You're right that I mixed up the terminology a bit, but as someone else here pointed out, I was using "forum" in the classical sense: a place where people talk.

You're right that I mixed up the terminology a bit, but as someone else here pointed out, I was using "forum" in the classical sense: a place where people talk. We now have the "old kind" of forums -- phpBB and its ilk -- and the "new kind" of forums, the comments-oriented sections of Reddit and HackerNews and Slashdot. And, yes, I get that on these sites, the comments are prompted by new articles. (I'm not sure that I'd agree that articles are the focus, but that might depend on the individual.) I was just pointing out where comments sites don't do as well in terms of the value of conversation, and why that might be, and comparing it to the older style of forums. Nothing wrong with lurking to learn; I think that "looking at them in awe" was a bit of hyperbole.