Do discussion forums on the internet do more harm than good? Pews Research center conducted research based on this phrase and found that discussion platforms are indeed popular. The research highlights that internet users often participate in online discussion forums by reading or commenting in an active discussion. These discussion forums have both advantages and shortcomings that can lead to a bad experience for participants or the public. It is a simple concept; for instance, you can either make some money through winnings or huge losses whenever you join an online casino in Australia. In other words, life can go either way. The shortcomings and advantages make up our debate today on whether discussion forums on the internet do more harm than good.

5 Main Issues to Be discussed:

  • Online forums can be isolating and distancing from some members of the community;
  • Online discussions often lead to miscommunication;
  • Discussion forums lead to information overload;
  • Discussion forums offer no direction for many people;
  • Online discussion forums are no significant sources of information.

Online Forums Can Be Isolating and Distancing from Some Members of the Community

Yes

Internet forums require a lot of text input if not using platforms that allow a face to face conversation. Your discussion can take a long while to complete, and answers to requests or data can take a long while. Even with a threaded flow of information or communication, it becomes taxing for individuals to go through the discussion on their own. It does not mean that a face-to-face platform such as Skype is better. In most instances, you will find individuals suffering from miscommunication after meeting on skype. Plus, if a person is not up to par with the discussion, the forum leaves them behind to find ways to catch up with the rest. If people have no knowledge of the topic under discussion, then the forum keeps them aside, which can be lonely for individuals who depend on forums to make new friends.

No

Discussion forums bring together like-minded individuals with similar goals, likes, dislikes, and talents. People joining a discussion forum only do so since the forum presents subjects or topics dear to their hearts. For instance, if you love shopping, joining an online fashion or retail discussion analyzing the latest trends makes sense. However, if you decide to join an agricultural-based discussion highlighting the effects of the global heating phenomenon on the land and crops, you will end up feeling alone. Like-minded individuals may develop and create thriving online discussion forums making the partners and organizers a happy bunch. Plus, research does indicate that people are more productive if they are indeed happy in their forums.

Online Discussions Often Lead to Miscommunication

Yes

Discussion forums do not provide individuals with a chance to retract points fast enough, eliminate a gesture or read facial expressions correctly. Even with streaming services allowing face-to-face communications, it is still challenging to deduce the meaning of some sentences or understand the topic at hand without further research. Also, any irony, wit, satire, or even humour falls on deaf ears in a discussion forum leading to a boring monologue for the entire period, especially if participants do not know one another.

No

The internet provides online forums with essential tools that help eliminate miscommunication in a discussion forum. It helps in phrasing points so that participants can make a more deductive conclusion. Plus, any individuals with a query or clarification get a chance to seek them after the discussion is complete.  Plus, forums provide factual statements that are hard to argue against since they are accompanied by evidence. Therefore, misunderstandings or sensitivity to the data provided are discussed and do not cause any distraught feelings. Also, developing a communication plan for the entire discussion forum can help alleviate any confusion from the discussion.

Discussion Forums Lead to Information Overload

Yes

Discussion forums can lead to information overload. In a single discussion, individuals can receive extra information and fail to understand anything. Research indicates that a step-by-step learning process is more advisable for individuals in learning or discussion forum. However, a discussion forum has no moderator, and people can go wild with the information provided. It makes it difficult to follow the set sequence or logical discussion flow as individuals also tend to go off-topic, adding to the information overload. The resultant effect for all participants is overwhelming information that can induce higher stress levels.

No

Discussion forums follow a threaded forum. Threading means that every word uttered during the discussion is in a recording. It helps indicate the flow of information from the first point in a logical manner to the last. The flow of comments and questions can be massive, but it becomes easier to sort it all out with a threaded discussion. Going off-topic is how people learn. Many discussion forums come with a schedule and a plan. It is like a regular meeting with disciplinary masters, secretaries, and the chairman to help oversee the discussion. Going off-topic helps participants understand complex models under discussion through examples in the real world.

Discussion Forums Offer No Direction for Many People

Yes

Discussion forums have no specific moderator giving participants the freedom to provide facts and information on the topic at hand. For individuals used to having a teacher or a leader directing their discussion, discussion forums can lack direction. You can leave the forum having understood nothing and more confused than ever. The main reason is that each participant offers a suggestion; another opposes or proposes the suggestion, and so on, which is difficult to follow even with a threaded discussion.

No

Discussion forums, as indicated above, are for like-minded individuals similar to real money pokies online in Australia. Only individuals with fundamental skills in gambling can play for real money in a casino less risk losing it all. For instance, doctors have discussion forums for varying methods of treating specific diseases. A business administrator can find it hard to comment or follow such a discussion since it is out of his line of work. For the business person, the discussion forum has no direction. However, it is enlightening for the doctor’s engaging in the discussion.

Online Discussion Forums are No Significant Sources of Information

Yes

Discussion forums, even though rumoured to base their texts and information on research and facts, can also provide false information. The main reason is that there is no moderation of the content an individual can provide to an online platform. Magazines and other local gazettes undergo moderation. You can trust them to provide more factual data than online discussion forums. There is no discerning the quality of the information provided online, resulting in serious misinformation.

No

Discussion forums offer ample access to information. The information may not be what you imagined, but that is not an issue. You can always double-check any data provided and support it with your pieces of evidence. The trash in information is available everywhere, both offline and online. It is up to you as an individual to sift through what is presented in a discussion forum to differentiate between quality and trash.

Summary

Online discussion forums do more good than bad. However, it all depends on an individual, which means information can either be trash or enlightening. It is essential to verify data and information, seek clarifications, review threaded discussions, and conduct follow-up research to escape some of the bad. This way, you can weed through all false information and remain with the right and quality data!