Online Forum Personalities

[Guest mormonmusic]

Do you frequent other online forums, and do they have their own unique personality? What drives this culture or "personality" on that forum?

I was very active in a music-related site for years. One norm in those discussions was that you don't give point-by-point rebuttals to people's posts. This was perceived as being too emotionally invested in the topic opr argumentative. Here at lds.net, I see this all the time, and actually like it because that's the nature of reasoned, interactive debate, which is more interesting than a string of monologues about a topic.

Also, on this other discussion board, if you said anything negative about one of the key bands in the music genre -- look out!!!! They jumped all over the poster, even if they were respectful and balanced in their approach.

What drove the personality of that forum? -- it was the moderators and the long-time members of the forum, in my view. They had a vision of what they wanted the forum to be, and reinforced each other in creating that culture. It was easy for them because there wasn't nearly the breadth of topics, activity or total membership that you see on other more popular sites.

What has your experience been like with online forum "personalities"? [i'm not talking about people here, I'm talking about the culture of the discussion forum - the norms]

[Gwen]

i went to a forum for mom's. drove me crazy i don't go very often. they were all crazy moms. i'm glad i didn't fit in. lol

[hordak]

Do you frequent other online forums, and do they have their own unique personality? What drives this culture or "personality" on that forum?

I was very active in a music-related site for years. One norm in those discussions was that you don't give point-by-point rebuttals to people's posts. This was perceived as being too emotionally invested in the topic opr argumentative. Here at lds.net, I see this all the time, and actually like it because that's the nature of reasoned, interactive debate, which is more interesting than a string of monologues about a topic.

Also, on this other discussion board, if you said anything negative about one of the key bands in the music genre -- look out!!!! They jumped all over the poster, even if they were respectful and balanced in their approach.

What drove the personality of that forum? -- it was the moderators and the long-time members of the forum, in my view. They had a vision of what they wanted the forum to be, and reinforced each other in creating that culture. It was easy for them because there wasn't nearly the breadth of topics, activity or total membership that you see on other more popular sites.

What has your experience been like with online forum "personalities"? [i'm not talking about people here, I'm talking about the culture of the discussion forum - the norms]

I agree. I don't wish to call anyone out but look at the threads. When someone is just giving advice to the OP on a topic (unless the op is argumentative ) you will see a well thought out monologue, skip a page or 2 and that same posters style has changed into a point by point debate if they disagree with a previous post. The more "heated" a discussion the quote boxes you will see per post.

I think in a face to face interaction it would be the equivalent of constantly interrupting the other person.

I don't like the tearing apart of post because it's to easy to miss the forrest for the trees.

I

[Guest mormonmusic]

The more "heated" a discussion the quote boxes you will see per post.

I think in a face to face interaction it would be the equivalent of constantly interrupting the other person.

I don't like the tearing apart of post because it's to easy to miss the forrest for the trees.

I think a ton upon ton of quote boxes may give this impression, but it depends on the tone of the poster -- as far as you can tell in this limited information environment.

Personally, I like point by point rebuttals - as I said earlier, they provide counter-points and reasoned debate and interaction that is engaging and useful.

I welcome them, provided they aren't laced with personal attacks like "I think you're obsessing about this and that you should see a counselor", when all the person is doing is exploring the issue.

I

[Traveler]

Just in case I respond to someone's post - I would like to clarify a few things.

1. Sometimes I do not believe you mean what you think you are saying so I may offer some other ideas to see how you respond. Sometimes I will ask questions that you think you have answered so that I am sure I understand what you are saying.

2. When we disagree I am very interested in how you developed your opinion. I like to ask question to "test" what I think you are thinking. I think it important to see if you had made certain considerations and how "deeply" you have gone with your thinking.

3. Sometimes I will post my thoughts to see if you can make any sense of what I am thinking from your point of view.

For the most part I do now want to argue - if someone makes unfounded arguments or has opinion based in fantasy, I am not interested in deep exchanges of ideas so I will quit responding to various posts or ideas and if you push the point I will block your responses. I do not have the time or interest. But I do like different points of view, especially if I have never encountered a view before and the person with the new view has some sense as to why they have come to the conclusions they have.

The Traveler

[Guest xforeverxmetalx]

I'm on a music related forum for a festival in Germany... very active there since about 2008. In fact I have well over 3x Pam's postcount here, no joke. It's mostly a just for fun forum than one with active debates. Mostly the threads are asking for different details about the festival itself. But the most popular ones are just the threads we treat basically as chat rooms.

There are two main sections of it; one for German speakers and one for English or everyone else. The German side has the most active members and I post there occasionally, but it's more difficult to become known. On the international side, we have only a handful of very active people who all know each other well, and most of which know each other in person. We have members from all over... a few from the US, Germans, Dutchies, as well as a Russian, Australian, Swede, and one from Dubai. And much more; I've seen every continent but Antarctica covered and nearly every country from Europe and North America. Time zones are also fun; we'll have people eating lunch at the same time another is fixing dinner while another is going to bed and another just woke up. So you could be online at 3am and potentially find someone to talk to. We also enjoy getting to know each other's cultures, even if we poke fun at it [for example saying that the British drive on the wrong side of the road].

It's basically an extremely relaxed forum... only a couple times since I've been there have I seen the moderators actually intervene on anything, mostly they just delete spam. We go offtopic very frequently, but not really at the expense of giving the information to whoever asked. So I guess it's pretty unique as forums go since it's not really focused on discussions or arguing points, but more on helping people plan their travel and getting to know people from around the world. You could say our "personality" is just having fun and hanging out in general.

Edited May 5, 2010 by xforeverxmetalx

[hordak]

I think a ton upon ton of quote boxes may give this impression, but it depends on the tone of the poster -- as far as you can tell in this limited information environment.

Personally, I like point by point rebuttals - as I said earlier, they provide counter-points and reasoned debate and interaction that is engaging and useful.

I welcome them, provided they aren't laced with personal attacks like "I think you're obsessing about this and that you should see a counselor", when all the person is doing is exploring the issue.

I would agree tone plays a big part and a point by point doesn't necessarily always = anger but i see a correlation.

My bigest complant about the point by point is people missing the point. This is a message board and not a one on one conversation so the points can get picked up by another and lost allong the way

EX. Lets take a sensitive topic like interracial dating

The problem i see with interracial dating/ marriage is that in many cases the culture of one of both partners is set aside and eventually lost. One of my best friends is half Irish American and half Korean. His mother, an immigrant, sheltered him from the Korean part of his heritage in favor of the American. As such he knows nothing of his culture on that side.

Another good friend of mine is a Philipino. He was born and live in the Philippines until he was 4. Upon marrying an American his mother came to the US and adopted the US cultures teaching him nothing of the past, in fact he is by far the most American person i know. Apple pie and baseball look unAmerican compared to him.

I wouldn't go out of my way to find someone outside your race but i wouldn't look down on those who fall in love and do so

Taken as a whole you see i believe preserving culture is a common problem in interracial relationships,

That i would not seek them out but that i don't look down on those who find love outside their race/culture

Taken point by point...

KEY: Their response in bold, my problem/ response in italics

The problem i see with interracial dating/ marriage is that in many cases the culture of one of both partners is set aside and eventually lost.

Who cares what your view is. They can keep the culture alive

(I never said they couldn't, we are off point already)

One of my best friends is half Irish American and half Korean.

Is their father from Ireland? Because if not they are not Irish American

(Off topic again, the point is that they are of different cultures)

His mother, an immigrant, sheltered him from the Korean part of his heritage in favor of the American. As such he knows nothing of his culture on that side.

Maybe she likes American values better

(Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact he knows nothing of his heritage)

Apple pie and baseball look unAmerican compared to him.

Americas a melting pot we don't have anything original

(off point again, insignificant to the propose of the post)

It become far more diluted when a 3rd person picks up on their post individually as well

Maybe she likes American values better

Well of course Americas about freedom and Koreans 3rd world

Then the forth chimes in

I have been to Korea and it is a beautiful, it's were i served my mission

Etc Etc, and this goes on until we are discussing Korean architecture and legal policy or John Doe comes and puts the smack down and locks the thread because along the way, most likely while off topic someone went too far.

I hope you can make sense of that jumble:)

[MarginOfError]

I agree.

I'm not so sure you do

I don't wish to call anyone out but

There's always a but, isn't there?

look at the threads.

I look at them daily, thank you very much

When someone is just giving advice

Like the advice that you not complain about how other people post

to the OP on a topic (unless the op is argumentative ) you will see a well thought out monologue,

Only from the more cognitively capable posters here. Otherwise, you get one liners

skip a page or 2

But then I'm going to miss valuable information

and that same posters

I thought we were talking about message board personality, not posters. If you want posters, go to demotivational.com

style has changed

And with it modesty has gone out of fashion

into a point by point debate

I usually have more points than you

if they disagree with a previous post.

This only happens because you're so contrary

The more "heated" a discussion the quote boxes you will see per post.

I think you meant to say "the more quote boxes you will see per post." (end condescending tone)

I think

Knock knock

in a face to face interaction

Who's there?

it would be the equivalent

Interrupting Cow

of constantly interrupting the other person.

Interruptiing Co-- MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I don't like the tearing apart of post because it's to easy to miss the forrest for the trees.

If you can't see the forest in the trees perhaps you should get your eyes checked.

[hordak]

I'm not so sure you do

There's always a but, isn't there?

I look at them daily, thank you very much

Like the advice that you not complain about how other people post

Only from the more cognitively capable posters here. Otherwise, you get one liners

But then I'm going to miss valuable information

I thought we were talking about message board personality, not posters. If you want posters, go to demotivational.com

And with it modesty has gone out of fashion

I usually have more points than you

This only happens because you're so contrary

I think you meant to say "the more quote boxes you will see per post." (end condescending tone)

Knock knock

Who's there?

Interrupting Cow

Interruptiing Co-- MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

If you can't see the forest in the trees perhaps you should get your eyes checked.

saw that coming. Though i was surprised you were first

[MarginOfError]

I couldn't resist.

And I'm especially proud I was able to work in the interrupting co--MOOOOOOO

(That never gets old)

[ADoyle90815]

I've been on a women's forum, and it seemed at times to have a monthly PMS cycle of its own where a nasty flame war would start over something. It was originally for LDS women, but there were topics for crafts, which is why I actually joined that board for a little while.

[prisonchaplain]

IMHO, when it comes to religious boards, this one has a great combination of spirited discussion, faith-affirming posts/strings, tolerance for other views, policing of flame-wars, and good-natured, intelligent people. Other sites seem to want to brand themselves by focusing on one aspect (we're tolerant, we encourage debate, we're only going to encourage the faithful, etc.) The balance here is unique and satisfying.

[Maureen]

This forum has great personality due to the Thanks and Laugh! buttons. :)

M.

[Moksha]

I went to this one aquagetics forum that was so full of sharks they had no tolerance whatsoever for playful dolphins. Said the dophins oceanic noise to signal ratio was too high and then they bared their razor sharp, titanium reinforced teeth. Talk about defenders for a word!!!

[HiJolly]

Brother Moksha,

You gotta get back on those meds!

HiJolly

[Wingnut]

saw that coming. Though i was surprised you were first

I'm not, and I think there are few who could have done it nearly so well.

Regarding the OP, I participate in another website, though not a forum. It's a blog, where you can submit questions on any topic, and readers can comment. Most people post completely anonymously, though I started using a consistent moniker (not the same as here). Since then, a small handful -- 6 or 7? -- of other readers have done the same. Most people, however, still post under "Anonymous," which creates a few issues.

1) With no accountability or distinct individual personality (and a blog fueled by about 95% females), it's extremely catty. People are quick to judge, to criticize, to mock, to condescend, etc.

2) With no consistency in screen names, people can (and sometimes do), repeatedly post the same thing, though worded differently, and make it appear as though multiple people are posting. Even those that do use monikers sometimes also post as Anon.

3) It's more entertainment than actual social interaction. I can come here to LDS.net and post a question in the advice forum and receive feedback from people that I've come to "know" over the course of a year and half on this site, and trust that, from their life experience etc., they are giving sound advice. I also know that if Moksha posts a snarky comment, that's just Moksha being Moksha, and he's not being malicious. (Moksha is like the Manny Ramirez of LDS.net, isn't he?) I've learned at the other site that the only type of question I want to ask is about advice on cleaning products. It's not a community, it's a beauty pageant.