Forums?

[Toon]

What makes a good forum??

Mick and me have briefly discussed other forums people are members of and this is not a how can we improve the forum thread. More of a discussion in general of why we prefer certain forums and why.

It has been touched on that many forums can be male dominated and often very sexist, this is something I have tried very hard to avoid. Also some can be very age driven. Obviously on a type of forum like this you need a very broad range of people who specialize in different areas. We have touched on forums being that big they can seem unpersonal. Like to hear your thoughts. What works and what doesn't in general.

[zumojuice]

I think we have a good balance of both age, experience and skills. So simply more of the same. I think generally we've got a good attitude too towards being constructive and supporting each other, in much the way good clients can.

There is a core group of people but I don't think there anything to prevent anyone new coming in to that fold.

[brokendalek]

As an extremely feminist female I don't think that your forum is in the least bit sexist.

At the end of the day in this type of trade there are more men than women who tend to get involved and succeed but I think that this forum balances perfectly!

I have not been in the least bit put out at all

[zumojuice]

and I thought you were a man. But only cos your profile does not say otherwise and as you say there is generally a male bias

[brokendalek]

That's ok, I suppose I'd better sort my sig out, I've been meaning to for days....I'll do it now!

[Toon]

The idea of the person above me thread is you learn as much as you can about a member so you can post something about them and let other members learn about them, always best to read old posts and remember what you've learnt.

Hi everyone,

I was kindly invited to join in the fun and games here by Toon.

Just kind of sticking my head around the door to say a tentative hello...

alison x

[El Peligroso]

What makes a good forum???

I guess having people who's opinions you actually care about.
That is what does it for me anyway...

[mickhawkes]

I have found likes and dislikes of both large and small forums,
Large ones make me feel insignificant, but get your stuff viewed by more people, but that also leads to a larger variation in critique, but you have to be thick skinned, and take it on the chin, if you don't get responses you like,
Some small forums are very clicky, and make you feel unwelcome, and you have to prove yourself worthy of being there.

P.S I'm not sexist, and dont like sexism in any form, I think women can wash pots, make beds, Iron, vacuum, just as good as any man

[zumojuice]

Mick raises some good points -

[brokendalek]

This is it, we can also repair cars, plaster walls and unclog our own toilets, it's really all relative, I've been made to feel very welcome by everyone in this forum.

On a forum like this I would expect people to be frank and honest, we're all professionals doing what we have to do so why not work together? Sexism has no place here!