WHAT IS AN INTERNET FORUM?

People often ask me what is an internet forum and I explain an Internet forum is a discussion area on a website where website members can post discussions and read and respond to posts by other forum members.

An Internet forum can be on nearly any subject and a sense of an online community, or virtual community, tends to develop among forum members. An Internet forum is sometimes referred to as a message board, discussion group, bulletin board or web forum and usually allows all members to make posts and start new topics.

To join an Internet forum members are usually required to register before they can makes posts to others and the prospective member must usually agree to follow certain online rules, sometimes called netiquette, such as to respect other members and refrain from using profanity.

Having been approved by the administrator or moderator of the Internet forum the member usually chooses his or her own user name and password. Sometimes, a password is supplied. An avatar, or photograph or picture, can be uploaded by the member onto the forum and appears alongside the member's user name in each post. The separate conversations in an Internet forum are called threads. Threads are made up of member-written posts. Internet forum members can usually edit their own posts, start new topics, post in their choice of threads and edit their profile. A profile usually lists optional information about each forum member such as the city they are located in and their interests.

An Internet forum administrator or monitor may also participate in the forum. A forum administrator can usually modify threads as well as move or delete threads if necessary. Administrators can also usually change software items in an Internet forum. Moderators often help the administrator and moderate Internet forum members to make sure the forum rules are being followed.

There are the rules and laws to ensure people coexist peacefully in every community throughout the country and this FORUM is no different. There are boundaries to what is and what is not allowed.

This FORUM has been introduced to allow open and friendly discussion among all residents.

The rules are in place to ensure that this FORUM is a friendly place where members can discuss, comment, air matters, raise concerns, learn and share information about matters relating to village life and problems can be resolved in an amicable way.

This site is not responsible for any content you submit. We reserve the right, but undertake no duty, to review, edit, move, or delete any content submitted by users, in our sole discretion, without notice.

We also reserve the right to ban anyone who willfully violates the FORUM rules, as access to this forum is a privilege and not a right. See Rules opposite and information regarding Photographs.