# Why would people prefer mailing list over forums?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-people-prefer-mailing-list-over-forums/529422>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 18, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-people-prefer-mailing-list-over-forums/529422 "2010-02-18T02:26:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-people-prefer-mailing-list-over-forums/529422/1 "2010-02-18T02:26:22Z")

</div>

I have noticed that some open-source software libraries (usually academic libraries) and their users tend to prefer having a mailing list over a forum. I personally has a slight dislike for mailing list - first, they clutter up the mail-box, and not all have a search functionality.

However, I guess that you got to read (or at least, browse) through each and everyone’s mail ensures commitment, but other than that, why would you prefer mailing list (if you do)?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-people-prefer-mailing-list-over-forums/529422/2 "2010-02-18T03:07:33Z")

</div>

Because a mailing list comes to you, a forum has to rise high enough in your consciousness to return.

I know this because we had a political falling out on our mailing list and it went offline for a couple of weeks while things cooled off. I started a forum for folks and let them know. It was nifty and cool with all the forum-y things you can do on forums…but it didn’t have a whole lot of traffic as that demographic preferred email.

The mailing list got turned on (with one or two members pruned) and the forum withered.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-people-prefer-mailing-list-over-forums/529422/3 "2010-02-18T03:18:28Z")

</div>

> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#):
>
> Because a mailing list comes to you, a forum has to rise high enough in your consciousness to return.

Yeah. When I first got on-line, I didn’t know how to use Favorites/Bookmarks. I’d find a board, read, maybe post, and then forget it existed. I suspect it was that way with a lot of people. I remember seeing a thread on one board – “Why do people post a question and then never come back?” I think it’s because they got lost. 🙂

I’ve tried to get people in mailing lists to check out various boards, and most of them say they’re more comfortable with the list format. I think some of them are intimidated by the way a board looks, all those symbols and commands. It looks “technical”.

Plus, if you say something stupid on a list, it’s more quickly forgotten. List members don’t pay much attention to senders’ names.