Dear list, I've read every single thread/post on this topic, and as a SUSE webforum user and moderator I have this to say. It is apparent to me that many of you have never used a webforum or have used one (that is not designed and run correctly) and have subsequently given up on them. A well managed and designed webforum is both a technical haven for idea exchange and a place for anyone (I don't care if you are an expert or a newbie) to come and get assistance with a problem or to chat up the latest topic. Both of the major unofficial SUSE webforums do a great job in this respect and pull community members together without regard to who they are or their experience level. I'd respectfully ask that you each give us a week of browsing/posting before you deliver any decision as to our effectiveness. Before I go onto the topic at hand, I'd also like to add that Suseforums.net is temporarily down due to growing pains. It was growing so fast that it outgrew it's pants, and it's currently being migrating to a dedicated server. Look for it to be back in a strong way in a couple of days. Ok, the following is my opinion and not that of the collective management (or membership) of Suseforums.net; I do not think an Official web forum will do anything to 1.) add to or enhance your mailing list traffic. 2.) Bring new members into the community. I may be missing a point somewhere, but what would this new Official forum offer that the existing major webforums do not offer? Folks have a place to go already, with two very well run forums in fact, why would having one more draw in traffic and membership to the OpenSUSE community? I am not arguing here, just trying to understand the value add of this new forum. If it were run by SUSE employees, that would be different...a definate plus to the community and I would be all for it. But a forum run by community volunteer mods, as stated, we already have that. Now on to the point some of you have made about running a webforum with no moderation. It will die on the vine before it starts. It must have moderation to be successful. Look at it this way, within (1) week of openning you'll have a dozen trolls posting and as many spammers posting links to all sorts of objectionable material. Any (self respecting) community members that you'd want to draw in would go away quickly, and you'd be left with a hopeless mess within a month. I have been a moderatior for many years, I come from experience on this topic. There is an art to this task that many folks overlook. Next, would a new forum take away from the existing unofficial forums? It might draw a few members away, but would we simply like to dry up and go away? I think not. We've spent years building these forums up, like (and are extremely proud of) what we've accomplished, and look forward to the future. Would this be the best thing for the Opensuse community? Show the community what you want to create in an official forum and then they can form an opinion. Again, from the discussion I have seen so far, you are not offering any added value. If it adds to the community in a significant way I am all for it. Oh and one more point. Those of you arguing that we've split the SUSE community by having (2) seperate major forums is nonsense. Many of the collective clientele roam freely between both forums without any hostility. Both forums experience phenominal growth rates. We are a commuity of (2) major cities with open communication lines, that is all. Minor differences in management style is irrelvent. Thanks to all for listening, and have a pleasant day. Harryc --