When it comes to online communities, there are several platforms to choose from, including official forums, Discord, and Reddit. Each platform has its own strengths, weaknesses, and unique features, making it well-suited for different purposes and audiences. In this article, we will take a closer look at official forums, Discord, and Reddit, and compare their strengths, weaknesses, trends, and popularity.

Official forums are online communities that are managed by the company or organization that provides a product or service. These forums provide a central location for users to find information and resources related to that product or service, as well as discuss and connect with other users.
Strengths:
Structured and organized: Official forums are usually well-moderated and have clear rules and guidelines, which helps keep discussions on topic and civil.
Access to official information: Official forums are often the best place to find official information and resources related to a particular product or service. This can include product documentation, software updates, and customer support.
Weaknesses:
Outdated design: Some official forums may have outdated designs and may not be as user-friendly as more modern platforms.
Limited audience: Official forums are often specific to a particular product or service and may not have as large of an audience as other online communities.
Trends:
Increased focus on customer support: With more companies recognizing the importance of customer support, many official forums are being updated and improved to better serve their users. For example, Microsoft recently updated its support forums with a new design and improved navigation, making it easier for users to find information and support for Microsoft products.
Integration with other platforms: Some official forums are being integrated with other platforms, such as social media, to provide a more seamless and convenient user experience. For example, many companies now have a presence on Twitter and Facebook, where they can respond to customer questions and provide support in real-time.
Popularity:
Dependent on the product or service: The popularity of official forums will vary depending on the specific product or service they are related to. Some official forums may have large and active communities, while others may be relatively quiet. For example, the forums for popular software such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Windows tend to be very active, with thousands of users participating in discussions and seeking support.
Discord is a real-time communication platform allowing users to chat and voice-chat with others. It's designed for gamers but has since expanded to be used by various communities, including businesses, schools, and social groups.
Strengths:
Real-time communication: Discord's chat and voice communication features make it ideal for users who want to connect and interact with others in real-time. This can be especially useful for communities where quick and direct communication is important, such as gaming communities or work teams.
Customization: Discord allows users to customize their experience with a variety of features and integrations, making it a flexible platform for a wide range of communities. For example, users can create custom channels, add bots, and use integrations with other platforms such as Spotify or YouTube.
Weaknesses:
Lack of moderation: Unlike official forums, Discord does not have a central authority or moderation team, which can lead to some communities being less civil or having discussions that are off-topic.
Limited organization: Unlike official forums, Discord does not have a clear structure or hierarchy, making it difficult for users to find the information or resources they are looking for.
Trends:
Increased use for collaboration: More businesses and organizations are using Discord as a way for teams to collaborate and communicate in real-time, especially as remote work becomes more common. This allows teams to have quick and convenient access to each other, regardless of location.
Expansion into non-gaming communities: While Discord was originally designed for gamers, it is now being used by a wide range of communities, including schools, social groups, and even political organizations. This shows the versatility of the platform and its ability to adapt to different types of communities and uses.
Popularity:
Growing: Discord has seen significant growth in recent years and has become one of the most popular communication platforms for online communities. According to recent estimates, Discord has over 140 million monthly active users, making it a major player in the online community space.
Reddit is a social media platform that allows users to share and discuss links, images, and other content. It is organized into thousands of different communities, known as "subreddits," which cover a wide range of topics and interests.
Strengths:
Wide range of topics: With thousands of different subreddits, Reddit provides a platform for users to discuss and share information on a wide range of topics, from news and politics to entertainment and hobbies.
Community-driven: Unlike official forums and Discord, Reddit is community-driven, meaning that users can participate in discussions, upvote or downvote content, and even moderate their own communities. This allows Reddit to be highly responsive to the interests and needs of its users.
Weaknesses:
Lack of real-time communication: Unlike Discord, Reddit does not have real-time communication features, making it less ideal for communities that need quick and direct communication.
Moderation challenges: Reddit has had challenges with moderation in the past, as the platform has become a target for spam, hate speech, and other forms of abuse.
Trends:
Increased focus on moderation: In recent years, Reddit has made significant investments in its moderation tools and policies, including hiring more moderators and developing new technology to detect and remove harmful content. This has helped improve the overall experience for Reddit users and make the platform safer for all.
Expansion into new areas: Reddit is expanding into new areas and markets, including audio, video, and live streaming. This is aimed at making Reddit a more dynamic and engaging platform for its users.
Popularity:
Widely used: Reddit is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 430 million monthly active users and over 1.7 million communities. It is also highly influential, with many Reddit communities playing a significant role in shaping public opinion and discussion on a wide range of topics.
In conclusion, official forums, Discord, and Reddit are each well-suited for different purposes and communities, and their strengths and weaknesses reflect this. Official forums offer a structured and organized environment with access to official information, while Discord provides real-time communication and customization options. Reddit is community-driven and covers a wide range of topics but may not be as well-suited for real-time communication or moderation. Regardless of which platform you choose, it's important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each, and how they can best serve your needs and the needs of your community.
Of all the forums that I know still exist that I've registered on, they are all pretty much dead. Whether that's forums aimed at covering video games, or some other subject. It doesn't matter what the forum is about. Because I know I can post a thread, go back within hours or even days to that website, and it's normally the case that nobody has responded.
Even when people do reply, sometimes the post they submit is so generic or badly written, that it's just like, meh. Give them an A for effort, I suppose.
About the only really active gaming forum I know of, is GameFAQs. And that is sad. I've used GameFAQs with different profiles before. But I…