Forums in general

[awaj]

I am involved with a youth group, and they want to have a blog of sorts up for people to comment on the lesson, or what ever the students have on their heart. Right now, blogspot is being used, and even though it just started, I forsee a problem where a moderator would be needed. Is there an easy way to set up a forum (like this one) that can be used on the small scale (perferably free.)? Any ideas are welcomed.

[Ajmukon]

you can try Yuku boards.

and yes, there are free hosters for inversion forums. (the software that runs 90+% of all forums)

i can't think of any off hand, but a simple google search for "free forum hosting" should turn up some results.

[mjc]

http://www.yetanotherforum.net/

http://www.phpbb.com/

http://forums.xmbforum.com/

[Paul Komski]

There are basically four methods.
1. Host a site yourself on your own PC and use software such as that suggested by mjc.
2. Use a webhost and use their ready-to-go forum software (or other ContentManagementSystem CMS software such as WordPress or Joomla for a blog rather than a forum). Netfirms (http://www.netfirms.com/)will do all of these and more depending on the package wanted - I am sure there are many other such providers.
3. Use a webhost that supports PHP and MySQL (or other scripting packages that you might want to use) and upload and configure your software packages as in 1. above but on a distant 3rdParty and not a local server.
4. Use On-Line Blogs such as Blogger (https://www.blogger.com/start). These are the simplest to use but the least versatile. Anyone allowed to moderate would need full password access to the Blog and thus full Admin functions but would be able to edit everything posted.

If you want the greatest versatility, do not want to do a lot of quite complicated programming, want 24/7 access and good security then go with 2. above.

PS
For completeness, there are, as Ajmukon intimated, free hosters (http://www.makeforum.org/home.php) but I haven't used them and suspect there will be some downside such as poor service or banner advertising or poor/absent support (which may well be needed) or limited storage space until you upgrade to a paid version. FreeForums (http://www.freeforums.org/features.php) does look good at first sight. Bear in mind that you might also want your own full domain name and the capability to migrate elswhere if needed. I don't know what an "inversion forum" is however.

[Ajmukon]

PS
For completeness, there are, as Ajmukon intimated, free hosters (http://www.makeforum.org/home.php) but I haven't used them and suspect there will be some downside such as poor service or banner advertising or poor/absent support (which may well be needed) or limited storage space until you upgrade to a paid version. FreeForums (http://www.freeforums.org/features.php) does look good at first sight. Bear in mind that you might also want your own full domain name and the capability to migrate elswhere if needed. I don't know what an "inversion forum" is however.
Invision forums, i was spelling it wrong, is the pHp script program
there are hundreds!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Internet_forum_software_%28PHP%29

[classicsoftware]

I've had great results with these (http://www.proboards.com/index.html) guys....