[AccessD] SPAM-LOW: Re: Moderator Message

 > Of course, we could do nothing, and watch the list slowly die like a knitting circle at an old 
folk's home.

Hey!  At my age that is not a metaphor I enjoy hearing.

;)

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Kenneth Ismert wrote:
> In the minds of most subscribers, AccessD = Database Advisors, so this is a
> critical discussion for the group.
> 
> It's obvious that the quality and volume of the AccessD discussion has
> declined, even though the quality of the participants has remained
> consistent.
> 
> In my view, this discussion boils down to one question: Is the Access
> development market declining?
> If the answer is No, then we must ask what we must do to attract newbies and
> keep the list vital and fresh.
> If the answer is Yes, then we must consider ways of evolving the list to
> keep up with changing times.
> 
> I think that the web is doing us in, one way or the other. Either we are
> being out-competed for newbies by more modern, web-based sources of
> technical information, or web-based data applications are out-competing
> Access as the newbie application development platform of choice.
> 
> I am surprised that Andy and Stuart are surprised that other lists like
> dba-Tech aren't getting use. Take a look at the current mailing lists page:
> it show 13 options, 8 of which are clearly irrelevant to any newcomer.
> dba-Tech is buried near the bottom. This screen provides NO reason why
> someone should read, let alone subscribe to, anything below the top option.
> I think the majority have resoundingly spoken with their subscription
> preferences.
> 
> Getting new subscribers is critical to the succeass of AccessD/Database
> Advisors. This means, at the very least, retooling the Database Advisors
> site and lists to be easier to use and find, and at most, reinventing
> Database Advisors itself so it is relevant to a new generation of database
> programmers.
> 
> Of course, we could do nothing, and watch the list slowly die like a
> knitting circle at an old folk's home.
> 
> -Ken