I use forums as a development environment, usually nothing more. I have one website (new) though, which is a clan forum, simple discussion for xbox users.
A community to discuss things of the same interest, gathering around the main topics/purpose of the forum, but covering much more like exchanging political opinions, private interests and concerns, pictures and creative doings.
As an information source more than anything else. To get questions answered and to provide information. To allow people to get products developed by others to meet certain needs in the area of portable tools. The final area is a business because the massive amount of emails and messages I get makes holding other work almost impossible.