Well, we were completely underwhelmed by responses to the forum idea, but overwhelmed with offers from some fantastic readers of this blog to help moderate a forum, should it get up and running. Since starting this blog in 2007 I’ve had many requests from readers to start a forum – so I know there is interest out there, but without your feedback it’s difficult to gauge how much.
So, let me spell out a little clearer what a Henry Rollins forum might look like. I’d really appreciate hearing from you what kind of things you would like in the forum and whether you would be interested in participating in such a forum; even if your response is no.
What would the forum be like?
Obviously, there would be boards to chat about the different aspects of HR’s work – music, books, spoken word, film and tv, radio, side projects, etc., and a place for traders too. And as HR fans tend to be a rather multi-dimensional lot, I think that a space to talk about non-HR topics would also be appropriate (music, travel, books, politics, fun stuff, etc.). So I would envisage the HR forum being a community of people, some who just want to chat about HR, and others who want to chat with like-minded folk about non-HR stuff too. With the first four Ramones albums under our belts I’m sure we’d get along just fine.
Your feedback and ideas
So now it’s over to you. I’m not going into this much detail about a forum because I have my heart set on creating one – it would involve some work to set up and time is not something I have buckets of. However, considering that Hello Henry is a focal point for HR fans on the internet, I feel some community spirited obligation to make a forum happen if that’s what the fans want.
Please respond in the comments section below with your ideas for a HR forum and indicate whether you would be interested in participating in a HR forum (even if it was just occasionally). Thank you!
If you would rather comment privately, please email me via the contact page.
Funny enough, this weekend I spent a few hours trying to see if any Henry forums are around – I came to the conclusion that most had perished within the last 1-3 years. AND SO I think there is clearly a space on the internet that is calling out for some HENRY and that space is a forum. I don’t have many ideas for a forum, except I do like the idea of having both Henry related things and then other sections (so we don’t have to be all Henry all the time). I would definitely frequent the forum though.
Hi Michelle, thanks for your comment! I noticed that some HR forums had perished in recent years as well. Back in the dark ages of the internets (I’m talkin’ late 90s) there as a very strong HR fan community online. You’d think that with all the enthusiastic fans out there they’d have a lot to talk about!
I work nights so I would be using the forum a lot, just at odd hours. But I think something set up sort of like the Craigslist forums would work well, except with moderators to delete obvious troll posts.
The closet thing I can think of to an HR forum is the Yahoo Groups. But since that guy quit having the Rollins News Page I don’t think many people use the group, either.
Workin’ nights? Man, I don’t know how people survive working nights – I guess you’d almost be operating on Australian time! I was thinking that MyBB would be good to set up a forum with. Here’s a really good example of it in action.
Is the Rollins News page really kaput? Or is he taking a break? Would be a shame to loose it..
Looks like it hasn’t been updated in a couple of months. I miss it. Don’t know what his plans are.
Yeah I work 11pm-7am. It is what it is but yeah, it sucks.
That forum looks set up pretty well. Easy to find the topics and to read the replies. Looks good to me.
If I may inject a tad bit of pessimism, once again. The second worse thing than an under utilised forum – is a forum with too many sections. Less is more, in this case. I honestly think that one single section is absolutely the maximum to go with, to start with. Really, take a look at any ‘celebrity’ forum and you’ll find one main section flanked by 5-10 sections with precious little, but a few enthusiastic posts around the launch date.
It is a trivial thing, to add another forum section, so expansion potential is always there – but with any budding meeting place, you really need to consolidate visitors into one section. There’s just something rather negative about coming to a forum and seeing too many sections, knowing that a post in these sections is read by only a small percentage of the visitors.
Some good points there Rich, I appreciate your input!
I definitely back a forum. A Henry section and non-Henry section to start would probably be sufficient.
Is anyone else going to be seeing Henry in mass next week?
Thanks for your response Ryan! Start small, expand over time, seems to be the way to go.
If a forum is brought into being, I’m there. :thumbsup:
I found this page just today searching for a HR forum. I wanted to see if I could find out what topics you’ve been speaking on recently. I think having a place to discuss specific shows or speaking topics would be nice.
I agree with keeping it simple. Since you’re a multi-topic kind of guy I’m not even sure that a non-Henry section is needed.
Although I am not really a regular here, I would love to drop in and participate in a forum every once in a while. It would likely be no more than once a week for me.
To me simple is good to start and then grow as we see new ideas and needs come to light