[MHml] Proposal for additional online discussion (long)

[Dave Howorth]

On Wed, 2006-12-27 at 13:09 -0500, Bradford Johanson wrote:
> On the current topic.
> I would hope we would get more and more technical. We tend to like to
> share solutions to common problems, I am building a new cabin and love
> to find pictures of interesting companionway slide systems on all the
> websights. I am sure some of our rreaders have interesting solutions
> as well that only pictures can reveal. Thanks for looking to get this
> started.

Perhaps the real question is what kind of bar we want? And what kind of
bar the barman wants to work in? I'm guessing that the closest
equivalent to this list is the Folly Inn at Medina on the Isle of Wight.

I think that the ability to look at pictures on the walls, either idly
to pass the time, or as part of a specific discussion, would be helpful.
That's something one can do in a real bar. The groups hosted by Yahoo
(proa-file, harryproa, f-boats etc) have that ability. It generally
works well, though the fact that there is a proa_file6 may indicate that
wallspace to hang pictures is limited.

I think that a number of years ago the barman said he didn't want to
work in that kind of mega-brewery bar, because of copyright questions
and the like. But given the developments in technology, perhaps he would
consider redecorating his private bar so it has some walls we can hang
pictures on, if that's what people want?

One can also watch live TV in sports bars, but I don't spend my real
life in those and I'm not sure I want to come here for that in my
cyberlife! Videos can be hosted on original sites or on the (in)famous
YouTube site. We seem to have got by quite well with weblinks to those.

Then there's the question of 'chat' - instant messaging, IRC etc - and
live voice/video (sorry, not sure what the correct buzzword is). I'm
doubtful about these. They sound to me like a bar where one has to shout
to be heard. I suspect the whole idea of 'instant' and 'live' doesn't
work so well when everybody is spread around the planet. Plus it's
difficult or impossible to provide an archive that people can skim and
search to discover the answer to their particular question.

But most important is a good crowd and a supply of decent beer.

Hrrmph, whose round is it?
Dave