Y'know what? I think that from time to time. It's nice to kind of take the pulse of our community, see where we're at and how everyone's feeling! I know we're a gaggle of a few critters at this point and we're still in soft launch, but! No better time to get info than the present!
To that end, I'm starting a lil series of threads that we'll just call censuses! Check ins where I ask general questions about how the forum is doing, what everyone's experience is like, etc. because that's a WILDLY vague prompt tho, I'll try and direct the discussion with a lil more specific questioning when I do these!
So! Let's start us off with some easy stuff: how much experience do y'all have with forums? Is this your first one? Have you used one recently? Or maybe it's been a looooong time and you're rusty?
What about having a forum interests you or excites you! Does anything about forum use intimidate or confuse you?
I'll put in my own two cents eventually but I'm the meanwhile I wanted to open the floor to y'all!
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 4:50 pm
by SnivyContrarian
This might be my first forum, I don't believe I've used forums before.
I know there have been other communities and forums for gaming and all that before, but I wasn't as actively online back then as I am now.
Still, I'm looking forward to seeing how this feels for me, what new experiences I may have with being here with y'all!
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 4:54 pm
by Balloon Bundle
We're very frequent users of another specific forum (which we've noticed some design similarities to said forum being used here, which is cute :p), and we grew up on the Cave Story Tribute Site forums. We fortunately never got into Facepunch or SomethingAwful back in the day, so our experience has mostly been positive.
I appreciate forums as a place to talk about topics with Structure. I can write out massive posts about things I care a lot about without it feeling like I'm just screaming into the void or crowding other people out. We can talk and talk about things and it's not ephemeral, it's not going to just get buried in a channel. If I sit here and passionately talk about what i like about a videogame or a specific piece of inflation art or an artist's style, it will always be here to look back on. And on top of that, you can always just add to it. Conversations can pick back up days, weeks, even months later, and there's an archive of all that happened up to that point.
I will say that we can struggle sometimes to just Make Threads, there's kind of an inherent expectation with forums to put yourself out there more properly rather than just dropping quick thoughts like on discord or bluesky. The APPLE thread we made in the gaming forum was sort of us testing the waters on that here, obviously there's only like 15 users atm so we're not expecting that thread to do gangbusters, but sort of just feeling out if this style works for this kind of interest.
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 5:30 pm
by pont
familiar with the format, just never really used one regularly. more the sort to chime in occasionally than start any discussions. pretty interested to see what i can put together in posts within the limitations of the formatting rules.
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2026 7:00 pm
by NellThompson
This is maybe the first forum of this type I've actively engaged in since the very early 2010's at the earliest so that should tell you enough about my own experiences. x3
Other than the fact that it was a forum like this when I had just turned 13 that began my time doing any direct sociability online, before I joined the furry fandom even (though that'd be less than a year after!) so...definitely used these, just been a good while so some re-learning's been happening!
We're very frequent users of another specific forum (which we've noticed some design similarities to said forum being used here, which is cute
I will second Bloat's thoughts here, Some things are just too good not to pay homage to, bweheh! I told y'all I would be doing research ;3))))) C Balloon Bundle wrote:
I will say that we can struggle sometimes to just Make Threads, there's kind of an inherent expectation with forums to put yourself out there more properly rather than just dropping quick thoughts like on discord or bluesky. The APPLE thread we made in the gaming forum was sort of us testing the waters on that here, obviously there's only like 15 users atm so we're not expecting that thread to do gangbusters, but sort of just feeling out if this style works for this kind of interest.
I saw y'all made that thread! I've yet to give it a full read through but it's something I wanna put the time aside to give it a full on lookover, APPLE cool and something I have some personal experience that I'd love to yap about in there!!
Regardless, Forumposting definitely requires a certain degree of ice to be broken and willingness to put yourself out there!! I really appreciate y'all putting a thread out there to help keep the waters inviting for critters to discuss in! I've been working my tush off trying to put out threads and the like as well, I know it can be difficult to break that silence but I prommy it's worth it, I'm really excited to see how y'all settle into the space here!!
_____________________________________________________________________________________ SnivyContrarian wrote:
This might be my first forum, I don't believe I've used forums before.
I know there have been other communities and forums for gaming and all that before, but I wasn't as actively online back then as I am now.
Still, I'm looking forward to seeing how this feels for me, what new experiences I may have with being here with y'all!
Honestly I'm surprised to see it's your first forum, you always struck me as a forum enjoying kinda critter!! Well I hope tha roundtable can be a fun first foray for you, maybe pique your interest in lookin at some of the other forums out there too!! I adoooooroe forums, I think they're an important part of a healthy internet tbh!!
______________________________________________________________________________________ pont wrote:
familiar with the format, just never really used one regularly. more the sort to chime in occasionally than start any discussions. pretty interested to see what i can put together in posts within the limitations of the formatting rules.
Honestly? I think that's A-okay! That's something I really value about forums, is that its a space where you CAN just pop in and out as you like, the sense of immediacy is reduced so discussion can flow at whatever pace everyone's comfortable with! Excited to see what kinda posts y'all do get up to, I don't think I've ever really seen anybody try and experiment with the formatting all that much beyond like, simple things!
Other than the fact that it was a forum like this when I had just turned 13 that began my time doing any direct sociability online, before I joined the furry fandom even (though that'd be less than a year after!) so...definitely used these, just been a good while so some re-learning's been happening!
Nodnods, its one of those things you gotta get reacclimated to in some ways, but still! Glad to see another forum veteran around here, beheh!
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 4:01 am
by NellThompson
I'm enjoying the process of getting reacclimated, for sure! This already feels like a more comfortable and organically mutual way to publicly connect with like-minded others than modern alternatives so I appreciate you and Bloat over taking this idea on. :3
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 5:40 am
by Jimbo
Forums have been a part of my life for a long time, I think I started on BeyondUnreal forums when I was still technically far too young to play Unreal Tournament lol. Bounced around several other forums before eventually settling on The Daemon Forums as my home, but I went on hiatus there about 10 years ago. Came back recently to find it still exists and there's a Discord now too. And despite the long break some people remembered me, it was very gratifying lol.
So I'm familiar but pretty rusty with forums right now. I tend to make long posts every once in a while on a wide variety of topics but I never made new threads, always seemed like a lot of pressure but I'd like to break that habit.
I love that I can check in on forums weekly and not feel like I've missed everything, but I'd like to be around more frequently after I complete the process of moving house heh
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 3:45 pm
by MirrorG
I'm mostly here out of curiosity. You hear so much about "the before times" but never really know what it's like.
Now I get the chance to =w=
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2026 6:45 pm
by KobaltSilverstar
I have a vague familiarity with forum structure gained from lurking in a myriad of various forums looking for answers n stuff, but I haven't actually used one since like 2008 when I last used 4chan... lmao
Man honestly, I have a hard time writing longer posts because of my social anxiety and introversion, but I'm hopeful that hanging out in a forum space might help me be a little more expressive and verbose!
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2026 1:23 am
by wobblowl
I had been online for a while before looking at Pokemon fansites and playing Neopets, but I didn't start going on forums until ~2011 on the Dragon Cave (a virtual pet site) forums. I believe there's some other forums I was on also, but I can't remember much. I had a sprite splice shop (anyone remember those?) with a few other people. Later on I joined the Chicken Smoothie (another pet site) forums, and that was my main place online for about a year. During this time I joined another forum for a collectible art doll community called Cruinndrac Farms. I mostly stopped going on them by 2013, as Deviantart and Skype replaced interacting with people online for me.
I go on other forums sometimes! Critter Time is the big one, but I don't visit much since I really feel my lack of knowledge about tech stuff compared to everyone else on the forum x'3
I like forums because they're not trying to steal my attention span like social media does. I can post something, go do something else, and come back to see if there's new replies or threads. Meanwhile, social media wants all your attention all the time; it's basically designed for it, after all. I can actually let myself breathe while using forums. Also, when you post something, it doesn't get lost after a single day passes. Posts actually have longevity!
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2026 7:38 pm
by HoofusDoofus
Y'ALL ready for lighting round 2? Deercowsheepie coming at you HOT with a fresh wall of responses! Jimbo wrote:
Forums have been a part of my life for a long time, I think I started on BeyondUnreal forums when I was still technically far too young to play Unreal Tournament lol. Bounced around several other forums before eventually settling on The Daemon Forums as my home, but I went on hiatus there about 10 years ago. Came back recently to find it still exists and there's a Discord now too. And despite the long break some people remembered me, it was very gratifying lol.
Ohhhh that's so cool though, being able to return to a space a decade later and be welcomed right back, that's the magic of forums and why I'm so fuckin jazzed to be helping get this space a-moving!! Hopefully you can make just as many connections and fond memories here as well!!
Man honestly, I have a hard time writing longer posts because of my social anxiety and introversion, but I'm hopeful that hanging out in a forum space might help me be a little more expressive and verbose!
Hell yea, that's the spirit! You are allowed and encouraged to talk as much as you want around here, in as long a post as you want! I mean hell I'm sure you've seen I hardly ever shut up, bweheh! Point being I was SUPER excited to see you interested when I put the feeler out, I'd love to hear more from you and see you explorin tha space!
I had been online for a while before looking at Pokemon fansites and playing Neopets, but I didn't start going on forums until ~2011 on the Dragon Cave (a virtual pet site) forums. I believe there's some other forums I was on also, but I can't remember much. I had a sprite splice shop (anyone remember those?) with a few other people. Later on I joined the Chicken Smoothie (another pet site) forums, and that was my main place online for about a year. During this time I joined another forum for a collectible art doll community called Cruinndrac Farms. I mostly stopped going on them by 2013, as Deviantart and Skype replaced interacting with people online for me.
REAL ONE ALERT, REAL ONE ALERT, I'm still drafting my own two cents/track record with forums, but I similarly got my start on neopets boards and pokemon forums! Seeing someone with a similar origin makes me SO SO happy, bweheh! wobblowl wrote:
I go on other forums sometimes! Critter Time is the big one, but I don't visit much since I really feel my lack of knowledge about tech stuff compared to everyone else on the forum x'3
Yeah I feel that!! Critter time is really neat, I need to post there a little more often too! But I can't deny the allure of a space for our lil niche does keep me far more active over here! Especially when I am, not exactly the most tech savy beyond the basics
I go on other forums sometimes! Critter Time is the big one, but I don't visit much since I really feel my lack of knowledge about tech stuff compared to everyone else on the forum x'3
Wooooah, Critter Time! Bloat suggested that to me a while ago and I hadn't joined yet, thank you for reminding me! Might be a fun place to jump into sometime via my character Alek and what-not, given his dorkishness over VHS and obsolete video formats~
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2026 5:37 pm
by FatThoughtKittyBot
I'm an Internet Old(tm) and used to use forums pretty heavily, but I've long fallen out of practice and I'm definitely feeling the rust! This is probably the first forum I've used since...gosh, 2007 or 2008?
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2026 6:30 pm
by bloatware
I might be a weird outlier in that, whilst I certainly tailed off them a bunch, or became a less frequent visitor, I never stopped using forums for longer than a couple of years during the last, like, 25 years or so.
Or at least I remember it like that. The truth is probably that I was off them for longer than I remember, but I've certainly used a bunch in my time.
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2026 7:27 pm
by Terryl
I was always way too anxious to use any form of internet social media, forums included, when I was young. Still am, I guess, just less so since it's the main way I made most of my current friends!
I might be a weird outlier in that, whilst I certainly tailed off them a bunch, or became a less frequent visitor, I never stopped using forums for longer than a couple of years during the last, like, 25 years or so.
Or at least I remember it like that. The truth is probably that I was off them for longer than I remember, but I've certainly used a bunch in my time.
Honestly tho? I kinda envy that in a way! Like, It seems to me y'all have still kept in touch with that forum magic even in your time away! I was kinda entirely disconnected from having a digital third space for so long, I didnt realize how much social media really had its hooks in me til recently. That is to say, dang am I glad we've got this space now. It may be smaller while we're getting our bearings but I'll be so real it's nice to kind of have somewhere that feels like "home", yknow?
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 7:36 pm
by Cooper
This'll be the second forum that I might actually post on, the other being a forum that clearly inspired some of the design decisions here
Though funnily enough, posting a lot of the same content :3c
Always been a lurker, only really came out of my shell once I hit on Mastodon/Fedi and people were just being out there - maybe it'll carry over to here.
Re: Roundtable CENSUS #1: Forum Familiarity
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 10:16 pm
by AwholeLotOfDerg
I've been on the internet since the 1990's (my bones, they ache)
Forums have always been a part of that in some variety or another. Though I've gotten a little more into them since dabbling more and more in retro computing in particular