List subscription is more involved and presumably requires at least a tacit time commitment. Using the FTP site also is involved and imposes the further requirement that users not only complete the assigned project, but share it publicly. There are more specific reasons for varied resource use concerning content, tasks, technology, audience, tradition, design, and incentives. The primary subject matter of the workshop, HTML, may have been too narrow for many would-be participants. In addition, information about HTML can be accessed from several online and offline resources.
Many people can ask their colleagues for help.
Workshop coordinators were personally contacted by colleagues in their own organizations who were using workshop materials and they also received private email help requests from outsiders. The project task may not have been relevant. Indeed, this behavior was observed by workshop coordinators in their own institutions. Those familiar with the Internet often develop attitudes and apprehensions about using certain services. Subscribing to mailing lists can be loathsome because they generate too much junk mail, and messages posted to lists sometimes engender flaming, personal responses.