campbell wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 12:49 pm
One potential disadvantage of the WA Community route is that new members can’t see previous messages.
Ie they don’t “persist” in the way they do in here or on Discord.
Hmmm
That comes back to what people are looking to use the platform for. As Robin pointed out, each platform has it's own advantages and functions. I see this place as a historic technical resource and potential signpost to other platforms. I don't regard WA as offering a searchable resource, but as a convenient, easily accessed, categorised chat group. Folk will use it for current chat and move onto the next topic, therefore negating the need to view old messages. I do not see the visibility of old messages as an issue in that context. The lack of old messages is only really an issue for brand new members, who'll soon have a trail of current comments to follow.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are quite a lot of spin off groups on WA, many of which would have a greater number of participants if they were more widely known about. The WA communities seems like a great place to being all these groups together. There is also to consider that some spin off groups are just a group of friends who are happy as the existing group and do not wish additional members / inclusion in the community. Such groups will exist no matter what.
I think the most important issue is to make sure that any newbies or visitors to this forum can be clearly and easily directed to the WA (or other) group.