I don't know if this is the right list or not (infra?), but I saw the topic here (and it is the 4th or 5th such request I've seen in the past 3-4 months) and in my mind it relates to improving the community, so I figured I'd discuss here first and then maybe we can take a proposal to infra@.
It really is time for the ASF to modernize moderation and our mailing lists. The current approach is very antiquated compared to other lists/groups I moderate (LinkedIn, Google Groups, Wordpress, etc.) and it is no doubt a drain on what is already a fairly constrained resource (i.e. committers, PMC members and heavy contributors). Things that I think we need in order to make moderation easier: 1. Web interface where you can bulk process requests, either accepting in bulk or rejecting in bulk. The mail by mail approach is horribly tedious and is so often overwhelmed by spam that it takes too long to find the ones that aren't spam. 2. Figure out a way for official ASF communications to PMCs, etc. to NOT have to be moderated. I find it ridiculous after all this time that I have to moderate in messages from board members, or others, etc. to PMC and/or other lists. There should be official communication channels that authorized people can use when they sign in w/ their ASF credentials. 3. Better spam detection such that any email that is NOT spam, after sitting in the queue is automatically sent back to the user w/ instructions on how to subscribe to and properly send mail to the desired list. Anything that is spam is put into a separate folder automatically and left to die after X days like the current approach. Other mailing list nice to haves: 1. For user (as opposed to dev) mailing lists, when someone sends an email to the list, automatically do a search in the archives first that replies back w/ potential answers and FAQs, thus offloading the I can't bother to perform a search first questioners. 2. Web interface. Web Interface. Web Interface. Don't get me wrong, I want a good old fashioned email, but a web interface would bring in a lot more people in my opinion b/c now I can pull instead of being pushed too. For some lists that I participate in less frequently, this would save a lot of work for my email server while still allowing me to participate in the list. 3. The ability for moderators to pin topics to the top for all users (i.e. FAQs, etc.) 4. Search In other words, real forum software. -Grant On Apr 16, 2013, at 7:09 PM, Ross Gardler wrote: > It seems that we need another moderator or two for this list - any volunteers? > > Ross > > Ross Gardler (@rgardler) > Programme Leader (Open Development) > OpenDirective http://opendirective.com
