Re: A suggestion ... the intent of this board.

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On 4/04/06, Mr. Blue wrote:
> I suspect that our largest problems is simply that few solos
> know that the forum exists (or that they're on the ABA's
> Solosez e-mail list--definitely check it out if you're
> practicing). Also, this "forum" software is antiquated and
> needs to be replaced by a pHp-styled discussion forum. Heck,
> I've even considered starting one myself.

It's not the forum software, this same program is running on
another website and it is hands-down the busiest discussion
network in that space. Like this website, that forum never
benefitted from any paid or formal marketing.

The issue is most likely one of critical mass and content-to-
noise. Although this website is over 10 years old, the
developer (me) has only really been paying it due attention
for a few months now (corresponding precisely with its
addition of AdSense).

Attorneys are a bit of a different animal than other interest
groups (say parrot hobbyists or teachers). Attracting them
and "selling" them on becoming invested in a forum has its own
challenges - constant noise from non-initiates, professional,
privacy and ethical policing concerns, etc.). While the
laypersons seeking free advice have long plagued
discovered this website, it seems that finally a cohesive peer
group of attorneys is starting to appreciate its value. The
solo attorneys in a way are like castaways each on their own
desert island - it's not surprising a tool optimized to
provide peer support would be first utilized by them.

This thread has hit upon a critical challenge for this board -
keeping the noise manageable, and that issue is affected by
the question "what is the board's purpose in the first
place?" I have been fostering professional online communities
for over a decade, and experience shows the best way to arrive
at these answers is to let the users themselves determine the
parameters most effective for their needs.

And here we are, right on schedule. Give or take a
decade. :o)