What is Forum: Definition and 405 Discussions

An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are often longer than one line of text, and are at least temporarily archived. Also, depending on the access level of a user or the forum set-up, a posted message might need to be approved by a moderator before it becomes publicly visible.
Forums have a specific set of jargon associated with them; example: a single conversation is called a "thread", or topic.
A discussion forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread and can be replied to by as many people as so wish.
Depending on the forum's settings, users can be anonymous or have to register with the forum and then subsequently log in to post messages. On most forums, users do not have to log in to read existing messages.

View More On Wikipedia.org
Recent contents Top users
  1. T

    Good Electronics Resources | Electro-Tech-Online.com

    http://www.electro-tech-online.com I didn't want to forget the site, and figured that others may like it as well. If anyone else knows some good electronics site feel free to add them to this thread.
  2. R

    Using Greek Letters in Forum Formulas

    when people write formulas in the forums that have different charecters like greek letter how do you write those in?
  3. O

    I don't know which forum to post a question in

    Hmmm... If i don't know which forum to post a question in , where should i post it? :confused: It's definitely about science but I'm not sure which one.
  4. A

    What do you like about this forum?

    What do you like about this forum?
  5. H

    Academic and Career Guidance Forum

    I'm now mentor for the "Academic and Career Guidance" forum? I'm not complaining- I think it's a worthwhile forum but I would have like to have had some notice beforehand!
  6. P

    Free Willy 2nd thread but just foudn the school forum :P sry.

    Well, I'm pretty sure this is impossible. But anyone have this proven. I need to try n prove this for my class. Any help is apperaciated. By the way, killer whales top speed is 13.5 m/s, he jumps out of the water at abotu a 45 degree andgle and the pier he jumps is 15 feet high and 10 feet long.
  7. S

    I'd like to thank those who take the time to help others on this forum

    I'd like to thank those who take the time to help others on this forum :) I would like to take a few minutes out of my evening to thank everyone here in the calculus forums. At the beginning of this past June I enrolled myself in grade 13 calculus through correspondence (I'm in Ontario...
  8. H

    [MUST READ] This forum is not for homework or any textbook-style questions.

    Please post any and all homework or other textbook-style problems in one of the Homework & Coursework Questions forums, whether the problem is part of one's assigned coursework or just independent study. And, before posting, read the section entitled "Homework Help" in the PF Global Guidelines.
  9. H

    [MUST READ] This forum is not for homework or any textbook-style questions.

    Please post any and all homework or other textbook-style problems in one of the Homework & Coursework Questions forums, whether the problem is part of one's assigned coursework or just independent study. And, before posting, read the section entitled "Homework Help" in the PF Global Guidelines.
  10. marcus

    Should PF Have a Separate Quantum Gravity Forum?

    It would be nice if there were a Quantum Gravity Forum at PF It's rather a separate business from string and in a combined forum with string the buzz of interest in other matters is a mite distracting Dividing might make it more convenient to both pursuits and interested parties (btw...
  11. E

    Funny Forum Error: 24 Y.O. RoFLs!

    I got this error when I signed in today: Don't really know why this happened, but thought it a bit funny since I am only 24 years olld :smile:
  12. M

    Forum 56 Removed: Time Travel Forum

    I tried to find the announcement, but couldn't find it. Why was forum 56 (the Time Travel Forum) removed?
  13. T

    New to Forum - Toya Seeks Advice on Physics Course

    : :shy: Hello everyone my name is Toya and I am new to this forum. I am taking a General Physics course in september at the college that I attend, and I was wondering what to expect? Furthermore, I have received several different experiences from friends and fellow classmates at my school. I...
  14. B

    History Is this the Forum for talking about history?

    Is this the Forum for talking about history?
  15. U

    Sceptisim & debunking forum very polictical

    Sceptisim & debunking forum not really debunking new curttting edge scientific theorys/phemonomen, rather a very policitized right wing trash talk from a social minority. Bring back some sort of science or logical reasoning please if possible.
  16. zoobyshoe

    Sea Slug Forum: Important New Forum for Everyone at PF

    Important New Forum I ran across this forum by accident and realized it would be of importance to everyone at PF. Welcome to the Sea Slug Forum Address:http://www.seaslugforum.net/welcome.htm I apologize to Greg in advance if PF becomes a ghost town when everyone flocks to Sea Slug...
  17. B

    New to Forum: Practical Discussions Await

    Hello all. I've always frequented motorcycle forums, but thought I'd try another forum that is somewhat more practical, hence I found this place. Hope the topics are as stimulating as they appear.
  18. V

    LaTeX How come can Latex work on this forum

    Can you please tell me why ? I would like to ask for any place, like a testing forum so that I can test some latex arguments before posting anything about maths in the above forums.. I am sorry i don't know about latex much... Thanks
  19. S

    How many forum members does it take to change a light bulb?

    Q: How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb? A: * 1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed * 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently * 7 to caution about...
  20. Y

    Exploring Physics at the Forum - E=mc^2?

    :wink: Thank god i finally find a physics forum. Does it give light the the equation E=mc^2 that if mass comes from Giggs field carried by Giggs Boson? Thank u :smile:
  21. F

    Victoria Math Forum: Analysis or Algebra? Let's Discuss!

    I've been looking for a math forum for a while, I guess I just found one! I'm a 4th-yr student at the University of Victoria, BC & I can't decide whether I like analysis or algebra better. Right now I'm trying to work through the rest of the 1st part of Munkres' Topology text, the stuff on...
  22. A

    General Question about this part of the forum

    Hi, I just joined physicsforum.com and have a great interest in physics. Looking at the previous posts here, there seem to be a huge amount of variation in the quality of posts here. The membership here seems to be polarized between people whom I would call illiterate (affectionately...
  23. K

    BioInformatics Forum: Get Proper Replies & Answers

    I don't get proper replies in PF. May be i need a Forum exclusive for BioInformatics ... Are they any FOrum FOr BioInformatics ?
  24. B

    How Do Birds Control Their Falling Speed and Cars Stop Quickly?

    Actually, I guess I have two questions... OK, if a 2 Kg bird wants to drop at a rate of 1.2 m/s^2, what is the magnatude and direction of the force that the bird must exert? (Answer is 17.2 N, but I don't understand what work to do to get it) As for the second: If a car with a mass of...
  25. M

    Brian Greene on Techtv: A Kaku Forum

    Don't know if anyone watches the screen savers on Techtv, but Brian Greene was on tonight, not a bad interview. Of course, this forum is a Kaku site.
  26. C

    What about a computational physics forum?

    Hi, I am new to this forum I've noted no computational physics forum? whys that? cheers!
  27. D

    Welcome to the Forum - Say Hi to Daz!

    Hey all, New to the forum's so thought i'd say Hi ^.^ Daz.
  28. marcus

    Music Black hole music thread in other forum

    LPF, you suggested starting a thread on BH ringing modes and/or natural units. I started a thread in "Stellar Astrophysics" forum
  29. T

    Forum Members: Let's come up with a design for a Mars Spacecraft,;any IDEAS?

    What type of Spacecraft would you design and what propulsion system would you use? Her are my thoughts, what are your? Can we, as Forum members, pool our ideas and come up with a feasible design? I say, let's try. 1. Crew size: 1. Commander and Pilot. 2. Spacecraft Systems...
  30. S

    Happy 2004: Wishes for MKaku Forum Members!

    To all the posters and lurkers on the MKaku forum, joyous 2004 and may all your wishes come true (void where prohibited by law .
  31. A

    New Forum for Analytical Mechanics?

    I was wondering what people thought about the notion of creating a forum for analytical mechanics, i.e. Lagrangian and Hamiltonian dynamics. If not then what forum would you recommend discussing the subject? Thanks
  32. T

    Welcome Back! Let's Make the Most of Our Time in the Forum

    The Forum has changed since I last participated. I am glad to be back and so glad for the General Discussion area. Keep it up. Hope to interact as much as possible in the days to come. Remember, TIME is everything, without it, there would be NOTHING.
  33. P

    How much Bandwidth this forum takes per day and per mo

    i am new to this forum..a programmer who deals with server and related stuff i like to know how much bandwidth this forum takes a day and how many hits a day?
  34. suyver

    News What's Your Opinion? - Forum Poll

    Don't worry, I am not planning on starting another discussion about this topic! I was just curious to see what the opinions on this forum are. I really tried to write all the answers as objectively and clearly as possible and I did not intend to insult or provoke anybody. The order in which I...
  35. C

    News I Would Like to Recommend A Huge Politics Forum

    See http://www.libertyforum.org/ They also have a science section, perhaps members here can mention Physics Forum over there to get some more publicity. And here are various other forums: http://www.bbc.co.uk/messageboards/ http://www.discussanything.com/forums/index.php?s=...
  36. C

    Why is Physics Forum Growing So Fast?

    Can someone tell me how this forum is getting so much advertisement that it is growing by 30 or so members each day? Thanks.
  37. ShawnD

    Chemistry Forum: Exploring the Boundless Possibilities of Science through Math

    Why doesn't this place have a chemistry forum? Can there be a chemistry section? That would be so cool.
  38. R

    New to this forum have a question

    Hello everyone, As you can probably tell, I am new to this forum. I have been following some threads for quite some time and I have to say I am quite impressed! Anyway, I DID have a question amongst all this fluff. I am attempting to read a paper that was submitted and published back in...
  39. quantumdude

    Introducing the IED Project Forum: Get and Share Ideas Here

    Any engineering major at any engineering school in the US must take a course entitled Introduction to Engineering Design (IED), or something similar. Right now, I am teaching that course at a local college. I think it would be useful for students to have a thread in which information on...
  40. radagast

    Is the religion forum being discontinued?

    The religion forum is hidden behind the Philosophy link and, it seems, no new threads can be started. Is this a prelude to discontinuing that forum?
  41. L

    Goodbye Religion Forum: The End of PF and Me

    Well that's a disappointment. No religion forum. I did participate in other forums like politics, general discussion, philosophy and feedback, but I think most of my posts were in the religion forum. From the number of posts and threads there it is clear that religion was a very popular topic...
  42. russ_watters

    Meet the New Moderator: Who is Greg and What Are His Qualifications?

    Figured this forum was as good as any for making a formal introduction since I'm a mechanical engineer with some aerospace background and a computer science/engineering hobby. I'm happy Greg gave me the opportunity to moderate this forum. Its something I've never done before but always had...
  43. S

    Welcome to Dr. Kaku's Forum: Join the Discussion with Fellow Fans!

    Welcome to all of you that are coming back to Dr. Kaku's forums. Also, a hearty welcome to anyone that might be new. We're glad to have you all!
  44. Ivan Seeking

    Sting's Challenges: A Forum Tale

    This forum was not Sting's cup of tea. Still, he hung in there and did a great job. Thanks Sting!
  45. Ivan Seeking

    We may have to move Loch Ness to this forum

    Since this appears to be legit I am posting here. I am not making claims, but this looks serious. The source appears to be respectible. My apologies in advance if this is bogus. "Meanwhile, on the shores of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands, retired scrap dealer Gerald McSorley, who...
  46. K

    What makes this forum stand out as my favorite among others?

    This Is My Favorite Forum! I got to say this is my favorite forum! I belong to a number of forums relating to Cars (bmw m3), Everquest (fantasy role playing), Health and Wellbeing, Tropical Travel (hawaii, carib, s.pacific), Scuba Diving, General Aviation, Stocks, ..um porno (just a bit...
  47. M

    How to Make a Simple Submission Forum

    Ok, I need to learn how to make two parts: One part of the site needs to be like this: http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=askquestion (thats the submission part) The other half I need to look like this: http://answers.google.com/answers/main?cmd=search&catid=1500 Any...
  48. M

    Comparing Forum Post/Thread Ratios

    okay, i was a little bored so i computed the current thread to post ration for all the forums above this one. the one with the highest ration is Philosophy, averaging out at aprox. 33.24 posts per thread! (that's including religion as a subforum) and in last place we have Mathamatics...
  49. M

    Good Biology Forum - Discuss Issues & Clear Concepts

    Anybody know where I can find a good biology forum? One that discusses issues in detail; for example, in clearing certain concepts up? Kind of like physicsforum, except biologyforum.
  50. M

    What's your least favorite forum?

    that's just about it...
Back
Top