Module 2: Email Lists

Before I began looking into the pros and cons of email lists as opposed to discussion boards I decided to join a email list which I haven’t done before. I decided to join an email list on bodyboarding as I am a keen bodyboarder and it takes up a lot of my spare time. Since I was already apart of discussion groups with university and the Net 11 subject I could finally define my own opinion of one as opposed to the other.

Email lists:
Pros – These lists are handy as they are delivered to your actual email account, they seem to be very easy to access because of this reason and also quite easy to use and navigate. Basically if you can send an email you can be apart of an email list. You don’t have to go out hunting for discussion boards everytime you want to discuss something the email flow to you.

Cons – After a while these email can get quite annoying as they get more constant and can even clog up your email account.

Discussion Boards and Forums:
Pros – Most of the time the setup and layout is quite functional and easy to understand as opposed to the email based setup. You can also quickly and efficiently find out who is saying what as well. Definitely a lot more features than your typical email list and your email doesn’t get clogged up either.

Cons – The fact of having to go into the discussion board or forum and logon is a pain and waste of time. Email lists are much quicker to access. Sometimes there is also too many different conversations and topics going on at once which is also confusing.

* Discussion Boards are better suited for activites such as university or school which you dont particularly want clogging up your home email account. This way you dont get bombarded with university or school work everyday and there is an escape from it, you can just access it when you want or need to.
* Email lists on the other hand are much better suited to your personal interests such as sports or hobbies, as these things dont bother you if they are actually clogging up your email.