I keep learning... forums in the outside world...

[sitearm]

Well I'm proud to say I keep learning from my Tilted Mill experiences... first was CotN beta testing "way back when" which required, REQUIRED, use of a beta "forum" thingie which I'd never done.

Did it!

THEN the game goes gold and I tentatively tried the CotN PUBLIC forums... which I'd never done and I'm...

Doing it! (and thank goodness for friendly flavor kept in place by intention!)...

So NOW... I've started an online forum thingie in the outside world for my education partnership public sector project... Wish me luck!

I'm not worried about the technology (just followed what TM and Erik did) but I'm gonna' have to CONVINCE/ PERSUADE/ ENROLL/ CAJOLE/ ATTRACT and, dare I say, MARKET getting folks who are NOT gamers :eek: to use forums...

Any suggestions gratefully received! You know, like a couple research reports about why online forums are great and how their use is growing nationwide etc. etc. etc. :p !

[mouse]

Well what I used with a couple of people who knew nothing about forums but just knew they didn't have use for them (told them the help they needed was only available in forums from other users) :D Now both are confirmed forum users and neither is a gamer.

[sitearm]

I asked vBulletin (which CotN forums use) if they had research on growth in use, benefits of, etc. online forums: Nope :eek: So I'm researching for research now... there really are tons of online forums... so howcum' the people I work with never heard of them?! Nor me before now?! Will fix... :p

Well what I used with a couple of people who knew nothing about forums but just knew they didn't have use for them (told them the help they needed was only available in forums from other users) :D Now both are confirmed forum users and neither is a gamer.

[mouse]

Most people when they here forums they think of chat rooms and aren't interested or they've had a bad experience with a rude forum :D

[Cassiopeia]

... there really are tons of online forums... so howcum' the people I work with never heard of them?! Nor me before now?! Will fix... :p

I suppose it really depends on what your area of "work" is. I either belong to, or monitor, a number of professional organizations, and they all provide online discussion boards on their websites.

To really date myself, I remember when I used to have to dialup my accounting software provider's BBS for support. It was cutting edge technology when they set up a room on CompuServe.


Happy Holidays, All.

[Erik]

To really date myself, I remember when I used to have to dialup my accounting software provider's BBS for support. It was cutting edge technology when they set up a room on CompuServe.
Happy Holidays, All.Ah yes, the old BBSs!
I remember spending hours on my friend's PC when his parents purchased him a 10MB hard drive. We could not believe it, a hard disk drive with a whopping 10MB! I remember playing MUDS and cutting edge Leisure Suit Larry...rofl

As for you sitearm9, I am glad I could help get you started if even it was just moral support letting you know you could do it. :) I run numerous forums (if people don't recognize the word "forum" try "message board" as that may ring more of a bell to them) including, to name a few, gaming sites, satire, and graphics design. I own numerous (6 at last check) vB licenses and also utilize some free options. If you want to get together on a chat and pick my brain I would be glad to help you to discover the options and possibilities that a nice piece of software like vB can open up to you.

The power of forum software is based in the flexibility and community driven support. You can use them as a basic message board like here at TM or they can power your entire site with add-on mods/hacks like I do at www.NileChild.com (http://www.nilechild.com/)

Let me know if I can help. PM me if you want to give me a call sometime if you don't mind the toll charges to MA. :)

Good Luck!

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[imhotep3147]

I have to say....I learned the benefits of forums from HeavenGames. But I have begun to help others through these forums. I love it here....I feel warm and fuzzy when I get to "speak" to people....especially if they are from another part of the world :D :p