Over the past year, I've noticed that more convention websites have been removing their forums (i.e. Sakura Con and Anime Revolution). I'm aware that message boards overall haven't done as well as before due to sites like Twitter and Facebook and what I'd like to ask is, do you think forums for convention websites are still an important thing?
In my opinion, they are. Even though many of the sections on this board are often inactive unless it's closer to or right after the convention, it's still very active during those times. And people do post commonly enough in topics regarding photoshoot planning, panel ideas and other fan gatherings. And stuff like this is much easier to do at a message board than on Facebook, since older messages are much easier to find. And if Kumoricon's webpage didn't have a forum, I would've had a more difficult time arranging Team Haberkorn dinners.
Because of this, I strongly disagree with Sakura Con's decision to remove the forum from their site, since people commonly used it to make guest requests, plan out photoshoots and post links to pictures they took.
To make a long story short, in my opinion even if a con forum is only active with the things mentioned above, it's worth keeping and I'm thankful that the one here is still around.
