Generic Forums

UbuntuniX · 05-11-2007

Many forums these days just use the same scripts, the same themes, etc.
Very few forums are actually original, and many owners care more about statistics than having a good community.

What makes you interested in a forum? Does uniqueness have any relevance?

dfreer · 05-11-2007

(1) the expertise of the people on the forums (before ubuntu forums I only used forums for technical questions)
(2) the friendliness toward n00bies instead of comments like RTFM!!

so I guess I'd have to vote large, generic board, because the larger boards tend to have more experts and therefore a better chance of getting my problem resolved.

cilaes · 05-11-2007

i like a smaller, tighter community. it's more fun... and that's usually what a main "discussion" forum turns into after a while.

JoshJ · 05-11-2007

The theme/look/whatever of a forum doesn't matter (as long as it isn't eye-blinding like Fark was when they redesigned it, before they darkened the borders).

It's the community and attitude of the board+moderators. The forum software needs to be functional and VBulletin, phpBB, Invision are all functional enough software to get it done. If the forum software is trash that gets in the way but generally it's not.

Also, the opening poll is so ridiculously slanted it isn't even funny.

RichBarna · 05-12-2007

No option for "Both" ?

I think that most people here are members of several forums, (I am). This points to the fact that people like large forums and small forums.

I think that a large technical forum needs to be well laid out, have knowledgable members, and give quick service to members seeking solutions. Banter and chit chat should be kept to a minimum in threads, as this will hinder a forum search.

This forum is a good example of supply and demand. Every community needs to have a place to relax and chat about the world in general, with people who have the same base interest (Linux).

Whether big or small, the members and the content they provide really makes the forum.

To some extent the running of the forum is important as well, especially in an offtopic environment.

matthew · 05-12-2007

From the choices given I picked "small, unique," but I'm very happy with one of those becoming large and unique as long as the general community atmosphere remains.

UbuntuniX · 05-12-2007

The size isn't really important if it's a unique board; My point was what do people take into account when registering?

ETS · 05-12-2007

As long as the topics are interesting I will be on that forum. This forum for example, has A LOT of interesting topics, and better yet, most of the people here I know from ubuntuforums.

Moniker42 · 05-13-2007

I think the question in that poll is a little biased

It's a vote between "generic and unoriginal" and "unique and friendly"

localzuk · 05-14-2007

It all depends on the content. If a board is just full of idiots who like to troll and scream at newbies then obviously I wouldn't be keen. So long as the site has a good userbase (doesn't have to be big or small) and is relevant to something I'm interested in, I'd use it.

Example: EduGeek.net › News - it is a 'small' forum when compared with many others (2300 members) but the value of the content is higher than any I've come across. It fills a perfect hole in he market.

kozuch82 · 05-14-2007

I dont preffer either one. I like middle solutions.

View Poll Results: Which do you prefer?
A large, generic board with nothing original.	5	13.89%
A unique, small board with a friendly community.	31	86.11%
Voters: 36. You may not vote on this poll

05-11-2007	#1 (permalink)
UbuntuniX Stoner Hippie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 160	Generic Forums Many forums these days just use the same scripts, the same themes, etc. Very few forums are actually original, and many owners care more about statistics than having a good community. What makes you interested in a forum? Does uniqueness have any relevance? Last edited by UbuntuniX : 05-11-2007 at 11:42 AM. Reason: Typo

05-11-2007	#2 (permalink)
dfreer Just getting started Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 13	Re: Generic Forums (1) the expertise of the people on the forums (before ubuntu forums I only used forums for technical questions) (2) the friendliness toward n00bies instead of comments like RTFM!! so I guess I'd have to vote large, generic board, because the larger boards tend to have more experts and therefore a better chance of getting my problem resolved.
	omg i <3 pink ponies!!!1!

05-11-2007	#3 (permalink)
cilaes Commentator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 32	Re: Generic Forums i like a smaller, tighter community. it's more fun... and that's usually what a main "discussion" forum turns into after a while.
	Recycle. Eat Shit.

05-11-2007	#4 (permalink)
JoshJ ∀dministrator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 465	Re: Generic Forums The theme/look/whatever of a forum doesn't matter (as long as it isn't eye-blinding like Fark was when they redesigned it, before they darkened the borders). It's the community and attitude of the board+moderators. The forum software needs to be functional and VBulletin, phpBB, Invision are all functional enough software to get it done. If the forum software is trash that gets in the way but generally it's not. Also, the opening poll is so ridiculously slanted it isn't even funny.
JoshJ ∀dministrator Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 465	“There can be but little liberty on earth while men worship a tyrant in heaven.”- Robert Green Ingersoll

05-12-2007	#5 (permalink)
RichBarna Eligible for a custom title Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 184	Re: Generic Forums No option for "Both" ? I think that most people here are members of several forums, (I am). This points to the fact that people like large forums and small forums. I think that a large technical forum needs to be well laid out, have knowledgable members, and give quick service to members seeking solutions. Banter and chit chat should be kept to a minimum in threads, as this will hinder a forum search. This forum is a good example of supply and demand. Every community needs to have a place to relax and chat about the world in general, with people who have the same base interest (Linux). Whether big or small, the members and the content they provide really makes the forum. To some extent the running of the forum is important as well, especially in an offtopic environment.

05-12-2007	#6 (permalink)
matthew Eligible for a custom title Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 858	Re: Generic Forums From the choices given I picked "small, unique," but I'm very happy with one of those becoming large and unique as long as the general community atmosphere remains.

05-12-2007	#7 (permalink)
UbuntuniX Stoner Hippie Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ireland Posts: 160	Re: Generic Forums The size isn't really important if it's a unique board; My point was what do people take into account when registering?

05-12-2007	#8 (permalink)
ETS Discussion starter Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kenya Posts: 66	Re: Generic Forums As long as the topics are interesting I will be on that forum. This forum for example, has A LOT of interesting topics, and better yet, most of the people here I know from ubuntuforums.

05-13-2007	#9 (permalink)
Moniker42 Level 37 Bureaucrat Join Date: May 2007 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 188	Re: Generic Forums I think the question in that poll is a little biased It's a vote between "generic and unoriginal" and "unique and friendly"

05-14-2007	#10 (permalink)
localzuk Eligible for a custom title Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 154	Re: Generic Forums It all depends on the content. If a board is just full of idiots who like to troll and scream at newbies then obviously I wouldn't be keen. So long as the site has a good userbase (doesn't have to be big or small) and is relevant to something I'm interested in, I'd use it. Example: EduGeek.net › News - it is a 'small' forum when compared with many others (2300 members) but the value of the content is higher than any I've come across. It fills a perfect hole in he market.

05-14-2007	#11 (permalink)
kozuch82 Be gentle, newcomer Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3	Re: Generic Forums I dont preffer either one. I like middle solutions.
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