Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Love Calm Quiet · Nov 13, 2005, 12:00 PM

Let me start by saying that the MacNN forums have been one of the MOST useful of all the Web finds I've made in the last few years.
Second major point is that I'd sure like to have a way to find OTHER dynamic, active forums specializing in OTHER interest areas: e.g., Solar Energy, Nutrition, Shakespeare...

What's been challenging:
Googling ain't makin it: Even with words like bulletin board or forum and online in the search I get too many (1000s) of links that are online info about forums that are in-the-flesh meetings.
I did better with a Google search for "allinurl: solar forum php" - so that "php" had to be in the url.
Still this doesn't seem efficient (and of course misses nonPHP-driven schtuff). And I was surprised how lame were the first few it showed.

So to the questions:
Is there a more powerful way to search for BBs / forums (as we know them at MacNN) that focus on a particular topic?
Has any site online tried to create any kind of "directory of online forums"? (other than businesses like WordPress that highlight sites created with their code)
Anyone like to suggest Forums on their favorite topics that have memberships as active and helpful as MacNN?

production_coordinator · Nov 13, 2005, 12:36 PM

I've never found a forum like the NN that specializes in other interests.

The NN does so well because we are a rather small population (Mac Users), and have a great core of people... with reasonable moderators.

ghporter · Nov 13, 2005, 12:44 PM

I found Broadband Reports at about the same time I found MacNN while trying to learn more about wireless networking. It has a similar level of activity, but not a Lounge for general conversation/argument. And of course it's both a computer-technical forum, and focused mostly on Windows computers.

I haven't found any way to effectively search for discussion forums in general, though I have found forums on specific subjects while searching on those subjects. For example, searching Yahoo! for "renaissance faire forum" got a bunch of hits for discussion forums, and the same search on Google got a lot more.

Once you find a forum, then you have to be concerned about the level of civility and activity on it. As production_coordinator says, the community is what makes a forum work. I've participated in some forums that have degenerated into grade-school-level crap over insignificant things, and dumped them faster than a hot rock because of it. Just lurk for a while and pay attention to what you see.

theyoda3 · Nov 13, 2005, 01:12 PM

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/ Thats a music forum with topics on different instruments and CDs. It's pretty cool.

zizban · Nov 13, 2005, 01:15 PM

If you are interested in SGI and/or Irix http://www.nekochan.net is great.

theyoda3 · Nov 13, 2005, 01:23 PM

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Just Google vBulletin and you get a bunch of stuff. There's a whole bunch of these forums on so many different topics. You can find the MacNN forum on page 4!

angelmb · Nov 13, 2005, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by zizban

If you are interested in SGI and/or Irix http://www.nekochan.net is great.

I agree !

Love Calm Quiet · Nov 13, 2005, 04:36 PM

Interesting that vBulletin rules!
actually adding "vBulletin" to my google search narrows things down pretty nicely.

natural1 · Nov 13, 2005, 05:40 PM

http://slashdot.org/

Just about the best on the net.

'nuf said.

Peter · Nov 13, 2005, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by natural1

http://slashdot.org/

Just about the best on the net.

'nuf said.

Love Calm Quiet · Nov 13, 2005, 09:18 PM

I'd forgot about slashdot. I hear it quoted. But now that I look at it (after it FINALLY loads its page), What is with their layout?

Rob van dam · Nov 13, 2005, 09:38 PM

try www.abovetopsecret.com

the also have politicaltopsecret and below top secret

i have been reading some interesting things there recently.

turtle777 · Nov 14, 2005, 11:13 AM

http://www.theonion.com

Just about the best on the net.

'nuf said.

-t

Cubeoid · Nov 14, 2005, 11:20 AM

The MacNN Lounge is my favorite forum in the world.. I've never found anywhere as nice looking and comfortable. It's a mix of great people, caring staff, and an great organisational culture. You can't go wrong with the MacNN Lounge. We have member upon member of gut busting hilarity and litres of smart-alekness too.

OSX Abuser · Nov 14, 2005, 11:57 AM

Arstechnica

OldManMac · Nov 14, 2005, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Cubeoid

The MacNN Lounge is my favorite forum in the world.. I've never found anywhere as nice looking and comfortable. It's a mix of great people, caring staff, and an great organisational culture. You can't go wrong with the MacNN Lounge. We have member upon member of gut busting hilarity and litres of smart-alekness too.

Okay; we know they just let you back in.

Love Calm Quiet · Nov 15, 2005, 04:08 AM

Yeah, OSX,
Arstechnica is awesome.
Another example of IT techies supporting each other with CLASS.
I am still amazed that there's not something like MacNN for solar or autos or ...
Non-techies don't seem to caught on to the power of the information sharing :/

macsfromnowon · Nov 15, 2005, 09:24 AM

Well, for what it's worth (to come close to your solar energy e.g.) there's a pretty good BLOG on Climate Change issues:
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?m=200505

frates · Nov 15, 2005, 09:59 AM

http://www.big-boards.com/

SystemPreffs · Nov 15, 2005, 10:06 AM

Way to go, frates!
I think that's more what the OP was suggesting...
They say they have stats on more that 1485 BBs.
Very cool!

macsfromnowon · Nov 16, 2005, 01:53 PM

I just have to second the vote for http://www.webhostingtalk.com .

They are incredibly active and helpful, too. Goes to show once again that geeks make for an awesome community online.