Why are webforums so popular? Why do you attend? Have you ever thought about it?
It is really strange. I usually search for forum of certain type when I need help of some kind (with programming or so) or when I need feedback for some of my ideas or opinions. Therefore I seldom stay in one forum for too long.
But sometimes I get caught – I meet a person whose ideas sound interesting to me, so I want to learn more about him/her. Sometimes we get really “close” – we start e-mailing each other, spending hours chatting via MSN, AOL or ICQ, but strangely enough, those “virtual” relationships also never last too long – it seems that after some time personal contact is necessary, and if difficult (which is usually the case) than the relationship starts to “degenerate” gradually.
P.S.:I forgot something – yes, web forums are very good when fighting with boredom…:D

web forums are very good when fighting with boredom

You answered your own question.

You answered your own question.

Translation: Sarge is really bored most of the time which explains the high post rate. He speaks from personal experience.

I drag my eyes to this site because once (in a blue moon, :P) an interesting idea or piece of information pops up here. I have found people here with whom I keep conversations via aim for as long as Im here, Im not sure how long that will last, however that was not my initial goal.

Answer - Boredom. Without question. And if I apply whitewolfs theory on number of posts, I'm not too bored too often.

We need to change our ideas as much as we need to change light bulbs with others. There;s nothing wrong with exchanging views with others and then move on .

I I guess so.... But I'll interpret it as 'cleaning my idea pipe'. My ideas often get stuck in my brain and I don't like it.

I figured out why I liked messageboards one day when I was talking to a friend and they complained about how I would take so long to reply to a question!

On a messageboard I get the opportunity write my ideas down (as if i was saying them), read it, reconsider and reword it in a way that will express my idea best. I can't do this very easily in a real conversation. This is what I was doing when my friend complained!

On top of that, I hate it when someone says something that may be a contradiction or doesn't make sense.

What forums offer is the ability to steadily follow the train of though throughout an entire convo/debate. That quote button makes me feel all bubbly inside! (kidding) :D

Hmmm, I've made this sound a lot sadder than it really is...

Well... that's actually one of the reasons... the other is that you get to see the thoughts of some real interesing people, and it can be real amusing...

Good lord, 'sif I'd entrust any idea of mine worth its salt to y'all. You act like "ideas" are some precious commodity that needs to be nurtured and grown.

So why post? It's entertaining.

Ideas aren't worth a pitcher of beer. Moving on though...

Why do I post? I like to talk about scifi. I also like to read what others have written. Of course sometimes you have to deal with shit like this:

You;re all tards. Screw off. Presdent BUSh is a great leader and good man. Blah blah blah blah blah.

Sometimes I leave here more pissed off then when I arrived.

EDIT: I shouldn't use foul language in that manor. My apologies.

Originally posted by Xev
You act like "ideas" are some precious commodity that needs to be nurtured and grown.

It depends on the purpose you have for them. If you are, for instance, working on some essay, story, novel etc. You definitely need your ideas to be nurtured and grown – as well as shaped carefully or killed, whenever they prove to be wrong.

Anyway thanks everybody for your replies. Generally you confirmed my theory already expressed in another thread (but I forgot which one) – Internet and web forums especially are just another devices memes invented for their faster and more effective spreading.:)