I don’t think there is a single answer. I’ve tried for years to work with mail< ->forum bridge software and I’ve always come away feeling shortchanged. It’s too hard and the benefits of a mailing list are somewhat lost in the forum format. The opposite effect also holds – the benefits of divided topical conversation are lost on a mailing list, in large part.

I feel strongly that a new group (Citizendium included), still feeling out its own environment and relevance – as well as the edges of its own reach – should have a single place of discussion. A small organization needs a water cooler. It needs a place where a passing comment drives a whole new discussion and where people’s names and personalities begin to have contextual relevance. A mailing list is this tool – if a real physical meeting place is not possible.

In a new forum with no defined community, it is much harder to foster a sense of flow. People are not on the same page and this splinters discussion – nevermind the lack of “whoever’s paying attention” serendipity, which itself is no small player when brainstorming new ideas – since attention in this sense is defined to be everyone on the mailing list and not just those hanging out in a particular sub-forum.

I think that after there are some social norms, some sense of who the group is and what it is they’re about, there is a place for topical, more divided discussion – ala forum software. Once the group has a working defintion of the big picture – splintering and detail work can happen very functionally. In fact, it’s *better* than having discussions where everyone is involved. This is why organizations have subcommittees. I feel like the online forum is an analog to committee work – where the details happen.

Until then, I think moving to an online forum is premature and ill-fated. In my opinion, this leap was made way too early and without merit.

The insistence of putting in a moderation limit is a different point altogether, but one I also find surprising and pushing against the very idea of an open discussion.

Interesting (and worthwhile) post. I think the problem of how to split up a discussion between a mailing list and a forum is a hard one- if you have any suggestions, I’d encourage you to post them here, at my blog, or on the mailing list in question. :)

Cheers,
Mike