Here are some of my comments about online discussion forums and blogs that overlap with PixelThinker’s themes:
Software development and technology:
Slashdot – In UNIX-like operating systems, typing a slash and dot is a way to indicate “you are here” within a directory of files. Slashdot is a high-activity discussion site in which members can suggest discussion topics, moderators decide which topics are published, then members can discuss the topics. Discussions can quickly grow to very large and often heated collections of comments. Slashdot lets members score the comments so that, ideally, the most valuable comments are highlighted and the lesser comments are easy to ignore. The discussion software is used for other sites as well.
Main subject themes are computers, programming, developments in technology, video games, online privacy, etc. Common attitudes on Slashdot include a preference for free software, particularly Linux; a disdain for Microsoft’s alleged shortcomings in technology and business ethics; and libertarian political leanings. “Does it run Linux yet?” is a common Slashdot test for the value of anything. Discussions often are sophomoric, poorly written and not all that important, but there is also a tremendous wealth of valuable information, helpful tips about technology, and insightful discussion about technology and society. Original posts are often full of buzzwords and acronyms, from an assumption that anyone worth having a discussion with would already know what the author meant.
Suggestion: This site has something new throughout the day, much of it eye-catching but also much of it not much more than a time-wasting distraction. Give it a whirl and if you recognize it’s a time sink, check the Slashdot tag on my blog for my own highlights; let me wade through the swamp so you don’t have to.
Joel on Software – Joel Sposky runs a software company in New York City. He occasionally publishes thoughtful essays about software development, the business of software, career development in the software field, and now and then, a technical topic. His site includes a discussion forum about his own essays and a potpourri of related topics, and another forum more particularly focused on the business of software. The business of software forum tends to attract people interested in a small, homegrown independent software development venture on a small scale (“micro-ISP”). The quality of the discussions tends to be high, but volume dropped drastically when Joel required registration. While Joel’s own articles are archived, old forum topics simply disappear, without an archive, as far as I can tell.
Joel is passionate that software developers become superb at development, and that superb software developers should have superb careers working for superb companies. His articles generally suggest ways that this can happen.
Suggestion: Checking in on a weekly basis is typically enough to keep up on the flow of discussion, although the volume is low enough that a daily check doesn’t take long. If the topics appeal to you, join Joel’s discussions.