What draws you to a forum?

[SwordGrunt]

If my eyes don't like the colors, then I quit the forum in very few mintues without looking much. I mostly register to forums that discuss something I like, for example, games.


But I also register or visit a lot forums that are well made and with some customizations, even if I'm not very interested in the content. Cool graphics catch my eyes and brain.

[Enchant]

I think the thing that first catches my eye is the visual appeal. I think a nice looking for with a decent loading time is what will compel me to stop and take a gander. The next thing will be the content. I usually can tell if an admin takes pride in thier community. I like it when the board descriptions tell me what the board is about...I like when there is a good variety of topics....and last the activity....

[Nuggetman]

The subject,the forum design and number of members. ;D

[elizabethmarch]

I really like a good subject, when they have a somewhat complicated application so i know it is more serious, and if it doesn't have a lot of people. If you go in with a lot of people, I find it harder to converge into it and lose interest. If I was there from the beginning, it is easier.

[Quaalude]

Subject mater , color on my eyes , They have to have a fallowing and over 10 members but i still join forums with under 10 members just to help promote them , i guess if it's a Happy community of Members that all Get along and Have Fun with Posting , i also like Good Graphics , well Done Code that makes fun things happen and i like to see Girls Posting too QC

[Princess-Star-Angel]

The first priority for me is the rules and members. I really don't like sites that are overrun with cyber-bullies. The other thing I can't stand is admins and moderaters who don't crack down on them, or worse, are them. Really, I've seen a moderater use language I personally think moderaters should be preventing.
Then, of corse, there are things such as my interest in the genre, weather or not the skin is blinding my eyes, and how active the site is.

[marluxia4]

There are several things for me, but just like Star-Angel, when I read the rules it is like getting a first impression on the forum. Did the admin take enough time to type it up in a nice fashion and when they do I'm more likely to join a forum mainly because it tells me that moderators are more likely to crack down on the rule breakers. Also I usually join forums that have an RPG section just because I really like them. The skin isn't that big of a deal but I think it is one of the key reasons why many members join a certian forum. The amount of members at a site to me doesn't make a difference because I feel a forum is a forum no matter how many members it has, the only good thing about it is usually the forum is older and the admins have more experience.

[Shadeflight]

What brings me to a forum is the topic. If the topic is something I like, I'll look at it.
What makes me join the forum is organization, friendly members, and nice skins.
Organization is an important part of creating forums. It shows that the administrator made an effort in making the site. It also makes members feel comfortable while visiting the site.
Nice skins help as well. If they aren't hard on the eyes or blinding, or 'painfully dark', then you can be comfortable while you're on the forum.
Friendly members is a plus. If your members are friendly, people tend to make a lot of friends and love to be on the forum when it has a nice, friendly community.
Another thing I like to look at when joining forums is the ideas. Things like the board titles, plots, skin themes, etc. This is another thing that shows the administrator put an effort into making the site. It also shows that they tried to make the forum unique in its own way.
Lastly, good activity is always nice. If the site is active, people normally visit there often because someone else is there -- and they're loyal to being active on the forum. When people are active, the site doesn't usually get boring. :3
That's what brings me to any forum.

[Michelangelo "Spike" Scarlatti]

Pretty much waht draws me to a forum is how active it is and if its something I really like are the main two things
then I also look at the rules and if its a roleplay forum I will look at the character form cause sometimes they tend to want like a book from you about your character
its roleplay not a book about your entire life
if the rules are too strict or the character form is too long I leave

[Deputy Fife]

I am attracted to a forum first by the activity then the layout, things such as member features are last. I have noticed though that some forums that are extremely "bare" in terms of looks still do quite well only because they are part of a successfull website which draws people to it.

Some of the worst looking forums have the most activity because of being part of a good website, these forums would not have a chance if they were on their own. That said, I feel people look for activity and content more than graphics. Flashiness is great eye candy but if nobody ever posts people just will not care about it.

[Matt [Malfoy250]]

Aug 4, 2007 20:32:37 GMT -8 Martyn Dale said:

What draws you to a forum?

Aside from a well developed community, with many members, what is it that draws you to a forum? Which of those things are the most important to you?

Is it purely the colors? Perhaps the use of simple gradients? Or is it more than that.

Is it possible to draw someone in with just the use of simple colors, and basic gradients, or does it have to be something really flashy.

In addition, is there anything about the ProBoards "default" look (not colors) which could help improve the first impressions?

Again, please dont discuss member counts, or subjects, as those are obvious. This is with regards to the look, with the subject aside.

Well, the quallity of the skin is usually a big thing with me. Forums with eye-burning color schemes and graphics don't really go on big, and therefore it makes me want to get away from it quickly.

I think that in a future version of Proboards Welcome tables (Or side tables) should come default with Proboards and have it's own section in the Admin Panel so people new to Proboards without much HTML knowledge can still create a good forum.

I also pay attention to the general theme of the board. Normally I usually go to forums that interest me, such as Harry Potter RPG's, Discussion Forums, ect. But occasionally I will check out other forums as well, to give it a bit of variety.

[Former Member]

The layout of the forum is important and how active it is.

I also like the boards they have stuff that inrests me i will join.

[Stinky666]

Aug 4, 2007 20:32:37 GMT -8 Martyn Dale said:

What draws you to a forum?

Aside from a well developed community, with many members, what is it that draws you to a forum? Which of those things are the most important to you?

Is it purely the colors? Perhaps the use of simple gradients? Or is it more than that.

Is it possible to draw someone in with just the use of simple colors, and basic gradients, or does it have to be something really flashy.

In addition, is there anything about the ProBoards "default" look (not colors) which could help improve the first impressions?

Again, please dont discuss member counts, or subjects, as those are obvious. This is with regards to the look, with the subject aside.

Besides the fact that the forum needs to be based on something I am interested in, such as design/graphics, music, movies or general. What draws me in, are the colours, layout, images, features (code wise) and the overall design.
This is more than likely because I design myself, so I like to be on a forum that I can just look at and just think "cool" or something similar. I don't want to be looking at a forum (or website for that matter) where the colour's are hideous and bright. For the simple reason that it would probably hurt my eyes and just annoy me. I'd not be able to concentrate on any type of discussion(s), 'cos all I would be thinking was "gawd these colours suck" or something somewhat similar.

However, with that said, a forum doesn't need to have a really cool template and colour system with great coding features. It could just be a simple skin with no graphics such as that of the default PB skin. Just so long as the colours aren't annoying me, and the content is good, Im happy.

[webmaren]

I think one of the major problems with boards as of late is that people just want to make a board, but don't have a good topic. I'll see a board with a decent design and some good ideas, but I can't join it because it doesn't seem to make sense as a board. That and the boards that just get made so many times there's no reason to join one of them.

[Enchant]

Feb 23, 2008 13:36:06 GMT -8 @taker101 said:

The layout of the forum is important and how active it is.

I also like the boards they have stuff that inrests me i will join.

Make sure that you post a minimum of 4 sentences, telling us why you feel the way you do with the comment. Perhaps give us some of your experiences to make you come to that conlusion. Like wht appeals to you, graphics, content, coding? try and give the next person something to work off of

Feb 25, 2008 13:05:17 GMT -8 webmaren said:

I think one of the major problems with boards as of late is that people just want to make a board, but don't have a good topic. I'll see a board with a decent design and some good ideas, but I can't join it because it doesn't seem to make sense as a board. That and the boards that just get made so many times there's no reason to join one of them.

I see that alot as well....the same boards. If someone does managed to make something unique, it isn't long before there is five more up the next day....I also see where the graphics will be nice, but doesn't match the skin...that drives me crazy personally...