I think it is good if your forums have 2 kinds of people posting on them:
1 people who have questions and kind find the answers or who need pointed in the right direction (NOT people to lazy to look things up for themselves. that bugs the tar out of me!)
2 People who have ideas and need a channel to bring them out, and a setting for genuine discussion, and who want the input of others.
Thus forums will be centered around giving help to those who need it, and in presentation and development of new ideas. For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.

Perhaps you have a different idea for what forums should be?

Keep in mind that my ideas of things come from my German heritage, and from my fascination with ancient Greek thought...