Let’s take a break from the sysadmin stuff and end this chapter with a look at the human side of running an online community. There are situations that you’re most likely to encounter, which happen to almost every board admin, so it’s good to be prepared or at least be aware that you’re not alone.

Whatever your board is about, it’s likely that it starts as a small board with a handful of nice fellows posting in it. Maybe the board will be an addition to your existing site; its forums might discuss the content of your site, where you’ll answer questions and get suggestions.

If you happen to have a site with interesting content, your community is likely to grow gradually. As more and more people join in, more and more different opinions will be shared. An occasional flamewar can burst out, where some community members start exchanging hostilities. Do not panic! It’s not you or your board or your site that is to blame for the flamewars. They just...