When I visit a forum there are certain things that make me not return to that site. Sometimes they are so obvious that I'm surprised the owners do it.
For me, not being able to view posts as a guest is bad. I never register on a forum that does that. Also those hovering messages that won't disappear until you register, that is one of the worst mods I've seen and more likely to make me not ever come back.
What turns you off a forum? Are any of your forums guilty?
If the forum is populated by a bunch of oldbies that always "pawn" the newbies, then it isn't worth getting into a clique-war forum like that. The Generic forum logo and skin are also a sign that the admin is inexperienced, and less likely to know what they are doing.
Not letting guests view boards or posts.
The Generic forum logo and skin are also a sign that the admin is inexperienced, and less likely to know what they are doing.
That for me always makes me turn around an find somewhere else.
Johnny
When you have to register to view anything, unprofessional design, instantly see it's badly run, too many closed/locked topics usually means it's prone to fights & flamewars.
If it's restricted for guests and/or has the default skin and logo.
Well, sadly for me, it's the number of members and number of topics.
No use talking to myself.
Well, sadly for me, it's the number of members and number of topics.
No use talking to myself.
Although, a forum needs members to become active, so more people join, it gets more active, but when you don't join, hows that community ever going to become active? don't get me wrong, I see where you're coming from, but you have give some leeway.
yes, that's why I said sadly.
That's the bane of every new forum.
Actually for me it's the exacpt oppisite then from you solid. If it is small, but has good quality posts and seems to have highquality people I will join. If it looks like there is at least one member that is interested in it while it's small I'm usually willing to help out and join, mostly because I've been there before, in fact I am there right now in my own forum. In fact I'm in a couple of those bad zones with my forum.
For me, I won't sign up in a place that seems sort of wishywashy, with poor content and people, no matter how large or small it is, and I won't sign up in a place that won't let me see the threads and posts as a guest.
Most that annoy me have qlready been discussed, but what I hate is a huge pop up that says "register with us" and just pop-ups in general.
Most that annoy me have qlready been discussed, but what I hate is a huge pop up that says "register with us" and just pop-ups in general.
lol, i hate that too, it pisses me off when it's opened every time you click a link.
Ads are also something i don't like very much. I don't like forums that put ads between posts.
As said before design work, (logo and skin) is very importat, it tells me if the admin is dedicated to the forum or if he doesn't care, if he knows what he does or not.
Signature rules are importat too, there are some forums that won't allow members to put links in signatures, or even worse are those that add rel="nofollow" to every posted link. Like ozzu.com
What I hate:
1. default skin. I mean UNmodded. I'm on the default VB skin too, but I'm sure you couldn't quite tell that. So ... MOD THAT SKIN if you want me in.
2. chity-chaty-stupid-posts. I have small communities, but I look for CONTENT, not stupid spam. If I see this in a forum, be sure I won't come back.
3. No treads ... well, I know starting a forum is hard, but please give me something to reply to. If I don't see threads, I'm not gonna create them, but hit the back button to another place.