Forums... Are they addictive? - Writers Forum

scooby · 10-13-2007, 10:39 AM

I am researching an article on forums.

During my research I came across a website called Topix which contains a list of some 360,000 forums available! You name the subject, there's a forum on it!

I wondered what was the first forum that people ever joined and are they still in it?

Do any of you out there find that forums are addictive?

I would be very interested to hear anyones input as I am new to forums (this is my second one apart from a forum on chillies!) and I reckon they can get a bit addictive!

lin · 10-13-2007, 11:36 AM

Before there were forums there were Community Networks (sort of local proto-internets, generally run out of libraries and universities...phone hookup, straight Unix stuff). And before that there was the BBS thing...you dialed up a board and interacted with others.

So really, there were forums before there was an internet.

Definitely addictive stuff. Create anxiety and mood swings when deprived.

scooby · 10-13-2007, 11:40 AM

Thanks for that Lin, really interesting!
I only got hooked up to the net a few months back (I live in the sticks!)
Never knew about the community networks.
cheers

Cyto · 10-13-2007, 12:25 PM

Some forums are addictive, you just have to find the right ones. (Something that's extremely hard for me).

My first forum I ever joined was a video game one, methinks. It was years ago and once I realized that there was more places like it, only better, I left after about a year. Of course, during that year I couldn't go a day without logging on at least once, so you could say I was addicted.

wmd · 10-13-2007, 01:19 PM

Forums are very addicting...

this forum is the one I have been a member of the longest... My first ever was in the beginning of the internet times and was one for Magic: The Gathering...

besides this one I frequent the Nanowrimo forums from october through early december... I also join forums for any hobby that I am doing at the time, but never really stay with one for long... I am not really good at sticking with things... (except writing).

lisajane · 10-13-2007, 06:29 PM

I used to be addicted to forums, now not so much. First one I ever joined is going back years and years ago to one called Parakka, about a book series. It's still around, but no one posts anymore cause a better forum replaced it.

Brightsky · 10-15-2007, 12:05 PM

they're addictive, it's easy enough to make a forum so anyone can start one if he/she wants to.

people just like to share their thoughts on subject they're interested in. If you join a forum about some video game then you obviously know that game and are able to talk about it. I for exemple have hobbies/games that no one from my "real life" friends play/do, so I just discuss those things with people I don't really know.

Hawke · 10-15-2007, 12:22 PM

Yes, they're addictive. This one sure is.

Shinn · 10-15-2007, 01:14 PM

I agree with Hawke on this. This is the best forum I have ever joined.

~ Shinn

(this is my 1000th post)

smilinghelps · 10-15-2007, 09:06 PM

I joined an online group 10 years ago, it was on a British website that hosted threads on a bulletin-type board. I met 20-some other "regulars" and we separated from the website and formed our own email group, first through Smartgroups (also an English website) and eventually through Yahoogroups. 14 of us still belong to the group (from Washington State, US to the countryside of England) and we keep in touch regularly throughout the week, some months of the year more than others. We're good friends now and some of us have met in person.

So, yes. They can be very addictive. If I'm addicted to anything--this is it.

wmd · 10-15-2007, 09:37 PM

A good note mentioned by BrightSky....

There are a lot of things I have interest in that my wife and friends might not. The great thing about the internet is that it has developed all of these communities where you can find the people that have the same interests and discuss things that you would not normally be able to discuss.

Think about this forum alone... Even if you join a local writing group at your library or college, you do not even come close to the different thoughts and opinions that you can find here. When was the last time you met with people at your local coffee shop to discuss writing and there where people from six different continents there?

Ilasir Maroa · 10-15-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisajane

I used to be addicted to forums, now not so much. First one I ever joined is going back years and years ago to one called Parakka, about a book series. It's still around, but no one posts anymore cause a better forum replaced it.

Lol, Broken Sky... there really are forums for everything.(no offense).

Anyway, you bet forums are addictive, if you like the topics. Sometimes I let a friend drag me into one I don't really care about, and I eventuall leave or get banned or something. I'm only really active on two forums right now, this being the first. I dropped out of another writing forum after finding this one(and losing my password; the forum has a crappy recovery system). But when I'm active, it's quite addictive. I come on about three or four hours a day here, which is hard considering my schedule.

This is probably the most addictive forum I've ever been on. I think the govt. needs to regulate it's use, lol.(bad joke)

lisajane · 10-16-2007, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilasir Maroa

Lol, Broken Sky... there really are forums for everything.(no offense).

What is that supposed to mean?

scooby · 10-16-2007, 02:45 AM

Thanks for your answers everyone!
I can see how they forums get a tad addictive.
Trouble is lately I know I have spent more time on forums than I have writing.

I might have to impose a time restriction on myself because the first thing I do in the morning (after feeding my cats!) is grab my cuppa tea and get straight on the forum to see the latest posts!

TrackStar11 · 10-16-2007, 12:17 PM

Forums can be addictive because you can post your opinion on a forum without being harassed by anyone. Sure, there will be people that will not agree with you but you can just ignore them. The freedom to do that makes people feel at ease, so they will naturally want to go back to a place where they can say something without getting ridiculed. Also, if you find interesting things on a forum, then of course you will get addicted.