Back from the madhouse

[Tom]

I posted a question on a specialist garden history discussion forum and then became involved in several discussions - before realising that it is a complete madhouse. There is a calm and sensible editor but the contributors are all at each other's throats. They don't want to discuss anything: they want to show off and to put down, or just insult, the other contributors. It reminded me of a David Attenborough film of stags, or where they mountain goats, charging each other on a rocky hillside.

Computer forums seem more sympathetic, perhaps even a little like medical forums with their sympathy and tips.

Has anyone else had a strange experience IN a discussion forum?

[David]

Forums vary widely but I reckon the tone is set by the administrator/moderator. If you set up a forum, it's a good idea to spend lots of time initially, moderating threads and steering it the way you want it to go. Eventually, it will attract enough like-minded people and become self-moderating. At least, that's my experience.

Mad forums are mad either because a) the administrator does not moderate or b) the administrator wants a mad forum. I guess they are a bit like a club and you have to learn how to behave in order to be accepted by the other members. It's always best to lurk for a while before jumping in - just in case!