Comments on: The undeath of lists

By: walt

walt — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 17:09:44 +0000

Good comment(s).

I don’t find it surprising that some LiveJournal blogs–or whatever they are–are highly conversational. That seems to be the nature of LiveJournal.

Some of these discussions are going to result in comments at C&I, I do believe: people have raised interesting and thoughtful issues that deserve a wider audience than this here weblog.

By: Eli

Eli — Mon, 20 Jun 2005 17:01:13 +0000

There’s a diversity of voices that’s present on a list (and boy, do I have a hard time not adding “-serv” onto that) that even the some of the best of group blogs have yet to master (and strangely, some of the most conversational blogs I’ve read have been LiveJournal communities — take that as you will). And at some point, wikis may become conversational, but they don’t seem to be yet.

Also, Seth:

Radio isnâ€™t dead. But radio dramas are.

As a fan of L.A. TheatreWorks and a huge, adoring, screaming-fangirl devotee of Joe Frank, I would argue that radio dramas aren’t dead, either. Not a primary medium for drama nowadays, but it’s not non-existent, either. Which may be the case for lists …

By: Norma

Norma — Sun, 22 May 2005 12:12:42 +0000

I remember when listservs first became really popular, some librarians were questioning whether we needed our small task groups at national meetings because everything was talked about on listservs. Some questioned why we needed to meet at all.

By: Elizabeth McKenty

Elizabeth McKenty — Sat, 21 May 2005 17:13:01 +0000

I don’t think good lists have aged significantly. Lists may have “stars” (many do), but lists are much more open to give-and-take than any blog I know. I love Web4Lib for the fascinating discussions, like the recent “in defense of stupid users” that morphed into “Amazon vs. Google as role model” and included responses for at least 30 different people. But I also like what I think of as reminders-from-the-outside-world-not-to-think-our-navels-are-all-engrossing (“please help me unsubscribe” posted to the list). Or the roll up our sleeves what’s-wrong-with-this-code stuff, though I am never any help.

Plus, there’s the ability to respond directly, easily, and privately, to the sender. Don’t get me wrong, I love my library blogs. But do not take away my lists! It is another “and not or” .

By: Seth Finkelstein

Seth Finkelstein — Fri, 20 May 2005 12:00:43 +0000

List aren’t dead. But they have aged significantly.

Many (not all, not completely, not entirely – but many) of the higher-level people who used to use open mailing-lists as an outlet have moved to running their own blogs. Because why be one among many when you can be a star?

Again, that isn’t all there is to lists. But it’s a factor I’ve noticed.

Radio isn’t dead. But radio dramas are.