Forums also known as 'message boards' and sometimes 'community chat boards' aka the 'boards' were the predecessor to ALL social media. The format has been credited to IBM to manage information flow among many users well before the internet. The concept was adopted by the internet as the first online dual communication platform. It was considered 'pull' technology as you went to it for updates when you wanted. Over time it developed a notification system to let you know when replies had been made but nothing like the current 'push' technology that lands in your inbox and sends into to you continuously.
Forums are like online filing cabinets with several large delineations ie. the filing drawers if you will and then categories in those distinct areas ie. dividers if you will and the forums i.e. individual files if you will and posts in each folder/topic i.e. pieces of paper if you will.
A topic will tell you what the subject matter is and all posts or replies will usually pertain to that topic. These topics are grouped together into forums and sub forums such as 2020 TRIPS, or New Diver Training and then these similar topics are grouped into categories such as ALL TRIPS or DIVE EDUCATION.
The names of topics are all linkable meaning they open the details up for you to read. You can reply by adding a post or even starting your own topic.
SingleDivers.com once used forums exclusively when it started in 2004 as it was the only technology available and it allowed us to provide lots of information on lots of subjects and keep that information organized for members to readily find later when needed.
We STILL use our forums but they are more limited now due to the introduction of other software platflorms such as blogs and social media. However we STILL use them to manage our trips and to facilitate the welcoming of new members, sending out birthday greeting and to discuss diving topics of perrienial interest.
We you to:
- Post an introduction HERE (must be registered in the forums and email verified to post)
- Check out our dive trips HERE or HERE (to learn more simply click on the 'details' and/or other topic names to open up TONS of information you may need.
- Peruse the SingleDivers.com forums HERE to find categories and topics that interest you. (Simply scroll down to see what's there.) Feel free to post in them no matter how old the topic is and/or start a new topic (even if we have something similar already). We NEVER get upset if you post in the wrong place (its a bit subjective anyway) nor do we get upset if you've started a new topic that's been discussed before. We simply welcome your participation.
So jump right in...splash around... aks some questions and/or reply to other posts!
p.s. And feel free to add to this mini history of forums if you have info to provide or fun stories to tell!