An Internet forum is a facility on the World Wide Web for holding discussions, or the web application software used to provide the facility. Web-based forums, which date from around 1995, perform a similar function as the dial-up bulletin boards and Internet newsgroups that were numerous in the 1980s and 1990s. A sense of virtual community often develops around forums that have regular users. Technology, computer games, and politics are popular areas for forum themes, but there are forums for a huge number of different topics .
Internet forums are also commonly referred to as web forums, message boards, discussion boards, discussion forums, discussion groups, bulletin boards (but see also dial-up bulletin boards), fora (the proper Latin plural) or simply forums.
Culture
Internet forums are prevalent in several developed countries. In terms of countable posts, Japan is far in the lead with over two million posts per day on their largest forum, 2channel. The United States does not have any one large forum, but instead several hundred thousand smaller forums, the largest of which are GameFAQs, Gaia Online, and IGN. Other countries such as China, the Netherlands, and France are also home to hundreds of independent forums. Some countries such as Finland and Sweden do not have many prevalent forums despite having open and easily available Internet access. As of yet no study has been done on the prevalence of forums in countries around the world. It is also dubious as to whether any country has its own fora, as - especially in the English language - contributors to a forum often come from outside the country in which the forum is hosted. There is often not a 1-1 relationship between languages and countries: for example, English language fora are contributed to by people all over the world, whilst Japanese language fora are likely to be contributed to only by Japanese people, but Japanese people also contribute to English language fora, so there is no 1-1 relationship between Japanese language fora and Japanese people contributing to fora.
More on [ Internet forum ]
A Broken Heart Club - Yahoo club for advice on relationships, dating, and marriage. Includes chat room and discussion boards.
Meta Description: [ abrokenheartclub: Broken Heart Relationships,Dating And Marriage ]
Affection Adicts Anonymous - A LiveJournal community. A communication forum to discuss our addiction to affection. Everyone is welcome. LiveJournal is free.
Break Up Survival - This community helps those dealing with the emotional pain that comes at the end of a relationship. Includes a description and joining instructions. [This is a members-only area. Only members may access this group's home page, member list, message board, and chat room.]
Meta Description: [ Struggling to come to terms with the end of a relationship? Seeking online advice, support and comfort? Think you would benefit from talking to others who are in a situation like yours? Then please drop by where you will find a genuine and caring community. You will find our community very ea... ]
Circle of Hope - Advice for understanding and overcoming the pain of breakup, separation, divorce, and lost or unrequited love. Message boards, chat room, online magazine, breakups horoscopes.
Meta Description: [ Breakup? Help for mending the broken hearts. Rebuilding your life and moving on after a breakup. Breakup poem! ]
I saw you.com - Message board to send short notes to virtual message centers that mirror actual locations.
Meta Description: [ Meet people you ]
Just Our Love: Poetry Board - Forums where members can post their poems about love and other topics.
Meta Description: [ Over 2000 love poems for you to enjoy. Poetry board, contests and fun love tests. ]
Singles Talk Shop - Offers a forum for discussion, sharing, advice and answers.
The Relationship Forums - Covering relationships from the flirty beginnings to long-term plans and everything in-between.
Meta Description: [ The Relationship Forums provide a venue for people to ask questions about all facets of relationships, both romantic and non-romantic. ]
True Stories - A collection of love, romance and relationships true stories, posted by visitors to the site.
Meta Description: [ A collection of love, romance and relationships resources including advice, poetry, quotes, dedications, chat, horoscopes, romantic ideas, message boards, free love postcards and much more!! ]