What Makes A Forum Succeed?

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

Indeed, and you're welcome, JJ .

I will always remember you as one of the first friends I made when I came here when v5 came along.

And today, like back then, I'm always happy to see you around.

[JJ]

Aww, that's so sweet, ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥, and I remember you and our pm chats as well. Sometimes, like nature and chemistry, like finds like. People come into our lives, and people leave our lives, but like your saying under your avatar, even the tiniest snowflake matters, and so do all of our online interactions. They shape us, don't you think?

Which reminds me of something else that helps a forum succeed, and that is the importance of being yourself at all times so that your members don't have to guess which persona you are going to be wearing on a given day. If you are in a bad mood, just say so and apologize up front for not feeling very chatty. Just try not to be snarky!

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

OMG, JJ ~ I was just thinking the same thing.

Be yourself. Be genuine. Phonies can be easily spotted.


And yes, I loved our PM chats and am always happy to see your avatar out and about here. Same with the poster a few replies up ~ Skidjit . Another I met here when v5 arrived and am always glad to see around.

And that's another thing a successful forum is ~ friendships found, friendships renewed. 

[JJ]

Well, I have to disagree to one extent, ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥, some people get roped in by phonies on a regular basis. Then they get burned and even hurt when they get betrayed. I'm not easily fooled, but I have been several times. Also, some people are just consummate manipulators, and sadly, they are members of many websites. Fortunately, there is a pretty good network. Sort of reminds me of the old Tarzan movies where the natives would beat their drums to warn others of danger. Some of the con artist get shot down in flames when all their chicks come home to roost! Couple of metaphors being mixed there, but I'm sure you get the idea.

While I am on a roll, I'd like to say that it is important for site owners to keep Private Messages private. No matter how much you would like to share with a friend, don't. If action needs to be taken on the information you have been given, handle it as though it was your own thought, not something that was told to you in confidence.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

I probably come from a different perspective about phonies because the vast majority of our membership doesn't consist of ProBoards' members, JJ. So there really is no network to "sound the drums" so to speak. And I've been blessed that the  ProBoards' members that have joined, have been assets. So I must rely on instinct alone. And, perhaps, some have been phonies that I've not picked up on, but for the most part, our active members are genuine.

Regarding PMs, it's not only essential for site owners to keep them private. It's essential that all members do so, as well.

If someone breaks a confidence, there is danger in that type of personality.

[JJ]

Yes, ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥ , I am now a member of other sites besides Proboards as well, so the drums beat slower, but they still beat. That's because some of the same people make the rounds looking for fresh victims. It's been an interesting phenomena over the years watching the trouble makers get spotted eventually and slowly, their posts start getting ignored... then they move on. And so it goes.

It's almost impossible to keep members from sharing some tidbits in PM's, it's going to happen. The important thing is that the site owner does not get mired down in grievances and just be a diplomat. If a person gets so irked at a member they leave the website, I feel bad. But the interesting thing is that, after a few weeks or months, they come back! I just welcome them back and keep on keeping on. People are people the world over and they have bad days, months, moods, etc. It happens, so I try to make allowances.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

JJ , 

As you say, people are the same the world over. We have good days, bad days, and everything in between.

As long as one's moods don't disrespect another, moods are to be expected and quite the norm.

Forums do mimic life. 

[Skidjit]

OH goodness. I've been part of online communities for at least 15 years. Normally, one place at a time. I've learned so much from my early years about not getting online if I happen to be in a bad mood. However, if I do happen to be on my site, I will tell my friends I'm backreading right now and probably should not say much until my headache is much better. I do have a couple of my members who are tender hearted and won't say that they were wondering why I had not responded to something they posted. Sometimes I will go ahead and shoot them a note just to let them know.

But really, that's a ME thing.

OK... to keep on topic with this thread...

As admin, your members will see that you are online. They also won't fall for the "invisible" member viewing thing either. (Does that still exist?) Anyway, if I'm working on the site a lot, I usually will put a notice in my News Fader just to let them know I'm not ignoring them, and would love a chat if they would send me a PM... I might not even know they are on the site at all. So many people will leave a site IF they think they are being ignored, or that they are not important enough to even say hello. Thank goodness that has not happened on my account. 

Thanks ♥ ℒʊ√ ♥ . You are so sweet.

[JJ]

You mentioned one of my main rules, Skidjit, that no member be ignored, but I mostly mean their posts, not that they are online. I don't have the Chat feature turned on at my place. Some members will come 2-3 times a week, but only post once.

I particularly have enjoyed the Like feature we have now. Sometimes a poster will say something I agree with, but I don't have anything to add to what they said. However, I do want them to know I read their post, so I used the Like feature. I think we all want validation, someone to know we exist, that we have visited, so it's really important that we let our members know we see them and appreciate them visiting.

[Skidjit]

Yeah I know what you mean. i use the karma system in much the same way. My members do like yours, backreading a few times a week then they would post a spree all at once. I'll read a few right then if I don't have my nose in my admin panel where I don't see them till they're gone. My members all pretty much know it's something like that with me.

[JJ]

My members know me too, Skidjit, and they know I "don't do mornings." I show up in the afternoon to do my thing. But with my members being from all over the world, people pop in at all times of the day or night. For such a small site, there seems to always be something going on.

[♥ ℒʊ√ ♥]

Agree, about the "like" system. Sometimes, a response isn't necessary and it's just a post that requires acknowledgment.

And we don't have the karma system, but we do have Todge 's great LOL plugin. Sometimes, an lol is more appropriate and sometimes, an LOL and a "like" are just right.

[Skidjit]

♥ ℒʊ√ ♥ What's the LOL plugin? Or maybe I read your comment wrong. LOL

I've considered the "like" system, but then I think I would find myself caught in a trap, since I don't ever want ANY of my members feeling left out. I would read EVERY SINGLE comment (which I try to anyway) then hit the like button just because. I never want to show favoritism, even though there are certain members I would rather "like" their comments more than others. On my account, I think it would be obvious to all of my members that I'm just doing it for that reason.

Then there's a certain member I have in mind, who tries so much to impress EVERYONE, that if any particular person didn't like that members posts, or even only "like" a few of their posts, I could imagine hurt feelings. I don't want anyone to leave my site, because they have this need to impress all of our members.

I'll have to admit, there are some popular threads I don't read unless it's a blue moon. They like them, and they are good fun threads, just not my cup of tea. All is well anyway. But if I don't LIKE any of the posts there but on rare occasions, they will notice. THen I'd feel bad.

Honestly, I LOVE the "like" system on a very busy site like this one. It works perfectly, but on my little site, it might not be so good. The Karma system shows their points only and not WHO gave them to them. In the v4 days, I could go into my admin panel and on a certain page, I could see who gave what to whom and when. Since by now, I know who gives often and who gives on rare occasions, I no longer need that admin panel view screen.

[JJ]

I know some sites have blocked a single word or emoticon reply, but I love that option at my place. My members will use a single ROFL, or OMG, etc, and it gets the point across. Especially with jokes or hilarious photos. I think since I like emotes and have a lot of them, the members just like to have fun with them too.

I'm not to crazy about the "karma" system, Skidjit. I belong to a few sites that use it and it makes me squirm sometimes. Long time members have thousands and thousands of points, but the newer members have maybe 15 or 20, and not the faintest idea how to earn them. I only have one are I don't participate in, that's the games, like ABC stuff. I will go in there now and then to clean it up or add new stuff, but it is mind numbing to me to play.

As for the like system, I don't play favorites, if something strikes in a positive way, I'll like it if I don't have anything to add. It can be anything, too, a wise comment or a sarcastic one about the weather, etc. Lately I've notice more and more people using it on other boards where I visit. It's a great way to show you are reading what people post and to bolster their position. When V5 came out, few people used it, but I think it was because it was so alien to what we were used to. Now that more are finding it a comfortable option, I think others are seeing the benefits of that nifty tool.

Speaking of tools. I mentioned this awhile back, but I'll reiterate it. There are great tools available here. One of my favorite is the Simple Tagging plugin. I am staff at a place with a lot of members that are not very tech savvy. I cannot even count the number of times I explained to them in the computer help section how to tag someone with the @ option. When the owner installed the Simple Tagging plugin I was so thrilled! The members love it and use it all the time now.

Another tool that is excellent is Fading Quotes. What this one does is shorten long quotes (which so many people use) with an option on the bottom to expand the quote. This can greatly speed up a person's passage through a number of posts. There is enough of the quote for the reader to get the gist, and if they have been following the thread, they do not need to revisit the material.

[Skidjit]

I guess because I make a comment TO my members in a post on that thread, that I let them know that I have read their posts. That works for us.

Having rules for earning Karma? Weird. I think I've heard of some people doing that before on their sites. I have it open where ALL of my members can give karma, not just the admin. So, it's wide open. And because I'm me, even keeping the new members in mind, I will give them points just to let them know that they are an important valued member of my site. (MSG is our newest member and I just awarding him 10 points while I was just over there at my site.) I think as far as rules go... my members make up what they deem as a reason for awarding karma on their own. FOR ME, I like to award a point to the person who posted right before me on a thread I'm getting ready to post on. SO, if you post OFTEN then I will award you just for participating. But I don't leave out those who can't be online for their own personal reasons. (Hectic work schedule, tending to a sick family member, or getting well after THEY have had major surgery. etc.) They will get something just for me. But then again, I can see how the Karma plugin really isn't everyone's cup of tea, it's just what has worked wonderfully for my members.


Hey, Tagging. I never used that but here. But when MSG started posting on my site, he tagged me there. I guess it's part of proboards automatically, I really don't know if it's everywhere and I just never knew it. I think it's a cool thing JJ. Before this happened, I was seriously considering adding it to my site. I know not all of my members will know/use it, but still it's cool.