Educate me about website building

[Green01SprintST]

With all the hubbub going on over donating to the site I thought I'd do a Google search and try to get some info on actually building a hobby forum site.  
I found this site http://www.siteground.com/ and I imagine there are many, many more.  Just surfing thru that site convinced me that it is beyond my meager capabilities and that I should leave it to those who know a bit more about it than I.
So, who has actually tried doing something like this and is the site I found representative of hosting websites currently available?  What are the real costs involved?

[ol Rocket]

First things first.  You have to go through county or city planning to see if you are zoned properly to build a website.   Sometimes there are access and  potable water requirements, not to mention restrictions that might prohibit websites or the building thereof.  And don't forget setback requirements and filth and noise abatement.

[Green01SprintST]

And don't forget setback requirements and filth and noise abatement.

 I know how to set back and I ain't noisey.

[info]

Check out doteasy.com
This site
is hosted by them.
You can do it for just the registration fee.

[toddrod]

Russ, you should look for a couple of "learn HTML" books if you wanna do it the hard way, or you can get a webpage building software from your local computer store. I personally made my own website a couple years ago by the "learn HTML" method. It really isn't that hard to do, but it is time consuming. However, it would probably be more fun if you are one of those "I wanna figure out how this works" guys. Create a Geocities account, and do it for free. It's not that hard, but it takes some reading, and experimenting. I remember it took me a couple months before I got my first webpage to look anything like I originally had planned. And this was for a very simple webpage, nothing very fancy. I think you could do it with a little effort.

[Davo]

To learn right click view source on most web pages then "borrow" the code and try it yourself.

But this is all talking about web pages, you mentioned "some info on actually building a hobby forum site" which is totally different, forum software is freely available.

[garry]

Forums, like STN, are very different beasts than a simple web site.
 
If all you want is a web site, then go to www.DotEasy.com (as already recommended) and sign up for a domain name. I use DotEasy for several web sites (pghratpack.com, telemarker.org, motoroads.net). $25/year (or less if you buy multiple years) for 100 MB of disk space, 1 GB traffic, and a domain name. If you host pics/vids somewhere free like Photobucket, then you'll probably never hit the traffic limit. Of course you'll still have to create said web site, but there are lots of friendly tools like Front Page and Dreamweaver to guide, even some free stuff that probably doesn't suck.
 
Forums are just a big ass database full of text messages with web pages to search/display the messages in the database. The problem is that the database can get very large on a busy site and a lot of traffic requires a fast server with lots of RAM. That kind of server, software and associated bandwidth costs real money, like a car or bike payment a month kind of money. That environment takes more care and feeding to keep running smoothly and have backups of the database. It helps if you're somewhat comfortable with writing software/scripting and relational databases if you want to own/admin forum software.

[OrangeSVS]

First things first.  You have to go through county or city planning to see if you are zoned properly to build a website.   Sometimes there are access and  potable water requirements, not to mention restrictions that might prohibit websites or the building thereof.  And don't forget setback requirements and filth and noise abatement.

Here in Chicago, you hire an expediter to move your permits through at a faster rate.  This is someone who used to work for the department and it's basically a bribe that supplements the guy's city pension.  The city employees then get it done in about 4 weeks rather than the typical 6 months that it usually takes.  Of course, they do this knowing full well that when they retire they will get the same "benefit".   Bunch of crooks!  

[Green01SprintST]

So just how much effort might be required, measured in hours per month, to operate a forum on the magnitude of the old STN only with upgraded security to prevent a similar meltdown?  How much money might this take (give me a range).
 

Bunch of crooks!

This from a lawyer!  

[Req]

For really basic forum needs, I can recommend phpBB.  Cheap (free), easy to administer, relatively easy to customize.  For blog-type webpages, I use MovableType (also free for a small-use license).  MT is great, wonderful blogging software, also quite extensible and easy to use.

My hosting is quite cheap, but then my bandwidth demand is very minimal.

blog:  http://www.hivemonkey.com/blog
forums: http://www.boundbyfate.org

[OrangeSVS]

This from a lawyer!  

Hey.  Lawyers actually do work (sometimes).  Expediters nudge their half-asleep buddy down at the old office, hand them a file, and say, "Can you actually do your job... you know... in a reasonable amount of time... for this one?"  and maybe slips him a few bills...

[Green01SprintST]

Refresh my memory. Are you a lawyer or an expeditor?
 
Just messin' with you!
 
---Back on topic---
What I am seeing here is reinforcing my earlier thought that operating/creating a web site is something I'm not particularly motivated to do and that leads me back to the hubbub about sending donations to STN, the underlying reason for this post.
I suspect that the majority of peeps here are like me and either have no clue how, nor any inclination to, create and manage a web forum of their own. Therefore I submit that, unless it will bankrupt you, keep you from retiring or feeding your kids, a small donation to this website is not too much to ask in order to keep the site operating.
Of course, I have no affiliation with this site other than being a long-time member and happy user of all the site has to offer.
   IMHO those who object to contributing simply due to a lack of full disclosure are either overly paranoid or looking for a free ride. Donating $5 or $10 bucks isn't going to hurt anybody here and if it does then you probably shouldn't be involved in motorized recreation in the first place. If you don't want to donate then don't donate and let it go. Don't preach to me about why I should not donate or make unreasonable demands of the site owner in exchange for your few measly dollars. Those who care about the welfare of the site will continue to support those who cannot or will not support it. OK, I'm done, rant off.
 
Many thanks to all those who offered up the straight skinny on getting started with a web site, I may yet give it a try

[OrangeSVS]

Refresh my memory.  Are you a lawyer or an expeditor?
 
Just messin' with you!

None of the above.  I think I'm gonna become a burger flipper at McDonald's, actually.  If they have an opening...

[ol Rocket]

I suspect that the majority of peeps here are like me and either have no clue how, nor any inclination to, create and manage a web forum of their own. Therefore I submit that, unless it will bankrupt you, keep you from retiring or feeding your kids, a small donation to this website is not too much to ask in order to keep the site operating.
Of course, I have no affiliation with this site other than being a long-time member and happy user of all the site has to offer.
   IMHO those who object to contributing simply due to a lack of full disclosure are either overly paranoid or looking for a free ride. Donating $5 or $10 bucks isn't going to hurt anybody here and if it does then you probably shouldn't be involved in motorized recreation in the first place. If you don't want to donate then don't donate and let it go. Don't preach to me about why I should not donate or make unreasonable demands of the site owner in exchange for your few measly dollars. Those who care about the welfare of the site will continue to support those who cannot or will not support it.

We may be older, but you are definitely smarter.