Should we worry?

Just a thought.

Forums are great places to not only meet other like minded people and create and share ideas.
Some great help and trading takes place aswell.

BUT if we are honest, most(not all) visit Forums to gain valuable backlinks through their signature.
Should Google decide ever that this sort of backlink isn't counted in their alogorythm,or change it such a way that PR and backlinks no longer count will the Forums die?

Will the interest in Forums over ride the loss of the resource?
For example, and I wont name the members, but if you trawl through some Forums you will find 1000's of inane posts(ok from time to time we all do!)but, without a single post with help or advise or any interesting information. Without a doubt these sort will be lost.
Now i bet if you counted up the number of these, and include the "great post" reply posters, what are we left with?

Just a thought, whats your view.

[Bagi Zoltán]

I think posting on forum is an addiction. When I started that I was a blackhat spammer, and all I wanted is to get backlinks. Within 6 months I meet nice people like You, Jumpen and Temi and that gave me another direction, for what I'm honestly really gratefull. I learned a lot from the forum interactions. I think if google exclude the forum links I would continue interacting with you.

The only reasons why I visit forums is interaction, opportunity to share my knowledge and to learn from other members.

And that's why most people visit forums.

[OldDarkstarAccount]

And , I don`t know for sure if I`m right , but I think a while ago , google didn`t count the backlinks from signatures , but still the forums were an active place

[dhscott]

If a forum doesn't allow link in signatures or whatever, I still join. I join based on the community and reputation it has.

Some suck, some don't. Generally I join the ones that suck anyway but I never post on them.

[OldWelshGuy]

I post and take part in forums where signatures are blocked from the spiders. No problem ata ll. I post to help others and relax. Making online frienships and building networks of friends is great also.

Seems like there will still be the "hard core" posters around whatever then

[SoftwareMS]

We post on 2 forums, the UK Business Forum and this one. Didn't know about the backlinks until it was mentioned on the UKBF.

If Google where to penalise us for adding backlinks via our signatures then it wouldn't be fair to some of us because some people do generally participate and provide help and assistance and even ask for help when needed.

If Google find a way to block timewasters then yes we are all for it.

[OldWelshGuy]

Google wil count the links that are on topic to the thread they are in, and discount those off topic Is my guess.

You will still get the Pr value, but the link juice will be watered down somewhat , which is fine, as they will only be watered down in off topic searches.

[funkypilchard]

Originally Posted by Bagi Zoltán

I think posting on forum is an addiction. When I started that I was a blackhat spammer, and all I wanted is to get backlinks. Within 6 months I meet nice people like You, Jumpen and Temi and that gave me another direction, for what I'm honestly really gratefull. I learned a lot from the forum interactions. I think if google exclude the forum links I would continue interacting with you.

good post!