Forum Definition and 414 Threads

An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are often longer than one line of text, and are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes publicly visible.
Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; example: a single conversation is called a "thread", or topic.
A discussion forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread and can be replied to by as many people as so wish.
Depending on the forum's settings, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently log in to post messages. On most forums, users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

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  1. russ_watters

    Meet the New Moderator: Who is Greg and What Are His Qualifications?

    Figured this forum was as good as any for making a formal introduction since I'm a mechanical engineer with some aerospace background and a computer science/engineering hobby. I'm happy Greg gave me the opportunity to moderate this forum. Its something I've never done before but always had...
  2. S

    Welcome to Dr. Kaku's Forum: Join the Discussion with Fellow Fans!

    Welcome to all of you that are coming back to Dr. Kaku's forums. Also, a hearty welcome to anyone that might be new. We're glad to have you all!
  3. Ivan Seeking

    Who is Sting's Forum Tale Really About?

    This forum was not Sting's cup of tea. Still, he hung in there and did a great job. Thanks Sting!
  4. Ivan Seeking

    We may have to move Loch Ness to this forum

    Since this appears to be legit I am posting here. I am not making claims, but this looks serious. The source appears to be respectible. My apologies in advance if this is bogus. "Meanwhile, on the shores of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, retired scrap dealer Gerald McSorley, who...
  5. K

    What makes this forum stand out as my favorite among others?

    This Is My Favorite Forum! I got to say this is my favorite forum! I belong to a number of forums relating to Cars (bmw m3), Everquest (fantasy role playing), Health and Wellbeing, Tropical Travel (hawaii, carib, s.pacific), Scuba Diving, General Aviation, Stocks, ..um porno (just a bit...
  6. M

    How to Make a Simple Submission Forum

    Ok, I need to learn how to make two parts: One part of the site needs to be like this: http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=askquestion (thats the submission part) The other half I need to look like this: http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=search&catid=1500 Any...
  7. M

    Comparing Forum Post/Thread Ratios

    okay, i was a little bored so i computed the current thread to post ration for all the forums above this one. the one with the highest ration is Philosophy, averaging out at aprox. 33.24 posts per thread! (that's including religion as a subforum) and in last place we have Mathamatics...
  8. M

    Good Biology Forum - Discuss Issues & Clear Concepts

    Anybody know where I can find a good biology forum? One that discusses issues in detail; for example, in clearing certain concepts up? Kind of like physicsforum, except biologyforum.
  9. M

    What's your least favorite forum?

    that's just about it...
  10. D

    Solve Volume and Surface Area for Rectangular Open-Top Box: Apps of Cubics

    A rectangular box with height hm and square base of side length xm is open at the top. the volume of the box is 20m 4. (b) show that the surface area A m^2 of the box is given by A=x^2 + 80/x. * I got h in terms of x for 4(a) that was easy it is h=20/x^2 and it is right from the answer...
  11. T

    Why Do We Limit Our Understanding in Online Forums?

    I was viewing some posts on different topics was going to reply many times but did not because I knew it would not matter. The words before it defined the understanding that wrote them. No need to reply. I had a dream, it was many fish swimming in a waterless tank, they would not go beyond...
  12. H

    Anyone know of a computer programming forum?

    Just wondering if anyone can recommend a good computer science / programming forum! Hurkyl
  13. D

    Welcome to the Maths & Physics Forum!

    I been reading my way through your forum and thought I'd join in for a while :smile: Just a bit of background: I love maths and physics. Although I'm not the smartest guy in town I like to think I can hold my own when it comes to the theoretical side of things. Most people I know...
  14. O

    Can I Purchase a CD-ROM of Old Physics Forum Posts?

    [SOLVED] old school forum? Does anyone know about a previous Physics Forum that I thought at one point i came across in my web travels which was similar to this one and that had a way of, purchasing for a 20 dollar donation, a CD rom of all that has been written in the posts?
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