Alright, I've seen plenty of poorly produced forums to know the general idea of which faux pas are becoming the biggest problems. This thread will, hopefully, direct a few of those forum "owners" (and I use the term loosely, as just about anyone can "own" a forum these days, but not everyone is cut-out to be a full-fledged "owner" or "operator") who have fallen into a few of the following categories into a more promising direction. By pointing out these mistakes in an open manner like this, my hope is that fewer people will fall victim to these forum faux pas. That being said, let's get this started (NOTE: This thread will be updated as new faux pas are discovered/abused, so feel free to check back often).
What Is A Faux Pas?:
Now that this list has gained a bit of credibility, if that's what we want to call it, the biggest question I'm hearing now is just what in the hell is a Faux Pas? Well, let me put it simply -- A Faux Pas (F-oh P-ah) is something typically viewed as unacceptable by social standards. I use that term in regards to forums because, as we've moved into a new era of Internet participation, people expect a great deal from forums when they come by for a visit, and we've advanced to the point where Faux Pas both exist, and can adversely affect your chances for success. With that in mind, this list was created with the best of intentions, to see that you have the chance to succeed and do not fall into these Faux Pas categories. Don't think that just because I reference this topic when posting in your advertisement that I am trying to criticize you for falling into a Faux Pas category -- I'm simply trying to point out ways to help you improve your current product and make it more appealing. Don't take it personally
Why Should I Listen To You? What Are Your Credentials?
I've had a few people ask me now what makes me think I should be the one to write a list of Faux Pas and "shoving it in peoples faces?" So, I thought I'd list my credentials here, even in a very brief format. To start with, I don't aim to be a pretentious critic that is simply out to shovel my ideals of what makes a forum worthwhile at other people. I'm not an arrogant person by nature, and anyone that's taken any time to get to know me could tell you likewise. I enjoy talking about forums and that naturally lead to the Faux Pas list, which was subsequently posted here in an effort to benefit the members of *Site* that choose to make a forum. Now, I realise that doesn't answer the question as to why I feel that my Faux Pas list in particular should be taken with anything more than a grain of salt; however, to outline the reasoning behind that will sound somewhat arrogant and I felt it best to outline the particular fact that I try not to be arrogant in posting such things.
I would start by mentioning that I have been around forums and working with them since 1997 when I first discovered two pieces of software in particular -- WWThreads and Ultimate Bulletin Boards (owned by, at that time, Madrona Park). I was intrigued by the possibilities of such software, and took a keen interest in both products. Over time, that interest grew and I came to experience just about every piece of forum software out there (freeware and otherwise). Whenever a new group started up with a new script (and there have been almost as many groups as there are users), I would take the time out to sit down and play about with it. Even today I like to sit down and take a good hard look at any new forum scripts that come along and see what they're offering in comparison to the others. Today in particular is an exciting time to look at each forum, as numerous new coding methods and languages are being adapted into products we already know and enjoy today. So, as I'm sure most of you have heard me say by now, I have indeed been involved in the forum world for over a decade and I don't say the things I say just to be a pretentious critic. I say them because I've had the time and done the research required to know what I'm talking about. My sole aim is to help people improve their forums, and that is ultimately what I am aiming for when I offer "constructive criticism" on any particular forum.
