Need Your Input For The Forum

I'll weigh in, as someone who just finished a 3-year stint as a moderator at a forum (catering to the geek crowd) with close to 100,000 members, a place where I've been posting for more than 6 years. That particular forum is a mature community, and has pretty much been through all the steps associated with such growth. Another mod from the same site is also a member here. We've learned a few things over the years there, and here are some of the lessons:

An off-topic section is, IMO, critical to the sustainment of any online community. We all have interests other than coins, and we all think and form opinions about the world around us. If we need to go elsewhere to share such conversation, our time and interest in dedicating effort to a monomanic community will wane. Conversely, the ability to express our broader interests is a motivating factor to remain and thrive as a member of the community we've chosen.

Successful forum models tend to favor either one topically-limited off-topic section, or two sections, one limited in scope and one gloves-off, "bring politics and religion here" subforum. If you're topically-limiting, you need to set up a well-defined set of rules, and strictly and consistently enforce them. No politics, no religion, no exceptions. Regardless of what members might argue, there is a discernible line between razzing each other about their football teams or Nascar drivers, and forcing your opinion of social mores upon your fellows. I contend that the overwhelming majority of people know this, and will hold to the rules once established. Further, they will then help you to enforce the rules after the pattern is established.

If you choose to have a no-holds-barred section, certain basic rules are equally important. Among them is a strict hands-off policy regarding controversial ideas, with a very few exceptions. If you open the gate, you much let anyone walk through. This does not mean welcoming white supremacists and anti-semites - blanket hate is one of the exceptions - but it does mean protecting the rights of the lone democrat in a herd of republicans to put forth their views.

Personal attacks must be prohibited and acted upon with prejudice when found. Attack the idea, not the person. Further, expressions of opinion should be encouraged to have some basis in fact rather than just spouting blind beliefs your parents taught you.

Moderating such forums are not for the faint-of-heart. It's a big job even in a small forum, and what works in " US coins and Currency" will not work there.

Virtually every successful online community has an off-topic section. I've seen healthy, thriving communities using both of the models I've described above. If I am to advocate one course, it would be to start with a topic-limited OT forum and possibly add the edgier one later. Do_not (I repeat, do not) attempt to mix the people who don't wish to argue with those who do. You'll wish you hadn't.

Either way, I contend that the only way this place will eclipse its' competitors is if you allow your membership to express more facets of their interests than the one which brought them here.

No politics, no religion, no pro-war or anti-war talk?...well...it wouldn't be a good General Discussion thread would it?

If you keep the lanquage PG-13 and all, it would work. Otherwise it would be boring (yawn)

I like a good debate. Something that gets my blood going.

BTW...if you don't like to participate. DON'T!! Nobody forces you to click on the link, so don't if you can't stomach it.

Well spoken, Metalman. I did not mean to infer that the only way for this forum to succeed was to grow. Remaing strictly on-topic will ultimately limit the size of Coin Community, and if that's what the founders wish, it is what should be. Like you, I get my political jollies elsewhere and although I'd participate in such a forum here, I'm focused enough to stay here without. However, this place isn't big enough to be my exclusive numismatic-related stop on the Internet.

There's an upper limit to the number of people who can, or will, maintain this kind of focus. If it's your desire to break through that wall and be big enough to be the "exclusive" or "one-stop" numismatic forum, you must broaden your appeal.

I have a suggestion. Those who would like to see another forum for politics might want to look at the newsgroup: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh
Usually Limbaugh is not the subject of this group. It's pure side "A" vs side "B" politics, knock down drag 'em out. Is that what we want here?

I suppose it could be argued that it couldn't get that bad here because this is moderated. But then isn't that all the more reason to post politics there instead of here? Not only that you can easily change your nick and put in a bogus email address, both of which can be derogatory statments towards the party you hateses the mostest.

In coins we all have common ground. We're all coin collectors no matter what. Even if we don't care for what someone else collects they are still our friend because they are still another coin collector. Is that view going to change when people from party A find out that others are from party B or vice versa?

Wanna change the world? The newsgroups are place to do it. Knock yourself out.

I don't mean to drag this discussion back off topic, but....BRONCOS BEAT THE COLTS?!?!? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! OK, now back to our regularly scheduled coin discussion. (Notice I didn't object to the Rockies beating the Cubs part... )

Rachel [:p]

I don't really care. I would not be at all bothered if such a section were here, but at this point in time I doubt I would ever check it out or participate either.

I think you will have a hard time finding a web based coin forum without a general discussion type area. Whether that is good or bad, each owner or member will have to decide for themselves or not. But, I can't think of any coin forums with a decent amount of member or posts that do not have an integrated general discussion area.

Maybe CoinCommunity wants to make that a way they distinguish themselves from other forums. I don't know. It is not my decision, that is for sure. From what I have witnessed, though, there is only so much 'chatter' that new people want to put up with in the main topic forums of any site and the more members you get the more that chatter tends to increase.

A forum goes through a lot of changes as it grows. The people running it have to make a lot of decisions on how, or if, the forum changes along with it and whether growing it is the best choice. Being an owner of a growing forum is a lot of work and sometimes a lot of hand wringing on how to do things without alienating people. There are no decisions that make everyone happy and there are tough choices to be made along the way. When I was running a forum where it was me talking to 5 other people, life was simple. When it hit hundreds of posts a day, there were a lot of decisions to make. It is why I do not miss it much.


Edited to add...

In one sense, this site already has a General Discussion area, we just call it the Main Coin Forum. Active Topics in the Main Coin Forum with replies since Yesterday...

GD Appropriate Topics
Poll: Need your input for the forum
Any artists out there?
Mike will be gone for a couple of days
Welcome back Mike !!!
It's 12:20 am. Happy Thanksgiving ! click on the link & turn your speakers up !!
Happy Birthday !!
Happy Birthday !!!
Public Appreciation
NO JOKE Kennedy Halfs


Coin Forum Appropriate Topics
PCGS/NGC
What's It Worth / Identification
Ohio Coin Investments Revisited
Euro Coins Arrived
Poll: Cleaning Poll
International Forum !! Welcome to All !!!
PCGS Vouchers
Well my grandpa just bought me for this my graduation..
Collecting Circ or BU?
The green.......on cent
ICG offering show specials
Coins without Country

If those topics are going to be discussed anyway, all that has to be decided is if that is the forum where you want your General Discussion topics to be.