What makes a good forum?

What is it that makes a business like this grow?

What causes some to fail?

I won't inflict anyone with my thoughts since I have bad grammer and spell even worse.

I'm really curious, as to others thoughts. Perhaps the silent majority can provide some good insight.

Good question Ray. I have been a member of this forum and its predessor for what seems yonks and over that period of time seen it, like a living being change its shape and format several times. I have only ever once decided that its no longer for me and that was because we had one idiot trying to set a new record by replying to every posting, yes even the forum rules got a reply"Yes I agree" Thats when I stepped back and thought about it, but in time he got fed up and things got back to normal again.We also had a time when a moderator of all people decided to criticise a member because his education wasn't up to 'his' standard, he was promptly put straight about that attitude by several others , including myself.So you see, the forum is a group of people of differing age, education, political persuasion and yes, even moral standards.It is inevitable there will be some postings you disagree with and others you will say"me too"All I can say to those that criticise it is use your own judgement, read the things you are interested in, or think you may be, and bypass the others.I personally never ever look at the jokes in the Night life forum but I don't expect it to be stopped as others obviously do. I will add, and this is only my interpretation, just lately with the addittion of world news that the forum has got a lot more serious than ever before.
More entrenched views have led to conflict. Maybe that was a wrong road to travel, after all our views are not important to guest readers, they come on here to learn about Thailand and about living here on a day to day basis.As the forum used to be.A source of first hand info.

Those of us on here everyday know the ebb and flow of threads and where to find things.A newbie often may want quick info and this site could drive them nuts.A lot of the threads are little more than personal blogs.
How about a forum for rambling,The "tangents corner" All other threads could then be properly moderated by the mod team.Say what you like about the attitude of posters on Thaivisa,but threads are kept well on track.

Well I thought I could keep my mouth shut, but I just can't resist.

A forum is an entertainment venue, heaven help the person that goes to one expecting to find accurate information as to government regulations that effect his life.

What makes a forum successful is, people and participation.

Limit the forum to a specific caliber of person and you limit growth.

Curtail the flow of information to much and you limit the possibilty of new ideas. Flow of ideas and thoughts create participation, without it you got a nice web site and thats it.

I see a need for contolling a thread when we are dealing in a serious subject matter, at least until such time as the answers are in the thread. To be honest after that I don't care.

Most of the subjects that come up used to not be that serious, but unfortanetly at the moment we do have serious matters coming up, but how many times can you list the requirements for an annual visa. The answer one time if the information is correct. The rest of the thread is to soothe nerves and venting sometimes. Lets face it guys you want the correct answer to that one, you go to immigartion not the forum, becausing in the end it really doesn't matter what we think.

I want to speak of posting from other forums, there are not many people on this forum in comparison to others that are available and an even smaller number who actually post. We can only think of so many subjects. Remember this is Udon smack in the middle of Issan, sometimes folks it can get rather dull around here. There are some here that do thier level best to try to keep the forum active and to be critized for trying to keep a flow going is just not right. It is much easier to be critical then to be creative and try to add something to this experience.

It's hard enough to get people to post let alone create a new subject heading to offer thier two cents worth.

Critisize them when they do post they probably won't subject themselves to it again.

For those seeking specific information there is a search engine on here, that works very good. But we live in a real world where people are probably not going to that very often. If people are like me I read the posts to determine if there of something of interest. I'm retired I have the time.

This is an excellent web site, but you stifle creativity and the flow, you will end up with not much more then a government web site. We all enjoy those so much. This is enertainment, a very different creature.

You know I've always been good natured about the critizism about my spelling and grammer. But now I see someone asking for a spell checker, so he won't offend the almighty spelling gods. When it was me no big deal, but to make someone new on this forum feel that way is just wrong. I don't care about his spelling or his sentence structure. I care about what he thinks and what he can offer and I would like to see it. Stiffle the flow that always makes for an interesting activity to participate in.

I think the best idea is to create a correct section, no spelling errors, no grammitical error's and no random thoughts. Now wouldn't that be wonderful then all those who feel superior to others can just post thier little hearts away and never be offended by a poorly constucted sentence and everyone can think the same way. I certianly won't bother anybody there.

So my answer stands, People and participation.

I apologize for my spelling, typing and grammer please forgive me

I am in the same corner as Ray.I see this forum as a local people participating for many reasons.It is a form of socal club to me .Some things are of no interest to me as and I thats fine,they are to some.I don't see it as just an information site,especially from anonymous posters.

I ocassionally post on another site ,but not much and it is always to share my experience with others asking about a topic.This forum takes a more personal format as most of the locals don't remain anonymous to each other.

As far as threads getting off topic and personal blogs are concerned.Again ,I say it is because there are only a few people that post seriously on any thread because it is a small area forum.

From a business point of view,I have no idea!The owners of the forum have to make those decisions for themselves!

Do you not think that most newbies are coming to this web site for information on Udon rather than for entertainment?Why have all the separate headings like transport,food etc if posts do not have to be specific to that subject.Just have one big forum on any subject you like.No there needs to be some kind of structure.

I still think a forum for the old timers is a good idea.Those who know all the facts already can gibber away to their heart's content.

Newbies looking for info usually get it in the first 4 or 5 posts of any thread.Why should they be the focus of the forum?

Hmmm,interesting,maybe Lee can say what the main target group is.

Thats a great theory but who are the newbies going to learn from if the Old Timers don't give out the information?

I still like my section. But maybe a newbie section created by someone who can anticipate all thier questions, pull from the past posts and create all the answers in one section. That could poor research no need for feed back, just simple straight forward answers. What about the thoughts that can't aniticipate yet because they don't have enough information to form the question

I have seen very few question by newbies or otherwise that have not been answered with the exception of when no one even has the coutesy to answer at all, thankfully that doesn't happen often. But since we are responding directly to one another, shouldn't we be in the chat room now?

Or maybe just leave it alone

john2005 wrote:Do you not think that most newbies are coming to this web site for information on Udon rather than for entertainment?

Spot on. Not just newbies either.. many issues and experiences are kept updated through member input.
IMHO the forum has changed considerably over the past 18 months... but is still a good place to source require info, if you are prepared to cut through the chaff.

john2005 wrote: I still think a forum for the old timers is a good idea.Those who know all the facts already can gibber away to their heart's content.

I don't think age is the issue John, (I know of a recent poll on another forum regarding this very issue), but I agree with this idea:


Keeps ones daily thoughts from clouding the path, so to speak...
I think sound advise to new members would be: "use the search box".

I think the mods are just asking for the information to be relevant.A lot of people must come to this site on the back of a google search and they end up in the middle of a discussion on African politics.I would imagine there are many times more guests visiting than members and page clicks are what generate revenue on a commercial site like this.I mean who would advertise if it were just Ray and Stan chatting to each other.

John you off topic shame on you

So I guess you disagree that a newbie coming to the site wouldn't get his info from the first few postings on a thread!I only see the frustration of following a thread,when clicking on the end of the thread!Where do you get lost?

By the way,what do everyone think a newbie is getting out of this thread?

Exactly and who started it?

So I guess you disagree that a newbie coming to the site wouldn't get his info from the first few postings on a thread

If i get really bored i will dig up a thread or two where after several pages the original question has still not been answered and the subject changed to the weather in Florida.