Forums

Readings

Google Groups
List of Usenet groups
phpbb.com Creating Communities
Scalable, and highly customizable open-source bulletin board package. phpBB has a user-friendly interface, simple and straightforward administration panel, and helpful FAQ. Based on the powerful PHP server language and your choice of MySQL, MS-SQL, PostgreSQL or Access/ODBC database servers, phpBB is the ideal free community solution for all web sites. This solution will build the necessary tables on your ONID database for you. Be sure to provide user instructions to let visitors know they have to register before adding to your BBS.
 

In our free society, we take it for granted that we can discuss whatever we want without fear of retribution. Bulletin Board Systems were one of the first online areas where groups could congregate. The notion of meeting online has evolved and now we have forums, chats, blogs, guestbooks, and wikis (have I left out any new methods?).

Forums often require visitors to become members by registering their name with the database. Visitors can then login, post a question or response, and logout. Their screen name, email, and avatar are sometimes listed to help the forum be more personal.

Whereas blogs and wikis can facilitate the production of an entire web site, a forum generally does not; it is strictly for communicating.