The internet is undergoing a revolution in the form of the “WEB 2.0” phenomenon that offers two distinct advantages to the traditional way we use the net. People are now taking control of how they use and share information by decentralizing data and taking it away from the control usually applied by large corporations connected to the internet. The move of information into the public domain tends to allow us to get more out of our surfing experience giving the most useful information around on a specific topic the most chances of getting to the people who are looking for it.



A forum defined is a grouping of individuals or community on the internet that contribute through written threads that are compiled and made available for others to use as reference or source of opinion. The members who contribute to these forums may make entries such as blogs that started out as simple diaries published online that exist in chronological order. Others have used the medium to express sentiments on news or other related materials that vary from day to day. The forum is managed by a moderator who deletes entries that could be deemed as either inappropriate or irrelevant due to newer information that has revised and debunked previous content. The good thing about it is that a user can add to an existing thread or start a totally new thread based on the initial topic further expanding the coverage and scope allowing better understanding. This broadens the information and increases it exponentially depending on the quantity of relations that are developed between and within the specified threads. These threads can also point to other threads in the form of a link that other members attach to their own threads thus allowing the exchange of information at the users discretion.

Many such sites exist that foster and promote the expression of individual views and opinions giving users the freedom of expression without the strict controls imposed by most web browsers and other related software. Users are sometimes given discretion on what to do with threads that have been created or linked by them allowing them to delete or end a thread as enthusiasm towards it wanes or relevance has been overcome by better threads.

Most control is given to the termed administrator with the total control of the overall appearance and other administrative prerogatives such as software modification and so on and so forth. Moderators are given some of the rights of admin but only to some extent related to the upkeep of the threads ensuring their constant monitoring.

Even forums are subject to abuse which can come in the form of useless random comments added to threads. Some even use material that has been buried long under the ground and resurrects them up for current discussion. Members can post trivial, personal or contributory content to those started by others or by himself. Members are obligated to update their threads to maintain and preserve their status as active.

As we can see above, the way information is getting into the hands of those who need them for reference or trivial applications is widely becoming the media of choice. This is in contrast to the rule driven web pages of the past where certain elements have to comply with rules and restrictions imposed by those who operate and control the said applications. The arena of forums tends to be a more relaxed and informal way of logging your daily views giving others an idea of how others think of topics that are established within them selves.