Re: [eclipse-dev] Proposal to reduce mailing list noise

[Andrew B McCullough <mccull1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

 +1, and:

Perhaps combining this with a proactive step would be more effective.  For example, adding a prominent "Get Help Here" link (not necessarily with that text) on eclipse.org.  I don't think that it is clear to all new users that the "newsgroups" link is what they want.  The "Get Help Here" link could explain how the newsgroups are organized, etc.  The current newsgroups page thrusts you [almost] right into an exhaustive list of the newsgroups.  Perhaps a bit more hand holding would help direct traffic more effectively.  After all, no "Eclipsies" are really going to be looking at the page [we are all very familiar with the newsgoups], so it should be geared specifically toward new users.  

-Andrew

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John Arthorne <John_Arthorne@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent by: eclipse-dev-admin@xxxxxxxxxxx 10/07/2003 10:28 AM Please respond to eclipse-dev

To:        eclipse-dev@xxxxxxxxxxx         cc:                 Subject:        Re: [eclipse-dev] Proposal to reduce mailing list noise

+1 
Great idea. 

I'll forward this request to the webmaster if there are no dissenting opinions by the end of the day. 
--

"Ed Burnette" <Ed.Burnette@xxxxxxx> Sent by: eclipse-dev-admin@xxxxxxxxxxx 10/07/2003 09:51 AM Please respond to eclipse-dev

To:        <eclipse-dev@xxxxxxxxxxx>        cc:                Subject:        [eclipse-dev] Proposal to reduce mailing list noise

Ironically, I'm contributing to the problem, but I'd like to propose a solution to reduce noise on the mailing lists by helping to direct user questions to the newsgroups instead of the lists. It's a little drastic, but... I suggest removing the 'mailing lists' link from the eclipse.org web page's main navigation bar. There should already be links in the development areas for the various projects (for example see http://dev.eclipse.org/main.html) and those links should be sufficient.

Rationale: Having the mailing lists in such a prominent position on the web site is driving users to the lists, only to have them be (gently) chastised and sent back to the newsgroups. I do realize that the mailing list page has text that says user questions should not go there, but obviously many people don't notice that and skip down to the list of lists. Reducing the lists' prominence would hopefully make them less noisy and better suited for their intended purpose, but would not make the lists any less accessible for anyone involved with or interested in Eclipse development who really needs them.

+ / - anyone?

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