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An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages.^[1] They differ from Chat rooms in that messages are not shown in real-time, to see new messages the forum page must be reloaded. Also, depending on the access level of a user and/or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes visible.

Forums have their own language; e.g. A single conversation is called a 'thread'. A forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: forum - subforum - topic - thread - reply.

Depending on the forum set-up, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently Login in order to post messages. Usually you do not have to login to read existing messages.

Contents 1 History 2 Registration or anonymity 3 Rules and policies on forums 3.1 Troll 3.2 Sock puppet 3.3 Spamming 3.4 Double posting 3.5 Word censor 4 Forum structure 4.1 User groups 4.1.1 Moderator 4.1.2 Administrator 4.2 Post 4.3 Thread 5 Discussion 5.1 Flame wars 5.2 Liabilities of forum owners and moderators 6 Common features 6.1 Tripcodes and capcodes 6.2 Private message 6.3 Attachment 6.4 BBCode and HTML 6.5 Emoticon 6.6 Poll 6.7 RSS and ATOM 6.8 Other forum features 7 Comparison with other Web applications 8 See also 9 Notes 10 Examples 11 References

History

The modern forum originated from Bulletin boards, and are a technological evolution of the dialup Bulletin board system.^[2][3] From a technological standpoint, forums or boards are Web applications managing User-generated content.^[3][4]

Early Internet forums could be described as a web version of an Electronic mailing list or Newsgroup (such as exist on Usenet); allowing people to post messages and comment on other messages. Later developments emulated the different newsgroups or individual lists, providing more than one forum, dedicated to a particular topic.^[2]

Internet forums are prevalent in several developed countries. In terms of countable posts, Japan is far in the lead with over two million posts per day on their largest forum, 2channel. China also has many millions of posts on forums such as Tianya Club.

Forums perform a function similar to that of dial-up Bulletin board systems and Usenet networks that were first created starting in the late 1970s.^[2] Early web-based forums date back as far as 1995. A sense of Virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, Computer games and/or Video games, Sports, Music, Fashion, Religion, and Politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of topics. Internet slang and Image macros popular across the Internet are abundant and widely used in Internet forums.

Forum software packages are widely available on the Internet and are written in a variety of Programming languages, such as PHP, Perl, Java and ASP. The configuration and records of posts can be stored in Text files or in a Database. Each package offers different features, from the most basic, providing text-only postings, to more advanced packages, offering Multimedia support and formatting code (usually known as BBCode). Many packages can be integrated easily into an existing website to allow visitors to post comments on articles.

Several other web applications, such as Weblog software, also incorporate forum features. Wordpress comments at the bottom of a Blog post allow for a single-threaded discussion of any given blog post. Slashcode, on the other hand, is far more complicated, allowing fully threaded discussions and incorporating a robust moderation and meta-moderation system as well as many of the profile features available to forum users.

Registration or anonymity

In the United States and some parts of Europe, most Internet forums require registration to post. Registered users of the site are referred to as members and are allowed to submit or send electronic messages through the Web application. The process of registration involves verification of one's age (typically over 12 is required so as to meet COPPA requirements of American forum software) followed by a declaration of the Terms of service (other documents may also be present) and a request for agreement to said terms.^[5][6][7] Subsequently, if all goes well, the candidate is presented with a Web form to fill requesting at the very least: a Username (an alias), password, email and validation of a CAPTCHA code.

While simply completing the registration Web form is generally enough to generate an account^[8] the status label Inactive is commonly given by default until the registered user confirms the email address given while registering indeed belongs to him. Until that time, the registered can log in to his new account but may not use the forum for communication (posts, threads, private messages).

^ "vBulletin Community Forum - FAQ: What is a bulletin board?". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_forums_threads_posts. Retrieved 2008-09-01. "A bulletin board is an online discussion site. It is sometimes also called a 'board' or 'forum'. It may contain several categories, consisting of sub-forums, threads and individual posts." 

^ ^{a b c} "What is an "Internet forum"? (video entry by Ethan Feerst and Dylan Stewart group)". http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/internet-communities-and-forums-2/what-is-an-internet-forum. Retrieved 2008-11-04. 

^ ^{a b} "Glossary Of Technical Terms". Green Web Design . http://www.greenwebdesign.com/Glossary-Of-Technical-Terms.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 

^ "Brevard User's Group - Technical Glossary". Brevard User's Group. http://bugclub.org/glossary.html. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 

^ "vBulletin Community forum - FAQ: Registration". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ "phpBB FAQ: Why do I need to register at all?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ "phpBB FAQ: What is COPPA?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ an account is a space on the site identified by the chosen username through which a member carries out activities and contributes.

^ "vBulletin Options - User registration". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 

^ http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/04/2channel

^ "phpBB FAQ: How can I report posts to a moderator?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f29. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ ^{a b} "vBulletin FAQ: Dealing with Troublesome Users". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_troublesome_users. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ "Community Rules 1c". phpBB.com. "Members are asked to not act as 'back seat moderators'. If members note an issue which contravenes something in this policy document they are welcome to bring it to the attention of a member of the Moderator Team. Please use the 'post report' feature to report posts. Do not respond to such topics yourself. Members who constantly 'act' as moderators may be warned." 

^ "Censorship Options". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vboptions_group_censor. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 

^ "3.4.5. Word censoring". PhpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/adminguide/acp_posting.php#acp_posting_censors. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 

^ "Non-Threaded vs Semi-Threaded vs Threaded Formats - BulletinBoards.com". BulletinBoards.com. http://www.bulletinboards.com/ThreadHelp.cfm. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 

^ "Message Board Features - Website Toolbox". Website Toolbox. http://www.websitetoolbox.com/message_board/features.html. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 

^ "vBulletin Manual: User Groups and Permissions". vBulletin. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vb2_manual_cp_usergroups. Retrieved 2008-11-04. 

^ read marking is the process through which a thread, post or forum which has been viewed is distinguished from those which have not. The function is usually automatic with the addition of controls, like Mark All etc.

^ "Administrator seeking moderators to control spam abuse.". ddforums.com. http://www.ddforums.com/showpost.php?p=12566&postcount=9. Retrieved 2010-04-20. 

^ "PlayStation.com Forums New User Guide.". playstation.com. http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=announcements&message.id=16#modteam. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ ^{a b} "vBulletin FAQ: Moderators and Administrators". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_mods_admins. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

^ "Postcount Information". TechnoFyed.com. http://www.technofyed.com/showthread.php?tid=219. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 

^ "Tripcode Explorer - Hurr Network". Hurrchan/Courtney Wade. http://www.hurrchan.net/wiki/Tripcodes. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 

^ Presuming someone is sending a private message and has the ability to send carbon copies: If someone fills the recipient field with "John" and "Tom", and the carbon copy field with "Gordon". John will know Tom got the message. Tom knows John got the message. But, both Tom and John have no clue that Gordon got the message as well.

^ "PhpBB FAQ: How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?". PhpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php?#f61. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

Examples

1. ^ "vBulletin Community Forum - FAQ: What is a bulletin board?". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_forums_threads_posts. Retrieved 2008-09-01. "A bulletin board is an online discussion site. It is sometimes also called a 'board' or 'forum'. It may contain several categories, consisting of sub-forums, threads and individual posts." 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "What is an "Internet forum"? (video entry by Ethan Feerst and Dylan Stewart group)". http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/internet-communities-and-forums-2/what-is-an-internet-forum. Retrieved 2008-11-04. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Glossary Of Technical Terms". Green Web Design . http://www.greenwebdesign.com/Glossary-Of-Technical-Terms.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
4. ^ "Brevard User's Group - Technical Glossary". Brevard User's Group. http://bugclub.org/glossary.html. Retrieved 2008-04-28. 
5. ^ "vBulletin Community forum - FAQ: Registration". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_register. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
6. ^ "phpBB FAQ: Why do I need to register at all?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f01. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
7. ^ "phpBB FAQ: What is COPPA?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f07. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
8. ^ an account is a space on the site identified by the chosen username through which a member carries out activities and contributes.
9. ^ "vBulletin Options - User registration". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/. Retrieved 2008-09-15. 
10. ^ http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2007/04/2channel
11. ^ "phpBB FAQ: How can I report posts to a moderator?". phpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php#f29. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
12. ^ ^{a b} "vBulletin FAQ: Dealing with Troublesome Users". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_usage#faq_vb3_troublesome_users. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
13. ^ "Community Rules 1c". phpBB.com. "Members are asked to not act as 'back seat moderators'. If members note an issue which contravenes something in this policy document they are welcome to bring it to the attention of a member of the Moderator Team. Please use the 'post report' feature to report posts. Do not respond to such topics yourself. Members who constantly 'act' as moderators may be warned." 
14. ^ "Censorship Options". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vboptions_group_censor. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
15. ^ "3.4.5. Word censoring". PhpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/support/documentation/3.0/adminguide/acp_posting.php#acp_posting_censors. Retrieved 2008-10-30. 
16. ^ "Non-Threaded vs Semi-Threaded vs Threaded Formats - BulletinBoards.com". BulletinBoards.com. http://www.bulletinboards.com/ThreadHelp.cfm. Retrieved 2010-05-27. 
17. ^ "Message Board Features - Website Toolbox". Website Toolbox. http://www.websitetoolbox.com/message_board/features.html. Retrieved 2009-07-12. 
18. ^ "vBulletin Manual: User Groups and Permissions". vBulletin. http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/vb2_manual_cp_usergroups. Retrieved 2008-11-04. 
19. ^ read marking is the process through which a thread, post or forum which has been viewed is distinguished from those which have not. The function is usually automatic with the addition of controls, like Mark All etc.
20. ^ "Administrator seeking moderators to control spam abuse.". ddforums.com. http://www.ddforums.com/showpost.php?p=12566&postcount=9. Retrieved 2010-04-20. 
21. ^ "PlayStation.com Forums New User Guide.". playstation.com. http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=announcements&message.id=16#modteam. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 
22. ^ ^{a b} "vBulletin FAQ: Moderators and Administrators". vBulletin.com. http://www.vbulletin.com/forum/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_mods_admins. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 
23. ^ "Postcount Information". TechnoFyed.com. http://www.technofyed.com/showthread.php?tid=219. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
24. ^ "Tripcode Explorer - Hurr Network". Hurrchan/Courtney Wade. http://www.hurrchan.net/wiki/Tripcodes. Retrieved 2010-08-22. 
25. ^ Presuming someone is sending a private message and has the ability to send carbon copies: If someone fills the recipient field with "John" and "Tom", and the carbon copy field with "Gordon". John will know Tom got the message. Tom knows John got the message. But, both Tom and John have no clue that Gordon got the message as well.
26. ^ "PhpBB FAQ: How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?". PhpBB.com. http://www.phpbb.com/community/faq.php?#f61. Retrieved 2008-09-14. 

References

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