Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 23:33:22 -0500
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Worldcon & Capclave
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 11:06 PM 3/17/05 -0500, Michael Walsh wrote:
>Missed the 2004 Worldcon? Unable to see everything?
>Problem solved: http://www.customflix.com/206850
>
>As for Capclave.... I've been convinced that rather than overwelm the
>WSFAlist with Capclave concom stuff that a Yahoo Group be set up.
>Contact Barry Newton < bnewton at ashcomp.com> about getting the invite.
>Well, I think you need an invite, I know just enough about computers to
>get into trouble.

Read the "service agreement" (or whatever they call it on Yahoo Groups)
very carefully.  I'm guessing that at least some of what a concom will need
to discuss might be sort of private, but unless they've changed things
recently Yahoo doesn't promise that and takes ownership of any and all
postings made there and can use them however they like in future.  If you
are aware of the deal and accept it, fine, but don't assume things without
checking...i.e. read the fine print.

If you just need a way to send mail to a group of people without having to
list them all on every message I could set up an alias on my mailer here
that would forward any mail sent to a given address to everyone listed on
the alias.  It's not a real mailing list manager, and there's nothing to
stop others from sending to that address too (i.e. spamming through it),
but it's an option if it will help.  I suspect Keith could set up another
copy of this list for that purpose too if Yahoo isn't acceptable after
reading their offer carefully.  Neither method would have the problems
described above.

>This is YOUR convention and I hope you will consider listening in and
>offering your ideas.

The other problem with Yahoo Groups is that it's really confusing, even for
those of us with a lot of computer experience and on-line experience.  I've
used it in the past with other organizations and it was pretty hit or miss
how folks got on.  Even sending out invitations didn't eliminate
that...some folks forwarded the invitation on to friends (who were welcome
in the group anyway) who then used the invitation to subscribe and the mail
addresses got all screwed up...one person would unsubscribe and the other
would stop getting mail, etc..  Problems with HTML mail to those without
fancy mail readers was also a problem (Yahoo tends to send web pages rather
than ASCII messages), particularly when those people replied.  It was often
impossible to make out who had said what.

Based on my experiences with them, I'd avoid Yahoo Groups if at all
possible.  There are plenty of other ways to do mailing lists that work
better.

>I expect to be able to check email Friday am before hitting the road
>for the Meadowlands.

Have fun!  I'm not going...maybe next year.  I went to a few in the 80s and
they were fun, but I'm not set up for a trip away from home without
planning for the forseeable future and I didn't plan for this one.  At
least the weather is supposed to be nice enough to go for a ride...

-- Mike B.

--
Red ship crashes into blue ship - sailors marooned.