I'm real pissed of since more and more IT software/hardware product forums are more oriented to badges, statuses, active people and friends than to simple ask and reply.
Two my current examples - oracle forums and informatica forums.
There is significantly easier to find on both who is new who is on trend who is active, but if you want to find your post or forum or reply or anything related to your problem/question you must tear this mess to find magic button. I'm sick of this knowing that several years back it was simpler.
I just want to know is anybody replied to my question, I don't want friends or read news from popular people.
I know anybody can say "This is about building community" it is most effective and cheap way to hold customer and to not ruin company budget by pumping support guys" (I can go to support guys directy of course :-)).
But is it relay necessary to overkill primary purpose of product forums by additional fireworks?
I have impression that all of them try to be facebook. Personally not using fb maybe there s problem ? But who of you can really participate in several communities, I mean commitment no just click likes ?
This drives directly to schizophrenia !
Why stackoverflow can by friendly and question driven why both infa and oracle forums not ?
P.S. I think stackoverflow is on that way too. You can hate me.