3 ms·

Groups is the only reason I signed up for FB three years ago. These groups are very important for my open-source projects and professional life. FB is the onl

by dpau 8y ago

Groups is the only reason I signed up for FB three years ago. These groups are very important for my open-source projects and professional life. FB is the only platform that offers a common place where these diverse communities exist. Formerly, mailing lists and discussion forums like phpBB filled this need, but unfortunately FB has become the internet for many non-tech people. I have tried my best to lure members of these groups to free spaces that I have set up using software like Discourse. (And briefly, Flarum.) I've put hundreds of hours into building content within Discourse and providing support, but to no avail. It's simply too convenient for people to use Facebook, instead. I'm really saddened by this development. The rich archives of mailing lists and forums from these communities from the 90's and 00's are still searchable online via a few old sites and archive.org. But all of our discussions and knowledge shared within FB seems to fall into a "black hole". Search functionality within groups is horrible. Not to mention that it's impossible to search if you're not logged into Facebook. FB is a horrible place to build and share knowledge. But I haven't found a way to convince people to go elsewhere, nor have I found software that's convincing enough an alternative.

KajMagnus 8y ago
> unfortunately FB has become the internet for many non-tech people I'm wondering if this is slightly changing? I'm in a non-profit and we have a FB group for us volunteers. However, messages posted there, are seen sometimes by only 10, sometimes by only 2, members. Out of maybe 40 in total. The FB group doesn't work, because FB doesn't show things posted there, in people's news feed. Instead, FB shows one's friends kittens, and vacation pics? And we're looking for other solutions. (see below) Agree about the benefits with forums. Closer to 100% certain delivery (instead of 5% or 50% in the Facebook group), and searchable discussion topics, categorizable, taggable, nice formatting and nice full screen editor, various types of topics (question-answers, or HackerNews open-ended, or Slack like chat), weekly summary emails and announcements ... if using sth. better than Facebook. > But all of our discussions and knowledge shared within FB seems to fall into a "black hole". Exactly > Search functionality within groups is horrible Yes Plus, Facebook is rather buggy I think. I start typing a chat message — Facebook doesn't save any draft, and the chat message text gets lost because of the-lost-update-bug which FB hasn't fixed. Plus, the chat message window is sometimes like 1x1 cm, on a 30'' screen. Crazy. Network lockin —> UX disaster :-/ > I haven't found a way to convince people to go elsewhere It'd be interesting to maybe talk a bit about good ways to do that? :- ) > nor have I found software that's convincing enough an alternative. I'd like us to try Talkyard (see my profile), which I'm developing, and it's like Flarum and Discourse (which you mentioned). However there's also built-in chat, and Question-Answers topics for quickly finding a solution, if one gets stuck e.g. at work, so one can find a solution and get back to work. ... Whilst FB instead does its best to distract everyone with ads and new things in the news feed.

by dpau 8y ago

KajMagnus 8y ago

> unfortunately FB has become the internet for many non-tech people I'm wondering if this is slightly changing? I'm in a non-profit and we have a FB group for us volunteers. However, messages posted there, are seen sometimes by only 10, sometimes by only 2, members. Out of maybe 40 in total. The FB group doesn't work, because FB doesn't show things posted there, in people's news feed. Instead, FB shows one's friends kittens, and vacation pics? And we're looking for other solutions. (see below) Agree about the benefits with forums. Closer to 100% certain delivery (instead of 5% or 50% in the Facebook group), and searchable discussion topics, categorizable, taggable, nice formatting and nice full screen editor, various types of topics (question-answers, or HackerNews open-ended, or Slack like chat), weekly summary emails and announcements ... if using sth. better than Facebook. > But all of our discussions and knowledge shared within FB seems to fall into a "black hole". Exactly > Search functionality within groups is horrible Yes Plus, Facebook is rather buggy I think. I start typing a chat message — Facebook doesn't save any draft, and the chat message text gets lost because of the-lost-update-bug which FB hasn't fixed. Plus, the chat message window is sometimes like 1x1 cm, on a 30'' screen. Crazy. Network lockin —> UX disaster :-/ > I haven't found a way to convince people to go elsewhere It'd be interesting to maybe talk a bit about good ways to do that? :- ) > nor have I found software that's convincing enough an alternative. I'd like us to try Talkyard (see my profile), which I'm developing, and it's like Flarum and Discourse (which you mentioned). However there's also built-in chat, and Question-Answers topics for quickly finding a solution, if one gets stuck e.g. at work, so one can find a solution and get back to work. ... Whilst FB instead does its best to distract everyone with ads and new things in the news feed.