HârnList & HârnForum
The information site for the e-mail discussion list and web-based forum.
he HârnForum is a web-based forum or bulletin board. Unlike the HârnList, which uses e-mails to deliver each message to all subscribers, the subscribers must go to a particualr web site, where the messages are displayed on web pages by the forum software. Subscribers, or members as they are known, point-and-click around a graphical interface, selecting which topics they want to read, and whenever they want to reply, they click a Post Reply button. This brings up a form, which they type into, and then submit to the forum software for storage and display. If you are thinking of joining the HârnForum, the information given below will be invaluable to you. There is also a link to the rules of conduct for the HârnForum.
The Hârnforum is considerably more complex (and larger in size) than the HârnList, and it provides an ideal method of seeing what topics have already been discussed, what items of interest may have already been covered, and generally researching a particular point of interest. If the member cannot find an answer, then they can create a new topic to discuss the point with other members. This is how threads grow, and over time they can gradually shift focus as various aspects of the question arise, are addressed, and fade away. I consider this to be one of the major strengths of web forums.
But it is also one of their greatest weaknesses because threads can be hijacked, drift off the original topic completely, or degenerate into name calling and unpleasantness. Or simply contain nothing more than irrelevant comments that might be funny at the time they were written, but soon lose their appeal. It is then up to the forum Moderators and Administrators to prune topics, deleting irrelevant or out-of-date threads, deleting offensive or non-germane posts and generally tidying up a topic for long-term storage. This can be immensely time-consuming.
Subscribing to the HârnForum
If you aren't registered on the HârnForum, it is very easy to achieve. Please click on this entry, which will take you to a HarnForum entry which will explain what you need to do.
Basically, because of increasing spammer volumes on the HarnForum, all registrations are now performed manually. This will result in some delays, but the end result is a clean environment in which to discuss Harn, and much simpler administration of the forum. The link above will explain a little more.