What do you think are the best online forums?

[SonicWaffle]

As just about everyone else is saying, it's Escapist for me, even if I'm not particularly active.

I also checked the message boards every day for a MUD that I play, but they're much, much less busy than this place.

 

[Simple Bluff]

I hang around the Escapist a lot, but I'm not very active in the forums. If I didn't like the shows and reviews here, I probobly wouldn't bother at all. The same can be said for most sites I frequent.
The only exception was Bungie.net (The Flood, to be specific). The only reason I went there initially was to check out the awesome stat - tracking system they had for Halo 3 multiplayer (it was pretty in depth for its time... maybe it still is actually, I haven't played online multiplayer in a long while).
I can't remember how, but I got drawn into The Flood (off topic forums - in Bnet, that meant everything not directly linked to the Halo games) and was pretty active for a couple of years. It was a really nice forum too... sophisticated without being stuck up, friendly without being overbearing, and the mods were pretty lax too (with the exception of the "Keep it Clean" era - although that was almost justified). I outgrew it a while ago though, but I go back every so often for old times sake.

 

[Esotera]

I really like the discussions that happen on the Well and Sifter (which is probably the most obscure one) as they are highly intellectual and I don't think there any stupid people or trolls there. Here is my personal favourite for relaxed conversations that occasionally hit some interesting points, but aren't meant to be very indepth or require much time.

Can you give a link? I didn't see them when I'd googled the name you gave.

http://www.well.com/
http://sifter.org/

The Whole Earth 'lectronic Link is definitely the most famous and is a really influential community on the web. I'm not a member but enjoy reading some of the threads, especially Bruce Sterling's end of the year addresses. Sifter is quite a small community and is basically just an organisation dedicated to rationalist discussion.

 

[Hagi]

Well I've lived on MMORPG.com for a while before coming here, the home of burned out veteran MMO players that love all unreleased MMOs (unless someone else likes them) and hate all released MMOs.

But now I'm living here, must say I like this place much better.

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

UESP forums mainly because of the community and I'm an active member in the roleplaying section. I use The Escapist and No Mutants Allowed as secondary forums. Still like them though.

 

[kommando367]

Neoseeker

There is a forum for every game, movie, etc so there isn't as much arguing about personal taste.
Less arguing = less bitterness and more happy people.

 

[The Funslinger]

In all honesty, I don't think the Escapist could really be considered the best forum on the internet.

User was banned for this post (permanent)​

 

[an annoyed writer]

I mostly post around here, since this is one of the few forums I feel really comfortable on. The mods and admins are nice and the rules aren't super-restrictive. The fact that eyesores are often prevented (Big titles, GIANT ASS SIGNATURES) makes it even more of a pleasure being here.

Now I've been part of a few other forums, and to their credit they've been pretty decent to me, excluding a few minor incidents. Facepunch is great for learning the ins and outs of video game modeling, and the various machinima-related forums I've been part of were great for their time. I've bumped into a lot of really cool people in both, but here is the first place I've really felt at home. After all, this place did help me take the first swing at breaking apart my shell. I'm glad to have met many of you, even if I don't always agree with you.

Keep being awesome, Escapists.

 

[uchytjes]

The escapist IS the best forum on the net. It has an active community that isn't so big that a new thread will disappear quickly, but is active enough to not have you waiting a week for a single reply. Also the community's general competence is unprecedented with most discussions being fairly civilized and somewhat open-minded. The moderators are also active and aren't too overbearing.

All that coupled with the content provided by the site itself makes this my favorite site on the web.

 

[thesilentman]

In all honesty, I don't think the Escapist could really be considered the best forum on the internet.

User was banned for this post (permanent)​

Okay, what do you think are the best forums? [small] You might want to get rid of that, or you'll get a warning. [/small]

OT- The Escapist! And chess.com, as some of the guys there are awesome, even the highly rated players.

 

[The Funslinger]

In all honesty, I don't think the Escapist could really be considered the best forum on the internet.

User was banned for this post (permanent)​

Okay, what do you think are the best forums? [small] You might want to get rid of that, or you'll get a warning. [/small]

OT- The Escapist! And chess.com, as some of the guys there are awesome, even the highly rated players.

Probably the Escapist, in actuality. I'm just committed to humor.

 

[Andy Shandy]

In all honesty, I don't think the Escapist could really be considered the best forum on the internet.

User was banned for this post (permanent)​

Poor impersonation of a mod!

[HEADING=1]BAN HIM![/HEADING]

[sub] Just kidding, I need my never-mod-wrath'd-bro![/sub]

But yeah, The Escapist is by far and away my favourite. Plenty of friendly people and firm but fair moderation for the most part make it a fun place to be. Plus mods and staff occasionally join in too which is something you don't always see. And they're usually part of the fun/creating the madness.