Module 2 Newsgroups, Lists, Discussion boards

Not sure if I am thinking to hard about all these but I seem to be getting myself in a tangle: I will attempt to arrange my thinking with he help of definitions from, How Stuff works.

Discussion Boards:
(from http://computer.howstuffworks.com/newsgroup1.htm)
Forums and discussion boards are very similar to newsgroups, with one major difference: Most forums and discussions boards are kept on a single server maintained by the owner or originator of the forum or discussion board.

Newsgroup:
(http://computer.howstuffworks.com/newsgroup.htm).
A continuous public discussion about a particular topic. Newsgroups are decentralized, which means that the messages are not maintained on a single server, but are replicated to hundreds of servers around the world.

Listserv:
(http://computer.howstuffworks.com/newsgroup.htm).
This is a type of broadcast e-mail. Information on a listserv is sent to everyone who is listed in the e-mail group on the server. The biggest difference between a listserv and a newsgroup is that listservs are not interactive.

---Note: although the above definination states that a Listserv is not interactive, their is such a thing as a list that is interactive.

OK - I think i am getting it....

Thanks to Niina on the WebCT discussion boards Message no. 846, I was able to get a starting point to find some newsgroups on Google to get into. I was interested to read the above definition of newsgroups because, as a first time newsgroup user I found a them similar to discussion boards.

As pointed out by Gregory Williams on the webCt discussion boards (messge 712), forums allow for a number of related topics to be covered in the one board. A newsgroup is so defined that users discuss just that topic. If you go off topic you would be better joining a different group. ie I went into alt.sports.hockey.calgaryflames, to talk about my favourite Ice Hockey team. If I wanted to start discussing the edmonton oilers (as if I would!) and their line up for the season, I would be better to go to alt.sports.hockey.nhl.edm-oilers

My experience with the Google Groups made newsgroups seem like an eBay for conversation, a seemingly endless list of conversation topics (including a fair bit of crap!). Within a few clicks I was reading discussions on Ice hockey, then gardening, water conservation and pregnancy. I didn't post any conversation to any of the newsgroups as the warning about my address being available to the masses scared me off (along with Keith's post on the webCT forums "stay right away") I noticed most posters had a disguised email address. As I had innocently registered using my Curtin email address I did not want to risk being open to anything untoward. However I did opt to have updated discussions sent to me and the very next day I receive an update of the new posts and could respond to the posters or click and be taken to the website based discussions.

• Pros and Cons of Discussion Board v lists
  

Discussion Boards
Pro: allows interactive flow of communication on a particular topic
Cons : (or pro -depending on perspective): what you put in you get out. Discussion boards work best for the user when they are a contributor.

Email lists
Pro: user does not need to contribute, delivered to your inbox, no need to go to a website to get the info, provides information about a topic without the user having to do anything - except register to receive it and read it!
Cons: Mail lists are not interactive, easily deleted. Not all lists are what they seem - you sign up expecting monthly emails about X and you get weekly blasts full of ads.

• Are there certain kinds of communication or purposes more suited to one than the other?

Definately, as well they can work in conjunction . I think discussion boards are best for one to many opinions, questions and as the name imlies "discussion", however lists to be used to broadcast specific information:
ie I would go onto a discussion board to talk about movies, share my opinions and thoughts and read feedback and reviews from others, However I would also be included on the listserv that sends me monthly details about upcoming movies and new releases.