off-topic Why do you keep coming to forums?

[Shawn]

With AI, social media, Reddit, and blogs - why do you still come back to forums?

What are you getting out of a forum that another source is not giving you?

Why do you keep visiting forums?

 

[Harsh World]

I think forums are a much better platform for expressing ideas and soaking up more detailed responses to give you better insight on what you posted.

Say, for instance, you post a selfie of yourself in a dress online. You'll probably get a lot of, "Yessss!", "That looks great on you!", "Fabolous!", "", etc., replies. But do you get anything from that other than a cheap compliment?

If you did that on a forum, you probably wouldn't post it for the self-gratification compliments as demonstrated above, unless woven in, but rather longer form responses with substance, tips, and advice.

An example of this type of response on forums, which is completely different from social media, would be something like, "That dress looks great on you. You could probably put your hair up so that the neckline is more visible. A thin gold necklace would also look great with the earrings you're wearing, if you have one. I would probably wear this to a less formal event, so if you're planning on going to a wedding in it, you might want to reconsider."

The dopamine hit you get from a response like that on forums is probably why selfies aren't posted to forums. However, this is just an extreme example of what all social media posts give you versus what you can get from users on a forum.

 

[Shawn]

dopamine

THIS is what I get from forums.

I miss most things on social because of the way it's setup and algorithms.

I get to come back to a forum and see everything I missed and replies to my posts and extended friendship development gives me a happy feeling after I'm done with it.

 

[Harsh World]

I miss most things on social because of the way it's setup and algorithms.

I often thought about tinkering with the forum display algorithm to feed you different post orders.

But then I think about how I use forums and how I wouldn't like that.

They work just fine.

 

[Pete Griffin]

They remind me of the good old days when being online was a positive experience. I hate social media. I tried Facebook once and my daughter has tried to get me to look at TokTok. I just didn't understand it. It seems like utterly pointless drivel, really. With forums you can make connections with people all around the world. Even with people you don't see eye to eye with (I'm looking at you @Harsh World). That gives you a chance to learn about other points of view and other people. Social media gives you this glossy, filtered, over-produced view of the world. Forums keep it real.

 

[Harsh World]

They remind me of the good old days when being online was a positive experience.

Completely agree. There's just something different about forums that social media stripped. It feels less about community and more about self personal gratification on social media. However, that wasn't always the case.

I tried Facebook once

MySpace and Facebook were almost like forums back in the day. The way you would communicate or interact with others is much different today than it was in the 2000s.

Even with people you don't see eye to eye with (I'm looking at you @Harsh World).

That also brings up a good point, too. Social media seems to box people in so that they only see their perspective of the world and don't introduce opposing views, as doing so would decrease interaction, which isn't good when your goal as a corporation is to have as much interaction as possible.

Having said that, I believe that this was a gradual introduction from the 2000s to the 2010s~, and now, if you're a Trump supporter or a Harris supporter, you won't see beyond that and are only spoonfed the content of one side. This is dangerous because you will never know the full truth, only the truth that already fits what you've either been algorithmically made to believe or content fitting a pre-existing prejudice.

 

[Shawn]

Even with people you don't see eye to eye with

That's also what I like about forums.

Everyone is a keyboard warrior on social media because there really isn't any active moderators.

You made a topic where you call Trump and crook, that's fine. It's controversial, you're baiting debate, and it makes for a good topic. But you know, I know, others know that if we get all keyboard warrior and start calling each other names and making threats - we'll get moderated.

Most of the time, people act a little more decent on forums versus social media.

 

[Lord Severus]

I think what is hooking me to forums are two things:

1. The friends I make - they are real and organic and not looking to put down others by creating a false sense of lifestyles
2. There is moderation against the mass appeals of social media. that makes the place interactive, legit and organic.

 

[Shawn]

That's the good thing about forums.

Friends...

You can get on here for example and see the latest messages from those you enjoy chatting with. On social, you'll see what the algorithm wants you to see and by that time, you might forget about who you were chatting with before simply because social is giving you so much information that you overthink it and forget.

Social media might actually be bad for relationships online.

 

[Pete Griffin]

Social media seems to box people in so that they only see their perspective of the world and don't introduce opposing views, as doing so would decrease interaction, which isn't good when your goal as a corporation is to have as much interaction as possible.

That's the algorithm effect. If you interact with a subject, you'll be fed more of that subject and suddenly that's all you see. This is how sites like X and bad faith actors like Russia can influence elections. It's about style over substance. It's about clickbait and emotive titles designed to get people to rage.

You made a topic where you call Trump and crook, that's fine. It's controversial.

Hm, I have never really considered that the TRUTH might be controversial. I guess that's a consequence of my echo chamber. I believe in fairness and looking after the most vulnerable in society. Crooks don't.

 

[Cpvr]

The main appeal is the sense of community—bonding and connecting with others in a way that social media just doesn’t provide.

On forums, you truly get to bond with others and build real friendships. You don’t experience this the same way on social media. Sure, you can network and interact there, but nothing compares to the depth of connection that comes from longer-form discussions over quick, surface, high level interactions.

Forums have been a part of my life for the past 20 years, and nothing else comes close. I live and breathe forums, they are a part of me. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without them.

I learned how to manage a forum from another forum. I learned SEO from another forum.

Most importantly, I discovered the true meaning of an online community when I joined my first forum at just 15 years old.

 

[Shawn]

Hm, I have never really considered that the TRUTH might be controversial. I guess that's a consequence of my echo chamber. I believe in fairness and looking after the most vulnerable in society. Crooks don't.

It's controversial because there is a side that thinks he was framed altogether. More than half of the country voted for him after all. More than half of the country doesn't agree with your statements. Whether it's true or not, more than half the population doesn't agree so that makes your topic 100% controversial.

 

[Pete Griffin]

More than half of the country voted for him after all.

Again, with the lies. Can't help it, can you? Trump got 77 million votes. The US population is around 334 million. I'll let you do the math and come up with the answer. Clue: It's nowhere near 'half'.

As for:

Whether it's true or not, more than half the population doesn't agree so that makes your topic 100% controversial.

Nearly Two in Three Americans Think Trump Committed a Crime Following His Felony Conviction in New York

Poll on Americans' reactions to the conviction of former President Trump, including whether they think Trump should still run for president.

navigatorresearch.org

Majority Of Americans Say Trump Should Be Prosecuted On Federal Criminal Charges Linked To 2020 Election, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; DeSantis Slips, Trump Widens Lead In GOP Primary | Quinnipiac University Poll

"Not only do a large majority of Americans regard the federal charges as serious, more than half of Americans think the former president should face prosecution," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

poll.qu.edu

But don't let the TRUTH get in the way of a good LIE.

 

[Dead2009]

^ nobody's even heard of the links you provided lol

Anyway, because Twitter and sites like that are a cesspool

 

[Pete Griffin]

Ahh hahaha. LOL.

The second one is a .edu TLD. Restricted to accredited U.S. postsecondary institutions. This means it has significantly more credibility than you have.

 

[Yama]

I was active on various article sites long before I was active on social media. Even though I started using social media before forums, I was using social media just to promote my content. When I started on forums in 2015, it was mainly for making money by posting. But I really enjoyed forums therefore, even when the forums stopped paying, I continued on forums. The best thing about forums you can engage in meaningful discussion, on social media is now all about broadcasting content.

 

[Pete Griffin]

The best thing about forums you can engage in meaningful discussion, on social media is now all about broadcasting content.

This is absolutely the truth of it. Forums tend to be open forums where all content is treated equally. There are no algorithms decided what I should or should not see. They are raw, unfiltered, they are human. I'm so happy to have found this place after a long hiatus. Starting to feel the love for forums once more.

 

[Treborika]

For me l can say that l am into the forums so much. The most great thing that l really like with the forums is that l get to learn new things about range of topics.

 

[Cpvr]

For me l can say that l am into the forums so much. The most great thing that l really like with the forums is that l get to learn new things about range of topics.

What are some of your favorite forums? When did you start using forums? What’s the main thing that you learned from using forums?

 

[Ashake]

I think forums are a much better platform for expressing ideas and soaking up more detailed responses to give you better insight on what you posted.

I completely agree with you, forums offer a depth when it comes to engagement and discussion that is nearly impossible to find anywhere else. It is priceless and the best place to have an intelligent conversation, other than just a meaningless discussion on social media..

THIS is what I get from forums.

I miss most things on social because of the way it's setup

That is extremely true! It is truly great to come back to the forum and see how conversations have progressed which can't actually be done on Facebook or other social media due to their algorithm. That’s why forums are way better.

They remind me of the good old days when being online was a positive experience. I hate social media. I tried Facebook once and my daughter has tried to get me to look at TokTok. I just didn't understand it. It seems like utterly pointless drivel, really. With forums you can make connections with people all around the world.

I'm with you on that! Forums and social are as different as night and day in comparison. There is absolutely no better way to connect with people than to have meaningful conversations, which is peculiar to forums. What's your most favorite forum?

 

[Pete Griffin]

What's your most favorite forum?

I am only a member of one forum. This one.

 

[MamaFrankie]

Fora are fun, although you do get the occasional one where playground mentality rules and the moderators are wannabe dictators. There is also more to interest me on fora.

 

[Shawn]

Fora are fun, although you do get the occasional one where playground mentality rules and the moderators are wannabe dictators. There is also more to interest me on fora.

I mainly just see that on really big and older forums.

I tend to stay as far away from them as I can.

 

[Starmix25]

I am thankful to have joined a forum. I learned many things like business and investment. It's from a paid to post forum that ignited be to operate an offline and online business.

 

[Harsh World]

I mainly just see that on really big and older forums.

It tends to be very compartmentalized on larger forums, with the staff knowing who the problem is.

Sorry for your bad experience, but on a big board. As staff, we all knew. We would restrict them to an area designated for them in most cases when they attempted (frequently) to get out of line (to forum games, pretty much).