#1 - Bring this forum out of the dark ages and use an up to date format.
Advantages:
> people can subscribe to threads;
> notification when subscribed threads are updates;
> choices of whether to be, and/or how to be notified;
> ability save friends on a friend's list;
> private messaging capability;
> a choice of restricted to friend's only, or unrestricted;
> registration required for ALL participants;
> have a limit to the number of nicknames a person has, if possible (at least try);
> an ignore / block list, so trolls can be forever ignored.
#2- Have a variety of moderators, with a variety of different viewpoints (but all upstanding);
> do not have moderators who use the forum as their personal sounding board;
> do not have moderators who remove messages only because they disagree with them;
> do not have moderators who are nasty and/or who insult other members of the forum;
> do not allow attacks and/or slurs toward women, children, teenagers, or anyone else;
> do not allow racial and/or perverted sexual comments on the forum;
> develop a forum that is respectful, intelligent, and pull it out of the gutter to do this.
These are ALL features that are standard in most modern forums.
I could find several of them very quickly, and I'm sure other forum members are familiar with them too.
These things should all be done, as soon as is conveniently possible.
Best regards.