I haven't talked with previous presidents about this, but I actually like the fact that this site (hlug.org as well as this blog) does not operate as a forum (anymore...)
I've often remarked that not having forum (discussion) capability keeps down spam and bad feelings about flame wars, but there's another reason, and bigger. The material that would normally go to online boards were they available, in this situation must take place at the meetings. Bad punctuation, but you understand.
Users' groups have been in decline for ten years. Restricting most of our activity from the net, from IRC and from any other remote methods requires the interested individual to show up, and that improves our attendance, as well as Hal-PC numbers. Some theorize that the internet is killing users' groups due to the convenience of getting information remotely rather than in person. It's certainly cited as hurting technical print media in the case of the recently departed SYSADMIN Magazine.
So regardless of the condition of this site, my blog, the twiki, or anybody else's pages, I'm in favor of continuing the blackout on forum activity. Besides, not only do you get more info faster (potentially) in a human conversation, but it's not possible to rummage through our give-away pile over the net. It's also a lot easier to get six people to comment on your machine that you're rebuilding when you drag it into the Wednesday night workshop. Long live the blackout!!
