A recent poll was conducted @amplifypostgres to determine where the Postgres community should have its interactive communication. Options included were Google Hangouts, Slack, Reddit or “Other”.

The results were not surprising, with Google Hangouts beating Slack with 157 votes cast. There were also notable mentions of IRC, and Gitter. A couple of long time Postgresql.Org members asked the inevitable, “What is wrong with IRC?” Of course there is nothing wrong with IRC but when you tell many community users to use IRC, the most common response is “IRWhat?” which is either a sign of disdain or ignorance depending on the user.

The problem and what is driving this post was an additional comment made by a long time community member -- that we need to educate the users because the community (Postgresql) is on IRC and mailing lists.

This is not IRC

This line of thinking ignores the reality that many community spaces have been built up over the years. If IRC and mailing lists were sufficient for the needs of the community, then these additional community silos wouldn’t thrive. They are active and serve the needs of many communities that are linked but not directly integrated into Postgresql.Org.

This summary doesn’t take into account the many other Postgres communities. The NYCPUG has over 2300 users, yet I guarantee you that at most a small two digit percentage participate on “The mailing lists” or “IRC”. Let us also not forget some of the largest Postgres communities in the world such as Japan and Asia. Very few of them participate on the .Org lists, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t part of the community.

If as a community our goal is not only to build software but also to build people then we have to let go of our "old man, get off my lawn" tendencies and embrace new forms of communication and collaboration. I am a bonafide master of “Good lord, why do I have to use Slack” but guess what? I use Slack. Why? Because that is where you reach and engage a certain and significant number of community members.

If we don’t build people, there will be no people to build the software.