What are the things the perfect forum should provide

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

What things should a hi-fi forum provide, or not provide. I was thinking of a poll but there are only 10 choices.

If you were to create your perfect forum how would you describe it.

For a start is the main purpose to entertain or inform.

[CycleCoach]

This is a great question:

from my point of view it's knowledge and information first and foremost - the possibility of good advice etc - and then, after a while if you feel REALLY COMFORTABLE the next level would be a bit of fun, entertainment and some banter.

The best forum I have experienced is the owners group for the RX8 car - It is attached to the owners club and has a plethora of detailed information in well organised areas for members as well as admins who are happy to send the inquisitive to the right place via links. This is a two level forum though as only paid up club members have access to everything but for someone like me who isn't a mechanical type this was very useful. The general forum is open to anyone and contains plenty of "entertainment" stuff as well as the usual chat.

[slinger]

Some sense of a community about it.
Knowledge shared freely.
The feeling that you can ask anything without being called a dick just because what you don't know is glaringly obvious to someone else.
A lack of cliques.
Unbiased opinions.
A free unicorn after you've made 100 posts.

[CycleCoach]

A free unicorn after you've made 100 posts.[/quote]

Possibly the best idea ever!

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Small minded (just looking for customers for a record shop), or ego based dictators, or the desire to turn it into just another slurp, forum owners are losing us opportunity to create a fun hobby out of a rip-off. It is easy to allocate which to which forum.

I have been trying to promote the forum concept amoungst the few main stream occupants of this industry who have an open mind, what have the others done, create isolation and fiefdoms with clans of arse lickers in tow. They don't want commonality they want their fiefdoms, and confirm it by creating events only for themselves, and feck the rest of us. Well we could do the same, but we wont, HFS will always call it as we see it, even if it angers them. We will always be here to join them when they are ready to act for the benefit of the hobby instead of themselves, but I am not holding my breath.

[Classicrock]

One thing that it shouldn't be is an ego trip or fiefdom for the owner or owners. It should be open to free discussion about hi-fi and the industry and provide a cost free facility to try out equipment via loan schemes and bake offs. I see Richard has covered the ego trip aspect but it needs underlining because most of the existing forums suffer from this problem.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

Well we live in hope for the New Year Rocky, but when ever I tease, confront or cajole them to stop being so puerile and selfish all it does is alienate them even more as exampled with MartinT today.

I think it has come to the point that I will just become a source of ideas and stimulus, others will have to get out there and spread the word (and I don't mean only about nva, but the new industry) as I am now effectively blocked off apart from here. For example I have no problem with my big industry past and future article being copied to other forums, it has no ref to me or nva so why would they not allow it. You never know it might make some people think.

[Fretless]

Some sense of a community about it.
Knowledge shared freely.
The feeling that you can ask anything without being called a dick just because what you don't know is glaringly obvious to someone else.
A lack of cliques.
Unbiased opinions.
A free unicorn after you've made 100 posts.

+1.

[Neonknight]

A place where you can have a spirited discussion, and different ways of approaching the hobby without someone being butthurt or another person trying to ram the truth down the throat of everyone else. Differing points of view and solutions to obstacles keeps things healthy. A free exchange of ideas and preferences benefits all. This is a hobby, its supposed to be a waste of money. Now how much value you get for your wasteful spending is another subject.....

[antonio66]

Freedom of speech.