying for hosting for this, I'm sure there are a few of us who
could host it for free. I'm certainly able to do so). So why is something
that actually takes my time -- and whose very existence is dependent on the
participation of its subscribers -- considered a benefit that I should pay
for?
The bottom line is that while I will continue to read the list/board, I
have serious doubts that this change will be successful. And I certainly
find it very inconvenient to switch from a format that I know to one that I
don't use much and find easy to forget.
Kent
