What was your first forum?

[Shawn Gossman]

What's the first forum you've ever created?

Do you still have that forum?

Is it active?

 

[Dilip]

Yes, it is still around. They changed the software and moved to a new domain some 5 years back. My content and tutorials are still available there.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Yes, it is still around. They changed the software and moved to a new domain some 5 years back. My content and tutorials are still available there.

Was it the tech one?

If so, I think I remember it.

Gizmodo or something like that?

 

[Dilip]

A tech one.

I will skip sharing the name though. Not associated with the project anymore.

 

[Elseb]

Yup, celebrating 20 years this year! Started in 2002, that's just scary. We started on Suddenlaunch, have had two boardnation boards and also Invisionfree/Zetaboards. We're now on a paid platform, InvisionCommunity. We've always been a small community but I'm proud that we're still around, not easy these days.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Yup, celebrating 20 years this year! Started in 2002, that's just scary. We started on Suddenlaunch, have had two boardnation boards and also Invisionfree/Zetaboards. We're now on a paid platform, InvisionCommunity. We've always been a small community but I'm proud that we're still around, not easy these days.

A small community lasting that long is a great community If this is as big as FAF gets but lasts that long, I'd be fine with that It's about the people, not the vanity stats.

 

[Elseb]

A small community lasting that long is a great community If this is as big as FAF gets but lasts that long, I'd be fine with that It's about the people, not the vanity stats.

Yeah absolutely. The amount of positive memories I've had over the last 20 years is unreal, so much happiness. Wouldn't change it for the World.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Yeah absolutely. The amount of positive memories I've had over the last 20 years is unreal, so much happiness. Wouldn't change it for the World.

I've enjoyed 99% of the memories I've made with forums.

I'm glad I got into them.

Some people wish they hadn't. I'm glad I did.

 

[Elseb]

I've enjoyed 99% of the memories I've made with forums.

I'm glad I got into them.

Some people wish they hadn't. I'm glad I did.

If I was to ask you what the 1% was, what would you say?

 

[Shawn Gossman]

If I was to ask you what the 1% was, what would you say?

Just a few bad experiences, mistakes that I made, dealing with spammers.

I think a lot of folks dwell on forums not being as popular as there were but it would be silly of anyone not to expect that wouldn't had happened, right?

I mean eventually social media will fade away, especially AR and VR really advances.

 

[secretprojects]

My first forum is my current and only one, 17 years old as of Christmas. My friend's forum which I administer is 21 years old and still going strong. They build models of planes that never existed, we research planes that never got built.

I identified a specific niche interest within "Aviation" I was keen on, but didn't seem to be catered for. I made posts on 3 or 4 existing forums of the kind of stuff I found interesting, and got some good responses to it. When I created my forum, I made quite a few posts of content of the same type, and then posted about having created my own forum and largely stopped posting on other forums.

Things grew from there.

My tip for success is, make a forum on a subject you yourself are passionate about. People arrive for the content, but stay for the community.

It's one of the best things I ever did. Led to me meeting the authors of books I'd read as a kid. Geeking out with other authors and long time aviation professionals while on holiday in California. Interviewed the designer of the Harrier Jump Jet and wrote a book. Made lifelong friends.

All from the forum.

 

[Elseb]

My first forum is my current and only one, 17 years old as of Christmas. My friend's forum which I administer is 21 years old and still going strong. They build models of planes that never existed, we research planes that never got built.

I identified a specific niche interest within "Aviation" I was keen on, but didn't seem to be catered for. I made posts on 3 or 4 existing forums of the kind of stuff I found interesting, and got some good responses to it. When I created my forum, I made quite a few posts of content of the same type, and then posted about having created my own forum and largely stopped posting on other forums.

Things grew from there.

My tip for success is, make a forum on a subject you yourself are passionate about. People arrive for the content, but stay for the community.

It's one of the best things I ever did. Led to me meeting the authors of books I'd read as a kid. Geeking out with other authors and long time aviation professionals while on holiday in California. Interviewed the designer of the Harrier Jump Jet and wrote a book. Made lifelong friends.

All from the forum.

That's awesome! Massive congrats on your success!