Ok, I figured out some of it on my own. If anyone else runs into trouble setting up the multisite blogging (i.e. creating a network), the answer is that you need to set up the network on WordPress first, then set up BuddyPress. Here’s a link to the WP instructions: https://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network
As for why my forums tab isn’t appearing, I still haven’t solved that one. If anyone has suggestions, I’d appreciate it.
Are you able to sign-in to the backend of your site? As in, http://www.yoursitename/wp-login.php
If you can get in, you should be able to activate your Buddypress theme. Hope that helps.
This sort of thing doesn’t need to be BuddyPress specific; find a WordPress plugin that does it, and it should work.
Thank you for your reply. That does help set things straight in my mind.
Being new to this I didn’t realize that bbPress was (or used to be?) more than just a WordPress plugin. So, to answer your question, I am using the 2.0.2 version of the bbPress plugin for WP.
BuddyPress works with bbPress – same Lead Developer for both, JohnJamesJacoby. You don’t need to migrate anything. What kind of bbPress installation do you have? The stand-alone bbPress or bbPress 2.0+ the plugin? You should migrate stand-alone bbPress to bbPress the plugin first https://bbpress.org/forums/
I recently changed my theme, but was experiencing the same problem on my previous theme BP Columns 1.5.3. Below is what I’m currently running:
Wordpress 3.3.1
Theme:
Frisco for BuddyPress 1.5.04
Plugins:
BuddyPress 1.5.2
bbPress 2.0.2
BP-NotificationWidget 1.4
BP-Registration-Options 3.0.3
BuddyPress Moderation 0.1.6
Buddypress Sitewide activity widget 1.1.3.3
Calendar 1.3.1
Email Users 3.4.1
File Gallery 1.7.3
oEmbed for BuddyPress 0.52
U BuddyPress Forum Attachment 1.2.1
Visual Form Builder 1.9.1
WP-FB-AutoConnect 2.2.0
WP-Filebase 0.2.9.10
WP-Polls 2.62
WP Survey And Quiz Tool 2.8.3
@johnjamesjacoby
As leader of this project, you have a difficult role. Lots of people have complaints. Many have merit and many don’t. Whether they have merit or not, every complaint is *real* to the complainer.
You have put a huge part of your life into BuddyPress, so its hard not to take complaints personally. At the same time, you have people who develop plugins which they have invested a huge part of their life into, so its hard for them not to take it personally when they feel their complaints are discounted.
This project is a community of human beings all working their asses off. As leader of the community you must be the most tempered, the most humble, the most gracious. I feel that sometimes you react in a bit of a combative way, instead of trying to diffuse things and let a healthy debate ensue. This leads to lots of frustration in the people which the project depends on for its life.
I am thankful for all of the hard work you put into the project, and without you the project would not be where it is today. Don’t tear it all down by alienating people who have made large (or small for that matter) contributions over the past years.
@fanquake can you share the the site links? I want see hows the loading time of these sites along with the designs. 
Anonymous User 7775228Inactive
@yadigit I know of a few buddypress sites with more than 100’000 members.
Scale isn’t just about volume of data. Assuming infinite hardware is available, anything can scale.
@djpaul – That was the answer i was afraid of. 
Thanks Paul for the quick response.
buddypress.org has 71,877 active member – https://buddypress.org/community/members/
and testbp.org has 31,147 active members – http://testbp.org/members/
it can handle quite a bit.
1. WP Admin bar will be properly intergrated into buddypress in 1.6 (this site is one step ahead of us)… on a similar topic: Looking at your avatar… you dont look blonde…
2. Have you seen the three listed in the plugin directory? https://buddypress.org/extend/plugins/?search=privacy
Alright, I figured out what the problem is. @SeannyFunco the tip that WPMU mentions is how it’s supposed to be setup.
I think the codex needs to be updated to say that if you’re only using Site Wide Forums, you need to disable the Discussion Forums component since this is meant for Groups integration.
@abysshorror I know, a proper privacy plugin is something ALOT of users want, including myself – but sadly, this plugin does not achieve that and i don’t think their is an easy way to force the plugin to hide activity… (if it was that easy, we’d already have a real privacy plugin and wouldn’t be having this conversation. lol)
i remember reading a reply from @modemlooper (though, i might have mis-read it, or something) on his plugin’s forum before he closed it stating that he wasn’t putting proper activity privacy into the plugin because the core devs are supposedly working on a privacy component and it’s something that needs to be in core.
Never mind i got it…Im a blond lol but could anyone tell me how to get privacy on buddypress?
@chrisclayton but what would be the point of hiding my activity if it would still be readable by someone I mention (asuming I don’t want him to see it).
The underlying problem here is that BP doesn’ have (and I couldn’t find any plugin) that will allow me to “block my profile” and allow access only to the people I choose (like Twitter does for instance)
@abysshorror It’s called Bp-PROFILE-privacy for a reason 
The plugin seems to currently only hide the activity profile page rather than hiding the activity from people.
Also, while i’m here – just so anyone doesn’t get a shock when 1.6 is released… the plugin author has stated that he is no longer supporting or updating these plugins [Source: http://buddychimp.com/%5D
Thanks @SeannyFunco I also saw that post and tried it prior to posting here. I am thinking I’ll give the group forums a try since it seems to work well here.
Do not make changes in bp-default.css as it would be overwritten when you upgrade BuddyPress.
Build a chlid theme of bp-default theme instead – https://codex.buddypress.org/theme-development/building-a-buddypress-child-theme/
The latest version of BuddyPress is 1.5.2 not 1.5.3 and yes, you should have WP 3.3 installed.
Hey man, I was having the exact same problem and could not find anything to help me on the BuddyPress site. Then I stumbled upon this website and it solved all of my problems:
http://wpmu.org/guide-to-buddypress-forums-how-to-set-up-group-or-sitewide-forums/
The trick for me was following her tip, “If you have any trouble, you may want to try unticking the Discussion Forum box in the Components setup page.” So my forums work now however because this box is unchecked I cannot use the Activities for the Achievements plugin. So if anyone has any help there it would be greatly appreciated.
