Since anyone may start a new forum, there are no restrictions on what subjects or topics people discuss. Anyone who starts a new forum becomes that forum's host, and gains the authority to purge messages from her forum, t hus keeping it topical and pertinent. Forum hosts also establish recommended index words, although m essage authors may specify their own index words for the messages they write. A response gains a response and long branches of messages grow from a singl e root message. Within two years the number of forums exploded from an initial twenty to more than n inety.
Some forums are ongoing.
The appearance of the computer was downplayed by enclosing the hardware i n blonde wood cabinets that serve as free-standing kiosks. Participants can also access a user tutorial which reviews the basic keys and the system's structure. An on-line help system is also available. The Community Memory system operat or also responds to questions and suggestions and provides technical help to confused users. The kiosk includes a coin slot similar to ones found on pay phones.