We need to keep independent forums alive

[genovefa]

Discord is a silo and iirc had its IPO and is on track to enshittify over the next few years

It also seems really bad for archival - years of questions and answers on a Discord server do not create a knowledge base that future people can reference from the open internet.

I think I like the sensory quietness of the 00s style forum more too, this app is not trying to addict you, it does not have infinite scroll or algorithmic recommendations or short form videos or ...

And uh, I just like forums. I guess I am nostalgic for the vBulletin era, the BBSes and Usenet are before my time. I will do my part to preserve them by posting here.

let's do it yall

[Echo Weaver]

I don't disagree with any of this. I hang out a lot on Discord, but once a channel gets to a certain level of activity, it's only useful if you can focus on it 100%, and sometimes not even then. For thoughtful conversations, I think it's hard to beat a forum. 

[Diff]

4 minutes ago, Echo Weaver said:

I don't disagree with any of this. I hang out a lot on Discord, but once a channel gets to a certain level of activity, it's only useful if you can focus on it 100%, and sometimes not even then. For thoughtful conversations, I think it's hard to beat a forum. 

Especially because Discord channels are the equivalent of forum categories. It's crazy to only have a single thread going at a time, which is why servers often resort to multiple channels for the same topic.

Discord does have conversational threads, as well as structured forums with completely independent threads, but they're just. There's something off about them usability-wise, the cross between a recent posts lists and real-time chat doesn't mesh well together. Only the most active threads get any eyes and far too many threads go completely unanswered, no different from speaking in a single overactive chat channel. I'm not sure why but they don't solve the problem they were made to solve.

[Echo Weaver]

10 minutes ago, Diff said:

Discord does have conversational threads, as well as structured forums with completely independent threads, but they're just. There's something off about them usability-wise,

Discord's UI is focused on live chat. I don't find that forums with threads works all that well. Which is basically what you said.

[genovefa]

Good point Echo Weaver and Diff, honestly the way things get buried and forgotten and people have to talk over eachother in a Discord channel is probably the greatest weakness, and one I didn't mention

[Teh Pizza Lady]

For archival purposes, a dedicated site will always trump a Discord.

All you need is for the Discord server owner's account to get hacked or for Discord themselves to decide they don't like you in some way and *poof* all your stuff is just... gone.

Websites are MUCH harder to take down by someone with a carrot tucked where the sun don't shine.

[LadyWYT]

I like Discord as a message box for chattering at friends, but in that case the group is very small and nothing really gets buried as a result. For large groups of people, a dedicated forum website is definitely better, since the slower-paced format prevents topics from getting immediately buried. 

[hstone32]

On 11/3/2025 at 12:24 PM, Echo Weaver said:

Discord's UI is focused on live chat. I don't find that forums with threads works all that well. Which is basically what you said.

I don't like live chat. I think it encourages people to be more impulsive about the things they say. Being impulsive or emotionally reactive is a very quick way to destroy all your social connections.

[Echo Weaver]

2 hours ago, hstone32 said:

I don't like live chat. I think it encourages people to be more impulsive about the things they say. Being impulsive or emotionally reactive is a very quick way to destroy all your social connections.

I just think they have different functions. If I want to feel direct companionship with someone remote, live chat provides that in a way forums do not. OTOH, I treat live chat like a verbal conversation. If I receive information I want to keep, I store it elsewhere, and I don't expect anything said to be easily looked up later.

[OBAMFSpike]

On 11/12/2025 at 1:19 PM, hstone32 said:

I don't like live chat. I think it encourages people to be more impulsive about the things they say. Being impulsive or emotionally reactive is a very quick way to destroy all your social connections.

Am I alone in thinking that hiding behind lies and feelings is what causes the destruction of relationships? 

Id dare say that being transparent about said things actually benefits all relationships. 

 

[Bumber]

On 1/5/2026 at 8:41 AM, OBAMFSpike said:

Am I alone in thinking that hiding behind lies and feelings is what causes the destruction of relationships? 

Id dare say that being transparent about said things actually benefits all relationships.

I'm unconvinced of the benefits in telling someone exactly how you feel about, e.g., all their annoying habits if you're actually upset at something else. There's a certain amount of tact required for society to function, and we're already seen what social media has delivered thus far. Emotions are habit-forming, and catharsis is bunk.

Edited January 8 by Bumber

[OBAMFSpike]

If you don't care to have a conversation. Don't. 

If I chose to have one. I will. 

Simple. 

[Diff]

For something so simple, you've entirely lost me. I have no idea what that has to do what was being discussed up until now.

With more time you can be more thoughtful with your word choice and communicate yourself better. It's not about masking (not lying) or filtering (still not lying), it's like that quote. "If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter." Discord enforces short times and less clear messages.

Tailoring a message isn't lying, either. I'm assuming if you say something that's potentially hurtful, it's not because you're trying to be hurtful. You want to convey information. A message that fails to be received due to a lack of tact is a failed message. The best way for that information to be conveyed is by not being a jerk about it.

Edited January 8 by Diff