Forums worked (and still do) because they're small niches, like the budding Internet. As soon as they become big, they lose their sense of community, and become profitable to spam.
So, maybe we have to choose between isolated human islands vs. an ad-and-SEO-infested world?
They worked and they often worked quite well. Unfortunately, many of those “working” forums I frequented are now inactive. It’s tough to visit some and see it’s been many years since the last post on some - and those are just the ones that are still online.
So, maybe we have to choose between isolated human islands vs. an ad-and-SEO-infested world?