[Tango-L] Email or FB?

[robert-b]

I use FB and don’t think it’s a good platform for any kind of extended discussion, aside from whatever privacy concerns one might have. It’s fine for announcement, for sharing Web links, news items, and so on, but it’s not conducive to thoughtful discussion. Notices and posts scroll too quickly on your timeline and FB manipulates the order of what you see so it’s far from an ideal platform. Even Yahoo would be better for a group discussion but Yahoo is terrible and awkward. 

I’m still signed up for one or two mailing lists. I’ve always liked them. They’re simple, direct, and low bandwidth. And they can be archived, which is how I found about tango-L and tango-A. The danger for this particular list right now is the size of the community. I don’t see how you’re going to bring new members in. Also, most of the people I meet through tango (with a few exceptions) aren’t all that interested in discussing tango. I have my own blog and I’m often surprised at the lack of feedback or simple lack of interest on the part of many dedicated tango practitioners. 

Robert B. 


On Apr 9, 2015, at 9:46 AM, Trini y Sean (PATangoS) <patangos at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I understand people's concern over FB.  I also know people who refused to leave messages on answering machines when they became popular.  Dance groups used to mail out fliers, but none in our area do now as it wasn't cost effective.  Postcards with a website address has replaced fliers with all the info.  Heck, there are even less postcards now announcing events.  But boy, do I get a lot of event invites.
> 
> What I have not heard are any suggestions on how to attract new voices to FB that would revive discussions and make it worthwhile to continue on MIT.  Historically, most of the discussions on Tango-L were started by organizers, teachers, or those maintaining tango websites.  All of the new teachers/organizers in my area are much more active in FB than on email listservs (except as it pertains to their work).  It's a lot easier to "friend" someone than add an email to one's contact list.  On the other tango listserv's that people use, how's the traffic there?  Is it by new voices or the same ones?
> 
> 
> Trini de Pittsburgh
> _______________________________________________
> Tango-L mailing list
> Tango-L at mit.edu
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l
>