Forum integration

[Andrew Zajac]

On 6/2/06, Matthew East <mdke at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>
>
> I think this is a really difficult problem to work on. It won't and
> shouldn't ever be wholly resolved, because as I say, the macro-community
> thing is actually a good feature, but there are a few things that can be
> done to bring the communities closer.


Right.  The point is not assimilation, but more communication.


First and most obviously is a unified forum/rest of community
> authentication. It would be really great to sort out forum<->LP
> authentication communication (I know this has been worked on in the past
> but I don't know how far it got). A good gateway for mailing lists would
> help too.


"Mailing lists" is plural.  Which ones do you fancy?



> Another part of working the forums into the structure of the Ubuntu
> community would involve the url - this should move to forum.ubuntu.com.
> And the forums should be hosted on an Ubuntu server, if the software is
> permitted.


And if this does not undermind Ryan.



Then, I think we should also try to get as much social integration as
> possible. Perhaps this would mean means that forum moderators whould get
> appointed in public irc meetings (held in #ubuntu-meeting, and should be
> Ubuntu members before they are moderators.


This is currently encouraged, AFAIK, but not specifically required.  There
are also a number of non-staff roles (teams).  The danger is that such a
teams structure can become a big clique and lose credibility.   Perhaps
ubuntu membership can be encouraged in regards to that, too.

My feeling is that this sort of thing can add credibility and transparency
to these positions.  If "getting the job" is not just a matter of whom you
are friends with, but is contingent of the person becoming an ubuntu member,
it would add that much more meaning and prestige.



> Obviously, the forums provide a technical support resource as does IRC
> and as do the mailing lists - there is never going to be perfect
> integration and there doesn't need to be. But we can do some things to
> bring the communities together.


Redundancy is useful.  If you dislike IRC, as I do, there are still two
other options for free support and community building.  Others hate the
forum format as described in the parent thread.  Some forum people don't
want to clutter their mailbox with mailing lists.


I'd definitely be interested in working on the social side of any
> initiative to integrate the forums and the wider community more during
> the next release cycle.


Great!



azz
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