How to Get Along in an Online Forum

Amen Google is people’s friend.

Vbulletin is the best

Cool vid, I might embed it on some forums i visit regularly. :)

i love forums, and i know how to behave on them, administrate and moderate them. forums are great imo, and the best forum software imo is: 1: ipb 2: smf 3: phpbb 4: vbulletin 5: punbb. forums can be fun, hold lots of information, and much much more. forums ftw!

I love forums, I have my own too :D it just doesnt have any people besides the admins and my friend.
I might embed this video in the main page soon

(forum link on my channel)

how many times did he plug his site?

Ummm they are his videos so he can plug all he wants…..

welll im not counting

their r to many internet gangsters on forums, so its hard to get along with everyone. I dont have to many problems though. -_-

I don’t think you’ll find the answer to this question on google:
“How do you live your life 24/7 online?”

first!

*snicker*…ya love me huh? Well Iexpect a valentine! :-) Okay, now seriously…as I enter myself into the IT arena, I find more and more of your info extremely helpful! Thanks for the vids!

nice video. Definatly follow these rules.

yeh i know its really annoying

I’ve seen a lot of new users that join a forum I frequently visit that try to get away by saying “Oh, I didn’t know that was in the rules” or “I saw this do it!”

This seems to mostly occur in new users who is in the age range of 12-16 too =/ and the forum I visit is dedicated to a rated-M game (which means that M-rated stuff can appear, as long as they are marked.)

The nice thing about forums is there alot easier to moderate, and control then a live chat room. There lies the only main draw for users, they can feel safer in knowing that any bad posts will be most likely deleted within a reasonable amount of time.

Chris, I’m shocked and apalled to see an affiliate link to “Forum Equalizer” — especially on a post about forum etiquette. This is basically a tool used to spam forums.

Shame on you!

That’s a great list. I’ve been a member of a few gaming forums since 2002. (some which have evolved beyond games) While there usually is a bit of verbrato within these sites they are kept civil by some dedicated people. In reference to what the list mentioned before forums are a great way to meet people who have the same interests as you and a great database of collective knowledge. Most of my computer problems were solved by these online communties. And as PC gamers I learned a great deal about gaming hardware.

To many times have i seen some join a forum, ask a question, and then never come back. Don’t expect an answer in 5 minutes. You have to wait for the person who knows your answer to come by and answer. Most posters get nothing out of helping you, so be well mannered when asking something. The community loves to help, but they are in no way required to.

These are good tips and I can only hope that anyone just joining a forum will head them.

As a long time administrator and moderator of several forums, I often encounter new members who think that the moderation staff is either not paying attention to what happens in the forum or alternatively is just waiting for the chance to “bust” anyone for the slightest infraction of the rules. Neither characterization is true. Perhaps if forum members better understood what the moderators purpose is, they might enjoy their membership more.

First and foremost, moderators enforce the forum rules. That does not just entail handing out infractions. Often it means sending a message to a member explaining why a rule exists and how best to stay within forum guidelines. Infractions, suspensions and bans are a last resort. They diminish the forum instead of building it up, so it’s the last thing a moderator wants to do. A moderator much prefers to see a member who violates a rule acknowledge their error and continue as a member in good standing. Another aspect of rule enforcement is responding to member reports of posts or behavior in violation of the rules. We have an obligation to protect our members from spamming, flaming and other rude and sometimes illegal behavior. We are dedicated to doing all in our power to make the forum a safe and enjoyable experience for every member.

Another obligation of the staff is to be available to answer questions, resolve disputes and explain forum etiquette. Asking another member may or may not result in a proper answer. By asking the staff, you’re sure to get an answer that is in keeping with the rules and the wishes of the forum owner.

Administrators and moderators are there to support the forum, and the forum is made up of its members. When you join a forum, you should be able to look to the other members and the staff for guidance, help and example.

Just be sure, as mentioned above, to read the rules and TOS before you register. Rest assured, once you join, there will be other members, moderators and administrators there to make sure you enjoy your membership.

Ubuntu forums are friendly.

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Protocols of behavior for online forums is the most highly efficient human conditioning method available today. Lets all brainwash ourselves so we can all be like one another in an iPodesque way. We’ll all call ourselves iLemmings.

Woo Newegg

As a member of Yahell Answers - probably one of the largest public forums out there - I see things like these all the time…

Perhaps one more point that should be added is to not go Trolling - unless there is a specific section that allows users to rant/flame at their leisure ;);)

I have actually been using Online Forums more often then i thought i would be using them. The community in these forums have been able to help me on many occasions like help.lockergnome.com, which i just started using today. I think it would be cool if Chris could get his own live.pirillo.com online forum started so people can refer to it about learning about Chris. I have noticed that people keep asking the same questions to him so maybe this would work?

Very good tips. I am a community member to quite a few forum sites and wish a lot of the people on those forums read these tips ;). You see a lot of immature people when you are only looking for a couple answers.

It don’t matter how good you are or how you answer, there’s always going to be several anal-retentives that’s going to blast you for something. With some, they have very little to do with their lives than to start an online war.

Great list! It is unfortunate that the Forum Equalizer spam tool is at the bottom of the article or I would link it to the forums I manage. That is the last thing I need to encourage more of, but thanks for writing it nevertheless. :)

That is a long comment Jack Carlson.

Anyways, your post is very useful Chris, this has given me a big idea to make a Rules and ToS page over at a website and I can link to this post to give my users some ideas on how to behave on the forum.

Woo!

Be patient. While some people may want an immediate response to their question(s), one has to realize that a forum is not a chat room.

search before posting? Come on. what about soccor moms? do we not deserve help because we didnt google it? or search teh index that can take awhile if keywords are not found. sometimes search dont find the answer when it is there. so be good to people who ask questions no matter how dumb. we all deserve help even the lazy and dumb ones.

I like it!! Thanks for the tips!!

These are great tips. I have seen many online forums that are not that great due to people flaming each other and people not reading the rules or being nice. Also, I work as tech support for a site and we are constantly repeating our selfs because people don’t search.

Yeah this is a helpful guide. ive been using forums for 10 years, starting when i was 8, and i cant tell you how many times ive been threatend a ban. Ive also been banned for the user name nugz (good if know what a nugget really is) and sometimes just for saying hi. Really alot of forums arent based on rather you like the admins and if the admins like you, or better yet, if they follow their own rules.

I think a lot of newbs, are hesitant to ask for assistance. even after reading the FAQ’s. You really shouldn’t be since you’d be surprised at how much people are willing to help out a new gamer if you just ask. and yes patience is key.

Funny how we have to keep reminding people how to act when communicating online. Didn’t we learn how to behave in kindergarten? How soon we forget.

Great Tips Chris It is a good list that can help out many people who are new to a forum or a website and would cover a basic way to get along and not many anyone upset at you

i think this is a very good video it is very important to moderate chat most of us under stand why you have to

YES chris…these are great tips…i am in a forum group and I see people that gust post, post, post with out any idea of what its about…were others are posting great idea and comments…so yeah great tips

I have been following these rules for years… except one which is the 1337…

One of the main reasons I join forms is to help others or at times get help. I have been posting on forum about a year now and I finally got to 1,000 post on my first forum I was active in a followed these rules.

These rules are extremely true, if you follow these and post actively you’ll get guaranteed positive rep and possibly be noticed by a Community leader to be a future mod =).

So for a new forum comers, follow these rules!

this is a very cool video most of us get why u moderate chat very good brodcast

I have ran a few forums(admin/owner) i been a part of many forums, and it is always the same. people don’t search or for that matter some don’t read what others have to say about the topic at hand and post the same thing over and over. also the whole “post count” is all that matters to people not the content.

I will be sending this link to all the people that do or do not do one of the list items.

i wanted to add more so i also know that when you are recording videos you dont want any idiots chatting while you are recording

This is such a good bunch of tips. I have been an IRC junkie for some time and this appies to IRC, newsgroups, forums… pretty much life.
Thanks for spreading the tips.

I enjoy coming home from a hard day at work, and sitting down and chatting with the fellow chatters in Chris’s channel. I totally agree with the rules that apply to the channel, typing in correct english grammer, being polite, and last but no least helping others. Helping others always make you feel better, knowing that you just helped that person with an issue they might have spent $$$ at a Computer repair shop. Sometime I don’t always know the answer, sometimes I do…but in the long run either I, or someone in the channel will find the answer.

I have some grips that tend to annoy me, for example - CAPS!!, Repeating the same question over and over, being inpolite to Chris or others and Spamming!

Now I have to give Kat some credit, she takes a full load of people on her hands and somehow doesnt have a heart attack while doing so. Keep it up Kat, your doing great.

These are great tips. Make sure you know what you want to post on the forum. IF you need help with a topic be as specific as you can with what you need help with. Don’t post off topic questions. Don’t be a troll and just tell people they suck or they are an idiot. Be smart when replying to a post. Make sure you don’t reply to a topic that is 4 months old. Post a reply to a topic that has not been answered in a few days. Don’t be mean to newbies. Treat everyone with respect. Don’t assume that everyone knows as much as you do. Be patience and take your time helping others out, Don’t yell at them if they can’t solve there problem. Just be patience.

iv seen all these activities happen in forums and depending on the forum either the members or moderators will set them straight

i know of one forum whenever someone seer’s a new member they usually will send them the links to all the rules and things they needs to know for that person to have a better experience

hey chris i have to say great tip video for this one. I am a part time op for gaming forms and i have to say you do see a lot of trash talk in the forms today and people still dont read the rules and end up getting banned or kicked for a day or so.

Hello Chris just wanted to say i think its reall easy to get a long in forums. The Reason i say this is cause most of the people dont read the rules nor do they rule the other posts by the other people talking about the same questions that they just posted. I would think that if ppl would just read the rules and read the other posts than it would be a LOT easier .

iv seen all these activities happen in forums and depending on the forum either the members or moderators will set them straight

i know of one forum whenever someone seer’s a new member they usually will send them the links to all the rules and things they needs to know for that person to have a better experience

i may send this to some “noobs” at a few forums i go to

I am part of various internet forums and the number one advice i would give is dont get into an argument with anyone. Casue really nobody wins a internet discussions. Forums are not the best place to have a debate. and pleace dont be a douchbag

iv seen all these activities happen in forums and depending on the forum either the members or moderators will set them straight

i know of one forum whenever someone seer’s a new member they usually will send them the links to all the rules and things they needs to know for that person to have a better experience

Search before posting!!!!!
This is a big thing that will put you in the wrong with alot of people.
Don’t be lazy and want someone to do your work for you. A little searching will help you out in the long run.

Search Before You Post!!!!!!
This is a big thing that ill out you in the wrong with a lot of people. Don’t be lazy and try to get someone to do your work for you. A little searching will help you in the long run.

Also remember that moderators are nearly always volunteers. As a moderator of a very large forum (30-40 active mods), I get paid nothing to perform my duties. We do it because we enjoy the community and want to contribute…and we have a bit of free time available to do so. As mentioned above, if you don’t understand the rules, or want to post something that you aren’t sure is allowed - ask a mod. With most forums, there are very easy ways to tell who the mods are.

1) At either the top or the bottom of the subforum, a list of moderators assigned to that subforum.

2) On the forum’s main page, look for a link labled something like “View Forum Leaders”. That will be a complete list of mods, often also listing their assigned subforums.

3) Mods will often have a different color username, and/or a special user title under their name. For example, on the forum I mod, regular users are blue, paid members are bold blue, mods are green, and supermods are red.

4) Most forums I visit will have a “report this post” button, usually in one corner of each post. If you see a post that is offensive or violates the rules (spam, flaming, etc.), don’t respond to it - report it! Help us do our job, so that you can better enjoy your visit.

Remember, like you, most mods have lives outside of the forum. Jobs, family, real-life responsibilities. We can’t be on all the time, nor can we be everywhere at once. Also remember that just because a mod doesn’t have 10,000 posts, doesn’t mean they aren’t lurking. Different mods have different styles, but we all care about the forum community, or we wouldn’t have accepted the invitation to be a mod.

True that emeek. Although, some people need to just ******* google it. Most people have already asked the question that they may be asking. And it’s already been answered in detail by a very nice user.

It is more work not to google it…

odds are some one has all ready asked the same question (especially with linux as i have found…) but any way with that idea in mind some of the forum comments i have seen have had links sending you to another forum just to give you a answer that you could have easily found if you had correctly googled it (that is if you know how to work google to ghet exactly what you want)…

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I’m a forum admin!

I’m a forum moderator! Good video.

i’m an admin too

Hello Everybody

Just wanted to share my new experience.

If your Windows XP fails to run due to an error corresponding to lost HAL.DLL, invalid Boot.ini or any other important system boot files you can fix this by using the XP installation CD. Simply boot from your XP Setup CD and enter the Recovery Console. Then launch “attrib -H -R -S” on the C:\Boot.ini file and delete it. Run “Bootcfg /Rebuild” and then Fixboot

Regards,
Carl

Hello. And Bye.

hi there!
thanks,nice forum!

Hello.
I’m new there
Nice forum, thanks

I’m the only one in this world. Can please someone join me in this life? Or maybe death…

I feel I might introduce my self here. My name is Kate, I’m a newbie here, someone told me that i might find some good information here so… basically that’s why I’m here, and for any good advice i might get also… hope to have good time here