"Don't run a forum" - this seems like bad advice.
"Don't run a forum similar with reddit-style popularity rankings" might be a better description.
Running a forum is part of managing a community, where ideas, advice and other positive things can be exchanged. If you're a startup, a community can help seed your initial userbase and give you valuable feedback to see if you're providing value to a group of people.
That doesn't mean there aren't stressors, but I disagree with the blanket "don't do it, it's scary".
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