my problem with forum software is, that it is based around comments or questions, not a discussion initiator (Diaries, Stories, etc - in Eurotrib code) and its subsequent discussion.

On this site (and what makes it so superior to forum software - in my opinion) it is the initial story that is the centre of the focus.

Our problem might be, that the comments sometimes provide equally good, if not better, content. But surely the focus is on the "discussion initiators"? We only have to find a way to extract the better content from the comments. This however, does happen as well in the writing of new, subsequent diaries.

Forums also tend (in my limited experience) to be less focussed. Older threads are being refreshed more often and huge gaps between communications can appear, making continuous communication more difficult.

Only advantage is they usually have a superior serach algorithm...