Can we upgrade the Forums already?

I know this goes with out saying, but really the current forms are horrible, and I know we have the option to purchase an integration plugin for other forums, but really? Can't we just have you guys design in integration for alternative forums?

Dolphin 6.1 included integration modules for vBulletin and phpBB, both of which quickly became outdated and completely useless. I believe it was promised that integrations for third party forum scripts would return, but this hasn't happened and it's unlikely that it will now. If you want to use another forum script, your options are limited to the following:

• Purchasing an integration through the market or hiring a developer.
• Doing an integration yourself with your preferred forum script.
• Installing your preferred forum script and having it operate separately, meaning users must register twice.

You know, a while back I might have agreed with you. But now, I like how the Fish Forum is working. Yes, it is lacking on a few key points but it's speed is second to none right now, especially if you set your server up correctly.

If you're site is so specific that it needs a huge, totally feature rich forum integration like phpbb or invision, maybe you need to consider making the forum itself your website. At what point does the forum overrun everything else you are trying to accomplish? Dolphin is loaded with features that take you to the next level and help you move away from the whole idea of the old forum notion (originally designed by scientists and hackers as a rudimentary communication platform), which by any stretch of the imagination, is an old style concept and believe it or not,  slowly fading from existence.

Can you remember when the internet could not display an image? ... I can. Back then, it was all about the BBS (Bulletin Board Service), the original forum concept. The idea really hasn't improved much since then.

Forums are not a dying breed, but are just evolving as time goes on and new technology is developed. You can consider Bulletin Board Services to be the forerunner to modern forums, since they basically are (albeit, a more worthwhile experience, in my opinion). I believe sites centred around forums will also evolve over time, but the centrepiece will always remain, if not forums, something very similar.

Ok, then answer me this. How come none of the top sites feature their forum capabilities even though they might provide them? They are always relegated to the back room so to speak?

I'll answer your question with another question: How come many of the top sites are nothing but bulletin boards and provide for the most part nothing else? Just because Facebook doesn't promote its discussion system as much doesn't mean it's the way all the web works. You're a Dolphin user, so you should realise this more than anyone.

There's that WORD again..... I never said anything about Facebook...... Sure, the simplicity of a forum structure will make it a stalwart for a long time to come. I didn't say it was dead, it's just getting old and is starting to be replaced with other things. The real downfall will come when most people no longer use PC's and are relegated to the mobile phone / PDA where scrolling through lists of topics becomes burdensome and inefficient.

You mentioned "top sites," which would suggest, among others, Facebook. The current forum model won't survive in the age of the mobile web, true, but I do believe it will evolve to accommodate it. While we won't see the exact same as forums, we may see something similar. And there will always be those who continue to use desktop systems, as well as technology that has aged and the rest of the world has left behind. Bulletin Board Services are still around, as there are those that still use them.