The Eternal Lost Lurker wrote:

I haven't weighed in on THIS particular issue, but I'd just like to take 
a moment to echo the dissenting opinion against moving this to a 
webforum.

Deborah Brown wrote:

I tend to agree with this. Participation in a web-based forum does tend to 
be more desulatory in some respects. I'm wondering if it might also 
encourage more argument, as threaded posts /stay/ right where they are and 
can be reread over and over again, whereas the text messages will get 
deleted after a bit. *scratches head*

One thought, though, is that the text based messages do make formatting 
stories mildly... interesting. It may be laziness on my part, but I sort of 
wish that this one list had a way of posting the stories (at least) in html 
format. I know that's one of the reasons I don't tend to prepost here 
before sending things to the Pit of Voles (AKA ff.net).

    I agree, that the mailing list allows me to carefully craft a response 
instead of rushng my respnces to any subect.  The Yahoo groups allow you to 
either type online, or e-mail a comment or fic, then responses can be either 
daily digest or individual posts.  I think that would be a good compromise.

     I also like that posts can be in HTML which most Word Processors can 
produce, allowing a wider range of formating.  While this would end the 
fascinating arguemnts about is an asterisk correct for denoting thoughts, 
etc. it would be a step up.

    On an less related point, I came here originally because the minutae of 
fan fiction was discussed and argued, often to death.  But many of these 
arguments contained small bits that were helpful in characterization, 
grammar, places to do the research I needed to do, etc. Often they went 
wildly off the original topic.  This can be good or bad.
    This discussion is a good example, the original subject, that I am 
guilty of starting, was about a fic request.  Now we're discussing loli porn 
and various web forum format.  While it is interesting and useful, it is 
also typical of FFML.  Because while I've had several offlist requests to 
forward the answer, I never received an answer to my original question. Many 
of the discussions seem to go this way.  I wonder how much activity on FFML 
occurs off list.
       The other advantage of FFML is this has always been a place for grown 
ups.
And I mean this with respect:
    If you haven't posted something that Lurker hasn't ripped you for, you 
really haven't been flexing your creative muscles.
      The commentary is - usually - polite, but no-holds bared, and can go 
anywhere.  I've been inspired by many of the authors and educated by the 
successes and failures of others.

       I'm all for FFML growing and evolving, but not becoming a FF.net 
clone, nor a Mediaminer or DeviantArts clone.  FFML has been for grown ups, 
by grown ups.

Daniel 


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