A forum participant since the Missouri experience, ~ 2005, then on dial-up, really limited, slowly learned the "foibles", many, but certainly not most. Here's what I've observed and concluded, in brief.
Participation results in "clans" (used "cliques", got banned once!), perhaps 10 or so, having similar interests or similar age, or similar gripes, similar something or other. Umpteen thousand members, 10 in the group! ??
Most offer "PMs". Members speaking to a chosen one, or only few, guarded from "public" view. Opens a "fun place" to cavort about, electronically speaking.
New members heartily-welcomed, then often regarded askance, for some time, as though being "evaluated": kind of like a new employee on "probationary period". Acceptable? Or no. If no, run him/her off.
Once yer "in", and have said the "right things", folks "open up", both to the member, privately, and to the scrutinizing multitudes, publicly. This here's where ya gotta be cautious.
Forums "suck you in" making for a psychologically-loaded experience which in times past in the face-to-face world would have possibly allowed serious outcome. Forum, though, allows "vaporization", leaving a still-embattled bunch devoided of one soldier.
Aside from my usually negative observations, forums are FUN! A place to trade ideas, ideals, concerns, sales and trades, wives, husbands, ............er, oops...., well, they are very flexible devices with which to wile away the time.
Where am I gone wrong here? imp
