I host one for an open source tool (although most replies come from the maintainer). It's mostly technical/support in nature and I really locked down the board

I host one for an open source tool (although most replies come from the maintainer). It's mostly technical/support in nature and I really locked down the board (no signatures, no PM etc etc) because we're not really trying to build a community - but the tool really does make a big difference to some peoples lives. It made enough of a difference to mine to want to give back and start the forum in the first place, such is the power of these things! Little stories come up now and then through the questions people ask and it's possible to see how they're using the tool. It's like forums just bring life to the surface even if you fight to stop it, it's a genuinely compelling form of social interaction. Aside from the spam. The thanks that comes along is infrequent but very nice to receive.