Blogs, Groups, and Forums
Written by Angel Djambazov

Most blogs can be setup with public, subscriber only or private settings, helping the author to decide exactly how much they want to share.  The public setting allows anyone, whether registered with the host site or not, to read the blog.  The subscriber setting means that before someone can read the blog they must be a subscriber.  All subscribers must be manually approved by the owner of the blog.  When there is an update to the blog, the subscriber gets a notice, either via email or via symbol on their login screen, that something new has been added to the blog.  Private setting are similar to subscriber setting but with an extra level of security.  The blog owner can keep entries just for themselves or can share them with select subscribers whom they approve.

Groups are monitored by the Group Leader, who insures that posted topics remain within the focus of the group, and also manually approves/disapproves new subscriber applications.  (Note: For public groups any subscriber to the host website can join, whereas for private groups a potential member must fill out a separate application to the group itself.)

Topically groups can choose to focus on any interest.  For example: One group may focus on Phoenix Independent Film, which may be interested in indie films coming to town, different film festivals and celebrity sightings; another may focus on Phoenix Independent Film Makers, which may focus on finding equipment around town, gathering cast, local promotion companies, and pooling of creative ideas.

The way discussions arise in these groups is that a group member posts a topic or an announcement.  Announcements are simply broadcast to the group members: no discussion is generated.  Topics invite other group members to express opinions and create a “thread” where multiple people have voiced their opinion on a topic.  Just like with blogs, the group member is notified via email or via symbol on their login screen that a new announcement or topic has been posted.

Forums are subscriber based.  Each forum is broken down into a topic and the discussion thread that goes with that topic.  You can either comment on the main topic or create a secondary thread by commenting upon someone else’s comment.

Forums are usually monitored by subscribers, known as Forum Moderators, who are employed by the host website.  They are identified as such in their online id.  They help keep the forum on topic and also will combine threads if multiple threads begin to mimic each other.  For example: five different threads discussing the upcoming Harry Potter film will probably be made in to one by the Forum Moderator.

With most forums you don’t receive any notice that a topic has been posted nor can you send announcements.  In order to find out the latest that is going on with the forum, a user must visit it.