My very limited participation with PriusChat (FHOP) leads me to conclude that a forum-based discussion group is a value-added communication plaltform for sharing discussion, views, opinion, etc., etc.. With that in mind, my community's neighborhoods associations of about 5,000 people could benefit from this type of interaction, especially regarding their local association political issues. I don't know how to start a forum, especially regarding software, hardware, advertisers, user issues and so forth. This is not a solicitation for Danny or the mods, unless they want to participate in this discussion, if any. Does anyone have experience, referrals, or advice regarding this issue?
Seriously, it just takes five seconds to start a Facebook page. Or Google "forum software" (you might as well just go to the first hit there, [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_forum_software]Comparison of Internet forum software - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame] , which will answer all your questions).
StevO, I'm not a Facebook member, but I hear you saying that Facebook can handle a couple thousand people like a forum interacting on different topical threads?
The Justin Bieber page (disclaimer: I'm not a fan, I'm just using this as an extreme example) has about 22,000,000 members (or "fans", in Facebook parlance), and the discussion board has 5000+ threads (or, as Facebook calls them, "topics").
I know a some people that have started their own boards using Proboards ProBoards - Free Forums & Free Message Boards It's popular with people without a lot of experience that are starting boards and also looks like a good board software. It's free and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to use it, the people I know that used it for small or personal boards certainly weren't computer geniuses. It is also used by some very large boards. I am in a Community Association with 6,800 households. We have a "Yahoo Groups mail list. It's not as flexible as a board but easier to use. I don't think you can break one Yahoo Groups account down into individual forums so that is probably too basic for your needs. Something to consider is that in our community of 6,800 homes, only 800 are members of the Yahoo Group and perhaps 100 of those are regular, active participants. I think you will be doing good to get 15% sign-up, I'm not knocking that, just trying to help you plan. From what I have seen, a Proboards board can be worth while for very small groups. One I know of only had about 30 participants and the owner thought it was worth running. Proboards is a bit like Vbulletin (not free) which is what PC runs on. VB is usually more polished looking but I don't know if that's because the webmasters polish it better or VBulletin is inherently prettier
Facebook would be quick and easy, but I'd be leery of the amount of information at risk. I'd tend to place more trust a smaller private site.
Yeah, ProBoards is good (I speak from personal experience as a user, not an admin). Avoid at all costs the other big free one, Yuku. I've used dozens of boards platforms an creator, admin, and user and have never seen such a horrible POS as Yuku. And to answer another question, while Facebook does allow threaded discussions, you're right, it doesn't allow sub-forums.
The thing with the Facebook approach is that you have to be on FaceBook. Not everyone is on FaceBook and they probably wouldn't want to join just to find out what's going on with the neighborhood. I know of two regulars on Priuschat who are not on Facebook. In a forum, the residents can create pseudonyms so that they can provide specific feedback without people knowing who it is. In my opinion, this is more likely to get honest input.
I never said the Facebook route was the best (it's not). However, it is the easiest. A big step up in being better and in being more complex while still being free is ProBoards. If you're willing to shell out some money, your choices expand a thousandfold.
That's how I understood Facebook, too. Whether it's Facebook or a forum, ultimately, I've got to think about demographics. For example, the average age is probably 55+ and it's very possible this group won't engage forums, either.
Google offers a very easy to set-up and free forum (aka bulletin board in the old language.) Personally I would go the facebook route, since the old farts can ask for help from their grandkids. Disclaimer: I do not use FB. It bores me stiff.
Maybe what you need is a well. You know, one of those old-fashioned holes in the ground where people gather each day to draw water, visit, and solve the problems of the world. Or, you could go with something slightly more modern and open a pub. Does the whole idea of bouncing signals off satellites and through a dozen computers around the world just to talk to the person next door seem a bit strange to anyone else? Heck, I just sent my wife an email and she's not ten metres away.
1. We're in a severe drought in my part of NC, so the wells are dry. 2. Old people don't go to pubs past 1:30p and are home by 2:00p to take their afternoon meds. 3. Last night I went to bed at 8:30p, Used my cell to call my bride who was in another room. LOL...but it's true! The only thing left is to start a chat room in the doctor's office. The doctor can be moderator.
