| Online forums (also known as online discussion sites, | | | | * Validation. After registering to an internet forum, you |
| message boards, newsgroups and internet forums) | | | | will need to validate your email by following the |
| are powerful tools for sharing information. Their use | | | | validation link emailed to you by the site. |
| has become omnipresent and wide reaching. Many | | | | * Rules. Familiarize yourself with the rules and |
| people use discussion sites on a daily basis, whether | | | | netiquette required by the forum. Generally, spamming, |
| it's to gain knowledge, share ideas or simply to feel as | | | | double posting and registering multiple user accounts is |
| part of a community. | | | | prohibited. Try to adhere in order to avoid being called |
| Why use Online Online Forums?: | | | | a troll for unintentionally breaking the rules. |
| * communicate with other like-minded people who | | | | * Posting. A forum has predefined topics (called |
| have the same or similar interests | | | | threads). Members may submit messages or |
| * exchange intellectual ideas and thoughts | | | | comments (called posts) within these topics. The |
| * offer your opinion or advice | | | | message will be enclosed in a box with the username, |
| * submit materials for others to consider and provide | | | | time and date notified either on the left hand side or |
| feedback on such as your website, business ideas or | | | | appearing at the top of the post. Usually members are |
| questions | | | | allowed to edit or delete their own posts. Many online |
| * find out new opinions and ideas | | | | forums limit posts to a certain number of characters. |
| * be up to date with latest news and trends | | | | * Threads. A thread (topic) is started by a post. Other |
| * meet new friends and leads | | | | members may then follow in the conversation started |
| Participating in Online Forums is another way to stay in | | | | by the original post (sometimes called the thread |
| contact with persons belonging to the same | | | | starter). At times the responses and comments can |
| community and to keep abreast of recent events. It's | | | | become derailed. The tread generally displays posts in |
| a place to voice your opinions, be heard and discover | | | | opposite chronological order (from first to current). The |
| other's thoughts. | | | | abbreviation OP often refers to the original poster. |
| This social media outlet can become addictive. For | | | | Some message boards enable you to customize the |
| some, Online Forums provide a haven; a place to | | | | view to commence with the starting post. They may |
| escape the daily grind and indulge in the community | | | | also have a thread view which shows the branching |
| aura. Forum usage is certainly a concern for | | | | of replies in priority to chronological order. |
| employers, due to reduced productivity and | | | | * Moderating. Moderators monitor and enforce the |
| procrastination on behalf of the users involved. | | | | message board rules. They may have access to all |
| However, most of us are thankful for their existence. | | | | posts and threads or just those within their area of |
| How to Use Online Forums: | | | | responsibility. Mods have the power to delete a post |
| The appearance of an online forum may seem | | | | and to ban and suspend members who violate the |
| daunting at first. There's information, posts and threads | | | | discussion site's policy. The moderator is usually the |
| flowing all over the home page in what appears to be | | | | site owner's friend. Among other responsibilities, they |
| an ad hoc manner. Occasionally, the initial reaction of | | | | also help members in need and respond to complaints. |
| first time users is to put discussion sites in the too hard | | | | If you're a first timer to online forums, try some smaller |
| basket. Here's an easy step by step guide to using | | | | message boards to start with. Smaller sites still have |
| online forums: | | | | that community feel and are more than happy to |
| * Registration. Most discussion boards require you to | | | | accommodate beginners. Once you become |
| become a member by registering or signing up in order | | | | accustomed to the way discussion websites work, |
| to post. Invariably, you will need to provide a Username | | | | you can then join some larger expert message boards |
| (your alias), password and an email address. The | | | | if you wish. Above all, don't be shy to voice your |
| forum will also require your agreement to its terms and | | | | opinion; that's what forums are for. |
| conditions. | | | | |