Internet Forum Groups

 Internet Forum Groups

Most folks young and old, are on the internet nowadays.  Online internet discussion groups can be like message boards for like-minded people with a common purpose. This may be about a housing society, class group, sports group, professional group, music group, social group, etc.

One of the most important functions of homo sapiens is communication and this sets us apart from the animals.

Online forums are meant for asking questions, raising points of interest for discussion, seeking advice in general, and meeting and greet for newbies. The topics can be about anything under the sun - common ones are sports, hobbies, homes, and families in social groups.

Religion and politics are best avoided as they can raise controversies and strong opinions.

Internet Forum Groups, unlike Facebook and Instagram, 

1. Encourage dialogue between people

2. Help people communicate, empathize, rejoice, meet and greet, mourn, lament, remember incidents

3. There is group engagement, expression of solidarity ( or otherwise) &

4. Seeking emotional support, advice, help for the needy.

Disadvantages are:

1. Inappropriate comments knowingly or unknowingly

2. Saying too little (lurkers)

3. Saying too much (forwarded messages)

4. Inappropriate language. The digital message may mean altogether different when it is not worded properly

5. In large professional groups, advice from an unknown person may have to be taken with a pinch of salt.

6. Group Administrators preferably more than one. It is difficult for one person to watch the list all the time, the responses and take action. Any active good list has more than 1 administrator for this reason and a list of internet etiquette.

Internet Forum Groups are on the whole educative, proactive, and useful to most people. However, if everyone contributes equally when appropriate can make our lives easier and more peaceful.

Naturally, they do not substitute the real meeting of people by the roadside, in their homes, in meetings, or elsewhere in person. But modern lives have changed and internet forum groups are a reality that we must accept!