Yes most forums do it but they don't create a 3000+ posts section that divides opinion and suggest that these people are best placed to take the forum forward
Though the reason behind having one is quite a decent one actually; it's an area we can push all new users to automatically (so without needing know why they've come to the forum to direct them to a dedicated category more suitable for them). Also, it gives us a chance to find an occasions where people who might struggling with using the forum for whatever reason (and our average age is about 50 on here I think so a lot of not-so-good-with-computer people) and gives us a chance to either spot them, or them to spot the issue and email us (often just by replying to the automatic welcome email).
It also gives existing members a chance to say hi.
When a member says hi, it sends an email out to the person who started the thread, giving them another chance to pop back to the forum. Perhaps to reply. Perhaps to do nothing at all but go away again. But perhaps a percentage stay on that time and ask a couple of questions in new threads, or reply to existing threads.
Having a new member forum may seem pointless, and it may seem tiring and pointless replying, and may seem boring and useless for those who don't bother with it. But it's a good way to keep a forum with it's standard bread and butter visitors. And without it, a forum can quickly end up like VWAudiForum.co.uk a forum I post on which is massive, gets loads of members asking questions and answering, but there's just no community feel to it. 90% of the members have about 2 posts and never come back as they've asked what tyre pressure their car needs to be, found out, pumped their tyres up, and until they think of another thing to ask they wont come back. And if they do think of something, there's a chance they'll ask on a different forum instead as they can't really remember asking on VWAudiForum anything it was that long ago.
With my forums I like to make sure I keep the members engaged at any point possible and often try to keep it all automated so it doesn't become time-costly. But the intro forum is just one of those things all forums should have IMO as it really does help us in loads of ways. Even though it does appear to be THE most pointless forum to have.
I've also clocked the most company reps pretending to be tradesmen in the intro forum as once a person posts their first post, it triggers a whole load of checking systems that alert me and the mods in some cases. A couple of button presses and we can find out a shed load of info about who they are, where they're from, what they're probably doing here, etc. And we can spot patterns to so if we find an unregistered reader has hit the website from a certain search term (their company name) then landed on a page about them, then filled in the registration form, then clicked on the activate link from the works email account, then logged in and had the auto PM asking them to post an intro, and they've ignored it and gone straight to the thread they want to say something in - All in a matter of minutes. We know for a fact it's a rep. Though if we didn't have the intro forum we direct people to it'd take a little part of that process away that natural members follow - so we could miss a few reps here and there which always taints advice when they're being sneaky about it.
Sorry, waffled a bit there. But it's a good thing. Trust me.
This is such a politicians answer especially this bit "But it's a good thing. Trust me."
Yes welcoming people to the forum is one thing one member was even resurrecting old introduction threads even though he was already a member of club 3000+ just shows how fickle some are
Most forums I have been a member of have had there hard core that have upped and moved on having been alienated or stifled by the admin. This is a professional forum or I like to think so but the admin seem blinkered with the 3000 club can improve the forum
I just wonder what the stats are on the "Hi and welcome posts" in the 3000+ club substance with no substance IMO
