List-part 4 & Email part 5

Email security and Lists
Oh-My, Oh-My, Oh-My I don't believe it, I found a useful List service, www.gnupg.org. It's a site for open source software that improves the security of electronic communications. Yes, I now subscribe. Subscription was not through that insidious Topica but by stumbling upon the site while searching for useful information.

First observation, posted Wednesday, 4 March.
Now this is the last post for the day, it's a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon and I could be outside enjoying the sun. This supports my First Thoughts about Blogs.

Lists-part 3

No better
Well, I tried again with http://lists.topica.com but had no success. Topica incessantly try to sign members up to there "Featured Favorites" from where I suspect they receive sponsorship.
This whole repeated attack in blanket bombing advertising is one of the main features that drives me away from site like this.



When I was finally able to find a list that half appealed the list was long dead and the messages were years old. (maybe I lead the revival but I doubt it)



Topica is in desperate need of an overhaul and it make me wonder how sites like this survive.

This is where I think I'll leave List and move on.

Newsgroups-part 2, List part 2

In the Yahoo group there appears to be some confusion over what the difference is from a Newsgroup and a List. So here is a brief outline with supporting links for further reading if you wish.

Newsgroups are similar to discussion groups (Blackboard) or forums where anyone can join a public discussion through subscribing to the service. eg giving your details to the group. The subscriber can either just read the posts from other subscribers or he/she can contribute to the thread (join-in on the discussion).

"A newsgroup is an electronic discussion group consisting of collections of related (also called articles) on a particular topic that are posted to a news server which then distributes them to other participating servers." www.learnthenet.com


Lists can be broken down into two types;

1. discussion lists, similar to newsgroups in that the subscriber can participate in the thread
   
2. announcement list, similar to a newsletter where the information is just one way
   

The main difference is lists are sent to your email, newsgroups the subscriber must visit the site.

"A mailing list is a collection of names and addresses used by an individual or an organization to send material to multiple recipients." www.encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

"The key advantage of a mailing list over a newsgroup is that instead of having to go somewhere to read or retrieve postings, messages are automatically delivered to your e-mail box." www.learnthenet.com

rethink-part 2

My point is, people who use the internet should be by now very aware of the security issues we face with online fraud. However, there is a broader issue of personal security. In brief we do not want to face another 9/11 or see repeated stories in the news where children have sexually abused or worse through the use of web dating. I know most kids are aware that chat rooms are potentially unsafe environments, but there will always be someone who is more vulnerable than others. Chat rooms in particular need to be mediated for content because parents can't have 24 hour control over their children nor should they. As responsible web uses we have a care of duty to provide a safe learning experience for all who wish to use it. I don't hate these types of communication, I think they need special attention from the authorities to clean it up but I guess this would be problematic given the current economic problems, climate change ....................

The list is endless so usually the innocent will suffer.

rethink

After the tutors comments on the Discussion board about relating the exercisers to the concepts, it may appear that all my rants have been a waste of time.

I will need to refocus and rethink why I'm attempting to do a BA in Internet Communication.

For the time being I will put aside my prejudice and use the time as a discovery process.

I still think there's too much crap on the web so you will have to forgive me if I regress into a rant.

List part 1—a deviants playground

What are the pros and cons of email lists versus discussion boards?

Ok, so maybe I'm a cynic but I think most "Lists" are for degenerates with empty lives praying on vulnerable and naive souls. I hope it's a matter of misfortune or just bad luck in coming across inappropriate Lists.

As suggested in Module 2 notes I visited http://lists.topica.com/ with an open mind to join in on a "List". I then clicked on one of the subjects, Art & Design, then I proceeded to Digital Art Solutions which was described as Tips, news, and info for graphic professionals. So what did I find listed out of the 5 possible groups I could make a valued contribution, 5 pron sites. My first instincts were proven correct. Now I'm all for free speech, but, the web needs to be cleaned up, there's way too much crap about. If I was an alien with superior technology scanning the universe to find intelligent life and I came across the web from the planet Earth, I really would think it was Planet of the Apes -20%.

However, I must not paint all Lists with the same broad brush.

So I tried again, this time I selected the Astronomy Digest, written in its description was a length list of vulgarity, porn sites again.

The third go was a little better, I joined a photography List and I will report back soon.

However, I refuse the believe all Lists are as narcissistic or hedonistic as the people who contribute at http://lists.topica.com/. This site is a spawning ground for the devils work. Why would you waste time on people you just can't trust and where everything comes into question over the information that's being broadcast. If the academics say you can't trust Wikipedia, why the hell would you be bothered with an unmediated service. So if the very nature of truth comes into question and deception is an everyday occurrence for this site, how can this be a worthy experience.

In the end cyber-relation creeps into normal life, very slowly but surely. Sites like http://lists.topica.com/ are the asshole of the web.

Sterile list of Pros:

1. communicate with a broad group of people inexpensively
2. efficient method of dispersing information to members
3. still waiting to find another
   

Sterile list of Cons:

1. not good for communicating on an individual to individual basis
2. mishandled email list can be sold to spammers
3. unmediated content can quickly go bush (go off track) and be a complete waste of time
4. poorly run group will just become a pain in the ass and clutter your Inbox when in content degrades into rambling conversations.

Creative list of Cons: a very apt word for this type of Lists

1. lists are like the Catholic church, one way communication. Dictating their doctrine views without listening to the followers. see ABC Compass
   
2. breading ground depravity (like a very nasty rash or venereal disease)
   
3. easy to broadcast your thoughts to similar pervert and create a community of would-be sex offenders
4. induce misconceptions and deceit
5. powerful tool to incite hatred and racist groups KKK, http://www.christianconcepts.net/informat.htm or the Nazi Party, http://www.americannaziparty.com/index.php. Call me paranoid but I have not directly linked these sites as I have no wish for these types of people to have a look at their referral list and see my details. So if you would like to view these sites then copy the address and past it into your browser.
   

In saying all this I am a member of a few lists groups, not the kind I describe above educational
groups. These can work in a very powerful way when used to better ones self.

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

I find the Listserv that I subscribe to predominatly tend to be one-way communications, receiving newsletters and information for use in hobbies, finance or sport. The information that I read from a list I may like to act on but I will very rarely contribute to.

Discussion boards are used for more of a two-way communication, listening and contributing to the posts and threads. There is usually a mediator to oversee the content and by their very nature tend to be more respectful, considerate and stay targeted to the purpose it was created for.

OK, maybe not all List are bad, I think I will need to investigate further.