Free easy to use discussion forum for U3A group?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on finding a free and easy-to-use online discussion platform for a University of the Third Age (U3A) group, which has been suspended due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The leader is exploring options like groups.io, Skype, Mattermost, and Rocket.Chat for facilitating discussions among tech-savvy members who are not on social media. The primary requirement is a platform that allows quick setup of discussion threads without the need for extensive technical skills or moderation. Email is considered a fallback option, but it is deemed inefficient for organized discussions.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of online discussion forums
  • Familiarity with platforms like groups.io and Rocket.Chat
  • Knowledge of online communication tools such as Skype and Mattermost
  • Ability to navigate and set up user accounts on web-based platforms
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the features and user experience of groups.io for online discussions
  • Explore the capabilities of Mattermost for group communication
  • Investigate Rocket.Chat's community edition for suitability
  • Compare the pros and cons of using Skype versus dedicated discussion forums
USEFUL FOR

U3A group leaders, community organizers, and individuals seeking efficient online communication tools for group discussions.

sdo62
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Hi, I am the leader of a University of the Third Age discussion group which has just been suspended due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation. I am hoping to be able to continue our discussions online in some way.

All group members are tech savvy enough to use email, and search the internet, but aren’t on social media like Facebook and probably don’t have experience with any sort of online discussion forum. I am wondering if there is a free easy to use discussion platform which would allow me to set up online discussions similar to what is available here, with different threads for different topics.

I am aware of groups.io and will be investigating to see whether it would be suitable, but would appreciate any other suggestions. Note that my tech skills aren’t good enough to set up any sort of platform myself, so I am looking for something that is free to join that I can quickly set up threads as required – I don’t see any need for moderation as long as posting can be restricted to my group. Failing a suitable option, we will probably continue discussion by email, but that will inevitably get messy and hard to follow, I think
 
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Science news on Phys.org
How about Skype?
 
How about Mattermost.org? I believe it’s free and it allows public and private groups to discuss things.
 

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