Why Join an Online Forum?

[faithalina]

Hello All - I need your help!

I am doing a Creative Non-Fiction writing class as part of my Masters program and have chosen to write a feature article on online forums. Specifically, as this thread title suggests: why join an online forum as opposed to, say, talking face to face with like-minded people etc.

We all do things for different reasons, often assuming our reasoning is the same as everyone else's. I am curious as to why so many of us choose to be active participants on online forums. Where does the desire and ultimately the satisfaction come from? I have some theories, and reasons of my own, but would like a more 'global' perspective, hence my sending out this request!

I am very interested in reading your thoughts.

 

[Peder]

More easily and frequently available? Greater variety of people and thoughts? Ability to discuss many books at a time in different forums? Plus, oddly enough, perhaps greater openness and honesty than in face-to-face discussion -- especially when someone disagrees. And a great source for book suggestions, which one can either accept or not.

 

[Eva]

why join an online forum as opposed to, say, talking face to face with like-minded people...

This is the flaw in your question. Most of us do both.

 

[faithalina]

This is the flaw in your question. Most of us do both.

perhaps i ought to have asked, 'if you had to choose, which would it be'. though, the original question is still valid, since, as you suggest, not everyone does both, for whatever reason.

 

[pontalba]

I don't know that there really are that many people that do both. I'd have to suspect not that many in reality - compared to the forum population. It would be interesting to know the percentage that do in fact participate in both forum discussions and face-to-face discussions.

So to answer the original question.

Variety of both books and reader's perspective.
24 hour access.
Ease of communication.
A certain disconnect that would not be possible in personal interaction.
And yes, book suggestions. I have a delightful and unexpected variety in my TBR stack just because of forums like this.

 

[Peder]

Afterthought: Online forums are definitely wonderful for people with extensive reading habits.

 

[saliotthomas]

Plus, oddly enough, perhaps greater openness and honesty than in face-to-face discussion

Very true,a few time i did say i loooovveeeed The alchemist to a good looking woman.

Eva,you must be very lucky in your frequentation because i know of very few people in my entourage with an interest in book,or at least as sharp as in certain forum.(appart from my family but i would not call it a 'forum')
but maybe i'm a bit of a savage.

 

[faithalina]

Plus, oddly enough, perhaps greater openness and honesty than in face-to-face discussion -- especially when someone disagrees.

I agree with what you've said here, however (and I realise this is not always the case) I find the forum world a bit hard to take at times too. I was completely turned off by some key participants who appeared to use the forum as a platform for their intellectual snobbery and to trample on the thoughts/opinions of others. Their behaviour certainly made me question their social skills in the 'real world' and most definitely did not make for a 'safe' place to share etc. Anonymity has its price I guess. Of course, as i mentioned, this isn't always the case. And fortunately I was merely observing the arrogance, not suffering directly under it at the time of my observations.

I joined a couple of forums because I love books, love talking about books and had just moved to a new country where I was having trouble locating book clubs in my area. Personally, I think I prefer the face-to-face setting for group book discussion in terms of atmosphere and a sense of community, however, I certainly appreciate the accessibility of the online forum and the wider number of participants/perspectives...but that's just me. I guess that's part of why I'm asking the question.

 

[saliotthomas]

I agree with what you've said here, however (and I realise this is not always the case) I find the forum world a bit hard to take at times too. I was completely turned off by some key participants who appeared to use the forum as a platform for their intellectual snobbery and to trample on the thoughts/opinions of others. Their behaviour certainly made me question their social skills in the 'real world' and most definitely did not make for a 'safe' place to share etc. Anonymity has its price I guess. Of course, as i mentioned, this isn't always the case. And fortunately I was merely observing the arrogance, not suffering directly under it at the time of my observations.

I wonder in which "real world" you live in.You mean a real world were everyone in nice and polite,were kindness and love are hightly valude?Not the one of reality TV,arrivisme,oppotunisme,lies and perversions.A safe world?A cocoon?
Personaly in like a kick in the arse when i'm been stupid(quite often).I don't enjoy it but i can take it.Book generates strong fellings and opinions,like 'real life',an people react to it.It can not awlay be soft and consensuel.Some of us can sometime be a bit snappy when reading the same opinion over and over again,but we all observe and are interested in new menbers.Some joke or teasing help sensing new personalities which is the life of a forum.
Some forum are like tea parlor or mickey club,pink and nice full a compliment and sweets.More like "real life".

 

[Peder]

I find the forum world a bit hard to take at times too. I was completely turned off by some key participants who appeared to use the forum as a platform for their intellectual snobbery and to trample on the thoughts/opinions of others. Their behaviour certainly made me question their social skills in the 'real world' and most definitely did not make for a 'safe' place to share etc. Anonymity has its price I guess. Of course, as i mentioned, this isn't always the case. And fortunately I was merely observing the arrogance, not suffering directly under it at the time of my observations.

Unfortunately that is an accurate observation, at some times, for some people, in some forums. There is all that difference between forum conversation and personal conversation. One just has to find a seemingly friendly forum and hope for the best. But opinions do differ and the post above explains a different view.

 

[faithalina]

I wonder in which "real world" you live in.You mean a real world were everyone in nice and polite,were kindness and love are hightly valude?Not the one of reality TV,arrivisme,oppotunisme,lies and perversions.A safe world?A cocoon?
Personaly in like a kick in the arse when i'm been stupid(quite often).I don't enjoy it but i can take it.Book generates strong fellings and opinions,like 'real life',an people react to it.It can not awlay be soft and consensuel.Some of us can sometime be a bit snappy when reading the same opinion over and over again,but we all observe and are interested in new menbers.Some joke or teasing help sensing new personalities which is the life of a forum.
Some forum are like tea parlor or mickey club,pink and nice full a compliment and sweets.More like "real life".

gee...clearly, books aren't the only things that generate strong feelings and opinions!

i agree, that it's important to be told when you're being stupid, as you say, but does that mean that the one kicking the ass, has to be an ass to do it? This may be a degenerative age where 'arrivisme,oppotunisme,lies and perversions' (not too sure what the first word is) seem to be upheld and where politeness, courtesy and respect are considered idealistic, as suggested in your response, but there are some of us who still see the value in treating others the way we'd like to be treated...whether we disagree with them or not. perhaps I am naive. so be it.

you present an interesting perspective. i wonder who else shares it. i don't mind being the odd one out.

 

[Comeflyaway]

Variety of both books and reader's perspective.
24 hour access.
Ease of communication.
A certain disconnect that would not be possible in personal interaction.
And yes, book suggestions. I have a delightful and unexpected variety in my TBR stack just because of forums like this.

I'd have to agree with all of these. Also, there are a million on-topic conversations to pick and choose from. Conversations aren't real-time. There's relative anonymity, which is nice for those of us who are shy, and plenty of different, varied people to converse with. And honestly, people in my real life really don't want to hear about all the books I read, lol. They'll listen patiently here and there, but I don't know many people to have real in-depth conversations about books with.

 

[Peder]

there are some of us who still see the value in treating others the way we'd like to be treated

My jaded experience tells me that one doesn't find the Golden Rule much observed anywhere on the Internet. People instead seem to check their politeness at the door and then speak out directly according to their own individual standards it seems to me. And then there are the ones who choose to be deliberately abrasive, but they are a separate category -- even if they are also frequently tolerated by moderators. It's a tough audience.

 

[Peder]

. . . I don't know many people to have real in-depth conversations about books with.

I'll definitely agree with that. It may in fact be one of the main reasons for joining an online forum.

 

[Polly Parrot]

Hello All - I need your help!

I am doing a Creative Non-Fiction writing class as part of my Masters program and have chosen to write a feature article on online forums. Specifically, as this thread title suggests: why join an online forum as opposed to, say, talking face to face with like-minded people etc.

We all do things for different reasons, often assuming our reasoning is the same as everyone else's. I am curious as to why so many of us choose to be active participants on online forums. Where does the desire and ultimately the satisfaction come from? I have some theories, and reasons of my own, but would like a more 'global' perspective, hence my sending out this request!

I am very interested in reading your thoughts.

I both talk to people face to face and am on several forii, I join them so I can discuss things on a more international level as opposed to talking to Dutch people only.

 

[Robert]

I have found few people that like to discuss books, and fewer still that understand contemporary and classic literature from authors that live outside the U.S.

 

[Leeny]

I am an active member on several forums. All but one of them revolve around books. I find that being able to talk to people and say my opinion without being harshly ridiculed is a pleasant feeling. I also think that there are many more opportunities for discussion on online sites. Particularly on one site, we have members from about every corner of the world and I've learned quite a bit about other countries and customs (also other foods ). Also, on the Charlie Bone forum we are mostly girls (we have one guy who is active) and we're all younger than 30 (except for one member). It gives us a chance to just be ourselves without the pressure of looking "cool" or not being "stupid." We get to be teenage girls having fun with friends and basically without boundaries. I honestly feel like every member on that forum is a true friend in whom I can confide. Forums also allow you to let off steam when you're angry in a healthy way. You always feel like you have a friend when you're sad and depressed.

 

[faithalina]

I am an active member on several forums. All but one of them revolve around books. I find that being able to talk to people and say my opinion without being harshly ridiculed is a pleasant feeling. I also think that there are many more opportunities for discussion on online sites. Particularly on one site, we have members from about every corner of the world and I've learned quite a bit about other countries and customs (also other foods ). Also, on the we are mostly girls (we have one guy who is active) and we're all younger than 30 (except for one member). It gives us a chance to just be ourselves without the pressure of looking "cool" or not being "stupid." We get to be teenage girls having fun with friends and basically without boundaries. I honestly feel like every member on that forum is a true friend in whom I can confide. Forums also allow you to let off steam when you're angry in a healthy way. You always feel like you have a friend when you're sad and depressed.

Leeny, I really appreciate your response and I am happy to know that you find great satisfaction from your online community. Thanks for your input!

 

[faithalina]

My jaded experience tells me that one doesn't find the Golden Rule much observed anywhere on the Internet. People instead seem to check their politeness at the door and then speak out directly according to their own individual standards it seems to me. And then there are the ones who choose to be deliberately abrasive, but they are a separate category -- even if they are also frequently tolerated by moderators. It's a tough audience.

Yeah, I'm getting that impression. But see, you still manage to be sensitive in your responses, whether you agree or not, which is helping me to feel less like a freak. This whole line of argument is definitely putting a new angle on my piece. Fascinating. Anyway, thanks for your input!

 

[Peder]

This whole line of argument is definitely putting a new angle on my piece. Fascinating.

Glad if I could be of help. The whole internet seems to be an entirely new culture -- but, then, I think many people have said that. The best way to learn and feel it is to become part of it.