Comments on: Irritating members are not always a bad thing

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:01:24 +0000

ideas – Bang on! There is nothing like a bit of friction and controversy to stir up a forum!

Peter – You could do that but it’s really up to you. I would be very careful about setting up names to troll a forum – the last thing you want to do is alienate your real members! What would happen if they found out the members that everyone hates are actually YOU?!?

Smiley – You took the words right out of my mouth!

By: Smiley

Smiley — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:47:53 +0000

There’s a huge difference between “trolling” (being abusive) and “winding up” (a bit of fun)

By: Peter Cruickshank

Peter Cruickshank — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:52:42 +0000

If you are correct, then would it stand to reason that, if your forum has only nice members, you could improve the experience by creating a few fake user IDs and trolling your own forum with them?

By: ideas for classroom door decorations

ideas for classroom door decorations — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 07:51:34 +0000

I think the irritating members are good. Why? because they make the forum or discussion board alive and lively. I just love to read discussion which there are two fighting thoughts. LOL!

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:11:14 +0000

Eric Martindale – I think it’s fine to use keywords as your name, just as long as you sign off your comment with your real name! I like to know the names of people I am talking to.

Thanks for your kind comment about my articles – I am glad you are finding them useful.

By: Eric Martindale

Eric Martindale — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:57:13 +0000

Hah! Definitely something I don’t recommend – using your keywords as your name. Somewhat counter-intuitive, I think.

Martin Reed – wow, thanks. Another awesome article. Keep it up, I really enjoy your work.

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:01:14 +0000

Hair Loss Cure – I agree; it’s great when readers get involved and share their thoughts and opinions!

Gossip is great for any online community – it get people involved, engaged, and can create masses of content.

What is your real name, by the way?!?

By: Hair Loss Cure

Hair Loss Cure — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:26:36 +0000

I loved reading everybody’s comments.
And I guess you need some irritating members to keep the blog lively.
You need such members so that other members can gossip about them. If everybody is nice then the blog is not happening.

By: Weekend Links 09/14

Weekend Links 09/14 — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:04:35 +0000

[...] Online Community Building explains why irritating members is not always a bad thing. [...]

By: Martin Reed - Blog Author

Martin Reed - Blog Author — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:54:46 +0000

Martindale - You are bang on the money. A little controversy can do wonders for an online community. Interaction and debate is what a community needs - a member that stirs people in to action is a great asset to have.