BIG Forums Not Enjoyable?

Discussion in 'Managing Your Online Community' started by Kaiser, May 21, 2011.

  1. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Are you like me, where you can't enjoy the very big forums because there are so many threads/posts made every second? A great example of that would be DigitalPoint where there are about 459,484+ members, 15,121,154 posts and its one of the biggest forums I am apart of. There are threads and posts made every second. Just look at the activity http://forums.digitalpoint.com/spy.php.

    Everytime when I make a thread or post 90% of the time goes unread, so thats another reason I cant enjoy big forums, what about you?
     
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  2. Trealix

    Trealix Gamer

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    Same reason as you and also you dont feel like you can fit into the scene
     
  3. Rankin

    Rankin Regular Member

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    I agree to an extent. Some of my posts go unread in big forums, but other posts are read and replied to. I, however, enjoy big forums quite alot. Smaller forums are easier to keep up-to-date with though as its easier to find new, important posts.
     
  4. Queen of Ice

    Queen of Ice Regular Member

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    I like a bit of balance, personally. Though to be honest, I don't mind smaller sites at all. The smaller it is, the more likely you are to become an ingrained part of the community. Then once they grow, you've already become an integral, important part. Medium sized forums are my preference as there are a lot of different people to meet and share ideas with. When you post, your opinion actually means something and gets attention. When things get too large, it not only becomes harder to moderate, but users who have been around a long time can get elitist... and of course there are the things already mentioned too.
     
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  5. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Well it depends on how big of a forum you are talking about. If a forum has 100,000 members than thats pretty big but your posts wont be avoided, but if its 450,000+ than thats a different thing. And my purpose of this discussion was forums with 450,000+ members.
    Yea I agree, I prefer medium sized forums as well as its still easy for you to communicate with other members and enjoy.
     
  6. John15

    John15 Regular Member

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    Tell me about it, I know exactly what you are talking about. I joined DP not too long ago, and its very active. I made quite a few posts and never got any replies. Big forums not fun.. its too BIG.
     
  7. karoshio

    karoshio Regular Member

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    I like big forums if they are organized and there are some decent regular posters but even then if it gets too big its just not enjoyable anymore.
     
  8. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea its really not. Thats why I prefer forums that are at least 50,000 because you will still get recognition from other members.
     
  9. bejay

    bejay Regular Member

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    Theres not really a sense of community on really large forums. On smaller forums, you get this a lot better.
     
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  10. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    I agree, smaller communities are much more welcoming.
     
  11. SpacewardAsh

    SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

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    I can't enjoy big forums either, I just can't keep up. Sometimes it can be a struggle trying to keep up with posts here but at least this community is still rather small and is more welcoming than others, etc.
     
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  12. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I agree, you are not a member of DP, but once you join you will see how big and active it is. Not very welcoming. It doesnt really have that community spirit, its all about business there.
     
  13. SpacewardAsh

    SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

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    I know, other forums like WHT are the same, and I think FP also has that same feeling as well
     
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  14. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea WHT and DP are very similar, but not FP though. It still has that community spirit for me, I know most of the active members and they know me.
     
  15. SpacewardAsh

    SpacewardAsh Lurking From Space

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    I've always had the feeling that most things are not taken into consideration and that more members are favourable than others, and that you are not equal, etc.
     
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  16. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I agree, I have seen that happen on FP alot.
     
  17. cpvr

    cpvr Regular Member

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    Ya, I used to enjoy DP when it was smaller. There's way too many people there, and a lot of fluff posts occur, people repeating things. I really guess it depends on how well managed the community is. I still like Sitepoint's forums, but its too slow for my liking.
     
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  18. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Yea I dont mind site point as its not very acitve so you can still enjoy posting there.
     
  19. John15

    John15 Regular Member

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    Yea I am a member there, joined 2 years back. I go there from time to time.
     
  20. Kaiser

    Kaiser Regular Member

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    Alright guys back on topic. Whats your thoughts on BIG forums? Are they enjoyable?
     

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