Module 2 Lists

"What are the pros and cons of email list vs discussion boards?"

Email lists

Pros

• If a user is interested in multiple groups/interests/hobbies, email list will deliver all of this information to one place. Making this an efficient way to keep up to date.
  
• Low bandwidth. If users are on a slow, expensive (rural, developing economies, mobile devices) or shared connection this will be important.
• Being text based with attachments frowned upon or banned, lists are good for access by mobile devices.

Cons

• Volume can be cumbersome.
• Spam
• No attachments
• Off topic frowned upon or banned.
• Less interactive than boards. This is not true for all lists as a lot of online communities have boards as well.

Discussion boards

Pros

• Provides a sense of home or identity via a central location.
• Contains many areas of discussion so users can go off topic.
• Attachments and HTML.

Cons

• High bandwidth.
• More casual users means a generally lower quality of posts and lots of post that don't add anything to the discussion.
• More anonymity for users can mean more flaming and offensive posting.
• Requires users with multiple interests to visit many places, frequently to keep up to date.