OT: forum wishlist

[serious-noir.livejournal.com]

[If this is too OT for DS, sorry. Delete or let me know and I will delete (assuming the software allows me to do that)]


I am considering starting a Boston/environs focused forum/discussion site. I know, there are loads but this will have a certain focus/purpose which might make it useful to people. Might be a lame idea too..

Anyway, what I wanted to ask: what forum interface elements/features do you find most important? For example, with this LJ forum software, I find the lack of expandable/collapsible threads annoying (e.g. when a comment gets more than a few replies, the content of those replies is not displayed and requires leaving the current window or opening a new window in order to read them).

So what do you like/hate about the various forum software out there. Links to good/bad examples most welcome.

Again, sorry if this is too OT. If I actually get this thing launched I will post a link to it here.