Blogs and forums are a great way for people to discuss topics that range from politics or sports, to local restaurants and radio stations. If you live in Rochester, finding a Rochester forum niche is not hard. Do a search online to find forums in the area. You can get started by commenting on how the Amerks hockey team played last night, or even find out the best areas to live in if you want to move around within the city. Mothers in Rochester have gotten together and create a forum that shares information about local parties and events that you can take your children to on the weekends.
Not all forums are specific. Some websites offer open forums where people can talk about local crime, retail stores, and legislature all in one place. These forums are open to everyone and you can search for the topic you want join. These sites list how many comments a conversation has garnered and who commented last. If you do not see an issue you want to talk about listed, you can post your own opinion to start a new thread. Be sure to check that the forum is open because on a closed forum, the admin of the website might remove your post. These closed forums are created so that a select group of users can discuss and share information related to their topic of interest. This is much like closed discussion groups that professors create in colleges and universities for students to exchange ideas about readings and do group assignments.
Rochester forums create a space for people in the area to talk about both local concerns and global problems. You can find forums in any city and offer your opinion. But if you want your voice heard locally, finding a local forum would be ideal. Pick a topic or several that you are passionate about and find people who share your views. You can even start your own forum if you feel it is necessary. Open it up to everyone or restrict it to certain users. It could be a great way to discover a community of people who think just like you.