Forums can be useful. If you are installing some software or the like, just pasting an error message into google gives you instant answer.

But who answers your questions? What experience do they have? And what support do you have if things go wrong? That’s right… another forum…

Do you really want to trust your computer, health, business, health of your children to a complete stranger with an even stranger “avatar” and a silly slogan for a “sig”.

And notice who “pops up” minutes after almost every post with their opinion or thoughts. If it were software that did this, it would be very expensive…

It’s known as “perceived authority” where we subconsciously assume people who are loud and noisy know what they are talking about.

In truth though, they are the cyber equivalent of a pub bore. Where every conversation has to start or finish with them or be “approved” by them. And they feel the need to join in every conversation regardless how little they know about the subject.

You wouldn’t go to a complete stranger in the street and say

“Excuse me, can you help me with this problem with my computer please,
here’s the error message”

We have just read James Brausch’s excellent book “The Internet Business Book” and he offers some advice on the typical make up of a forum.

The owner – They aren’t really bothered about what goes on so long as it is legal and makes money.

The moderators – Enjoy the role of being a football referee and having the power to delete post and throw people out

Lurkers – People who just lurk around, sometimes posting, most of the time keeping their heads down

Trolls & Pub Bores – People who I have described above. People who enjoy winding others up and/or showing off their vast knowledge

People who answer questions – People who think that they are doing a public service answering questions asked by people who can’t be bothered to look it up for themselves

Advertisers – Again, similar to owners, they aren’t really bothered so long as they make money.

Want to see what we mean ? Post a link to this article in every forum you post in and see the chickens fly…

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