What Makes A Good Forum?

E

Erin_Gibson

Aeon Trainer (I wish)
Joined
Oct 16, 2008
Messages
1
Gil
0
Hey guys. I'm in a computer class right now asking for your help. We were asked to join a forum and find out what makes a good one. Since I have never been in one before, I was lost. I decided to pick a forum about a topic I love and know alot about. So here I am. I have a list here with a few things I think make a great forum. I hope you guys post what you think is great about forums and what makes them great. Thank you!!!

Erin_Gibson

1) Keep Language appropriate at all times
2) People should be knowledgeable about the topic if they would like to respond
3)Keep On Topic
4) Freedom for speech (to a certain extent)
5) Allow others to post their opinion (don’t take over the conversation)
6) Forums should be monitored at all time
 
That is a good list. Add:

Keeping out spam

Making the forum enjoyable to participate in for example if the users berate each others answers/comments or if the moderators and owners have a greater than thou attitude this hurst the forum in my opinion.

Make it easy to read and navigate and find what you are looking for.
 
I'l move this over to Study Hall?

Im not sure where it would be more fitting, so any other mods feel free to move it again =]

-Thread moved-
 
Erin_Gibson said:
Hey guys. I'm in a computer class right now asking for your help. We were asked to join a forum and find out what makes a good one. Since I have never been in one before, I was lost. I decided to pick a forum about a topic I love and know alot about. So here I am. I have a list here with a few things I think make a great forum. I hope you guys post what you think is great about forums and what makes them great. Thank you!!!

Erin_Gibson

1) Keep Language appropriate at all times
2) People should be knowledgeable about the topic if they would like to respond
3)Keep On Topic
4) Freedom for speech (to a certain extent)
5) Allow others to post their opinion (don’t take over the conversation)
6) Forums should be monitored at all time
Click to expand...
I might just pop it over to Costa Del Sol, since it's somewhat involving general chat.

Essentially, our rules are what make us good, as well as members who attempt to distance themselves from problems and a strong staffing team.

EDIT:
Also renamed the thread to make it more clear as to what the topic pertains.
 
Its fun and you can make lots of Fwends :) We can make jokes and talk about whatever we want, with a few exceptions of course :) Me likey that list too :D Have fun in computer class
 
Bah, I was gunna put it there in the first place

And I agree with Horatio, if there weren't a decent set of rules in place, people would just run amok, threads would go off topic, spam would be rife and I expect there would be quite abit of flaming D:

There is rarely a time when there isn't a member of staff online, and I think that helps quite alot, there is gwenerally always someone a member can go to if they have a query

As for the language, we aren't all that strict on it, people can swear as long as its not going over board or being used to insult another member

I'd like to think we are a fair and friendly place, which is key to having a successful forum IMO
 
Naturally, a good team of staff members are necessary for a forum to run properly. I want to say that good members make a good forum as well, but that is impossible to ask--you can never decide who joins or who doesn't join your forum, or else it's a private one and not a public one. However, you can influence the kind of audience you'll have by the kinds of things that appeal to them. Ie, the fact that this is a forum on a specific video game.

The rules are determined by the staff members. If the staff members aren't good, the rules most likely won't be good. But in addition to the rules, you need staff members who will follow the rules, and if they don't, will recognize that they didn't, and apologize for it. Another thing that a good forum needs is staff members who are willing to listen to the demands of the members. This doesn't mean they'll do everything the members want, but that they'll at least consider what the members want and consider if it is reasonable. If it isn't, they will be able to explain to the members why they aren't doing anything about it. It is necessary for all the members, regardless of their position on a forum, to respect each other. Without that, there cannot be a good forum.
 
I imagine it would take quite a lot of work to make a good forum. The Rules is probably the core thing that is needed (And naturally, forum staff to enforce them rules). But of course, it isn't all down to rules. Anyone can make a forum with rules yet it could still be classed as a boring forum, reason for that would be because people need to socialise with one another. Chat on the threads, in the SB or any other means of Instant communication.

So I suppose it is mainly down the perfect mix and balance of rules and socialising.

Oh...and let us not forget: Avoiding Drama! :gasp:
 
Unfortunately, drama is inevitable on any kind of forum. And part of that problem is that you can't choose your members on a public forum. There are people that intentionally go out of their way to make things harder for forum staff, and I don't know whether or not it's because they like to make people suffer or because they want the staff to see the flaws in their rules, and believe they should be corrected.

When these things happen, a good staff team that can deal with these problems accordingly and adequately will be a sign of a good forum.
 
A forum is kinda like a classroom I guess. It has rules, drama, students and teachers. Yeah we have our fun topics, but also the more serious ones. You get people who can cause drama and thats when teachers (mods) step in and handle the situation.

A good forum has to have a good team working not only on the forum, but behind the scenes aswell, like using MSN or PMs to communicate. If staff cant handle each other, then the forum can sense this and drama can occur.

People have pointed out so many good excellent points and indeed the rules are what makes the forum. As long as people respect these and each other, the forum can run smoothly without any hassle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top