Post by static anonymity on Aug 9, 2005 12:04:02 GMT
This is a general Frequently Asked Questions thread for new members to get to grips with the place, and for any members to post any questions they may have about the site here.
FAQs
General
How do I join?
It's simple:
Click "register" at the top of the homepage, fill out the information, agree to the full ProBoards.com Terms of Service and click the "create an account" button at the bottom.
Remember to provide a valid personal e-mail address because that's where the verification e-mail will be sent, along with your first password!
My password/activation link hasn't come through; what do I do?
The e-mail to your address sometimes takes a while to come through. If it doesn't reach you within 24 hours then you can ask for it to be re-sent here.If it still has not come through, then please e-mail The Smerkers Team and we'll help you sort out the problem a.s.a.p.
Is there an age limit?
Not at all! As long as you can use a computer competantly enough to navigate the forums and you're honest about how old you are, then everyone's welcome!
What's the forum about?
It's not about anything in particular, just a place where people collect to talk about anything and everything they can think of! So feel free to participate in discussions and even start threads of your own.
Are there any rules?
There are is a post detailing basic conduct here, which is all common sense really. Also, it's helpful if you introduce yourself here so that we know who you are and what you like.
Is it alright to swear/mention more "adult" topics?
Yes, you can swear because we implement filters which automatically block out swear words. This is because otherwise some sites, such as schools, work and colleges etc won't allow their employees/students to access sites containing swear words and they might get in trouble for viewing said sites too. Due to this, the Smerkers team ask you not to try to bypass the filters.
Also, if you are going to post material which would be unsuitable for younger members or those at work/school/college to view, then please make sure to label posts with "NSSW" (this means Not Suitable for School or Work).
What happens if I do something wrong?
There's not really a lot you can do wrong! If you're mean to other members or behave inappropriately, then a Moderator will have a word with you about your conduct. Some members have behaved very inappropriately in the past and haven't listened to any warnings, and as such resulted in a banning. However this is rare and banning doesn't happen without a good reason.
If something inappropriate is posted, then a Mod will probably edit the post and/or notify you of it. The Smerkers Team request that material which could be deemed pornographic or illegal is not linked to or included in any posts, shoutbox conversations, avatars or signatures. Such material violates the ProBoards.com Terms of Service, and as such could result in the banning of the member, or even deletion of the forum itself, in extreme cases.
"Wrong" coding can easily be fixed by clicking the "modify" button at the top of your posts. A helpful "how-to" tutorial on codes and such can be found here.
I think the site has broken - who do I tell?
Due to the popularity of ProBoards.com as a host, the site will sometimes have technical difficulties which are not due to individual members. The Admin or a Mod will usually notify members of this in the Announcements board. If there are any glitches/problems which have been overlooked, however, you can give details about them in the bugs/errors thread or e-mail The Smerkers Team.
You can also PM the Mods if you have any questions.
What's a PM?
A PM is a Personal Message. They're like e-mails that can be sent between members' accounts on forums. You can PM someone by clicking on their name. This will take you to their profile. Then you just need to click the "send personal message" link at the top, and type your message to them.
What is a Mod/Global Mod/Admin?
Admin is short for the administrator; this is the person who runs the site. In this case it's Graham.
A Global Mod is the Admin's second in command: they have more power than normal Mods but not quite as much as Admin. They're able to modify certain parts of the forum and ban people. The site doesn't currently have a global mod..
There are currently three active Moderators: Kim, James and myself (Ellen). We are able to edit posts and post messages on certain boards, whereas other members cannot.
Can I become a Mod?
At the moment there's not enough members to warrant any more Modships being awarded to people. Once there is a significant increase in numbers, however, it'll be up to the Admin as to who is appointed a Mod and when, with the agreement of the Global Mod and other Mods. This is usually based upon who they think would be best for the job, who's contributed lots to the site, helped with the running of it, and who's likely to continue frequent the place in the future.
Why are some people's names different colours?
Their name colour is to signify what type of member they are. Mods have green names and members have blue ones. The Mods also have different coloured stars underneath their names too, and these indicate whether they're Admin, a Global Mod or a Mod.
Will I get stars underneath my name?
Yup. You start off with one star, and then earn another each time you hit a milestone of posts:
You get 2 stars at 25 posts
3 stars at 100 posts
4 stars at 500 posts
5 stars at 750 posts
Members = yellow stars
Moderators = green stars
Global Mods = blue stars
Admin = red stars
Why can't I see certain boards?
First, you have to make sure you're logged in. Boards such as The Hobby Horse, Half Time Review, At Home With..., Debates and Saint Jimmy' Gospel are members-only areas.
You will also find you get an error message after clicking on "the cemetary" link on threads which are old and have been locked and moved, due to being no longer relevant to or approrpiate for the forum. These can now only be viewed by moderators.
Why can't I see profiles?
Again, make sure you're logged in, as profiles are also reserved for members' eyes only.
If you have any problems with logging in, please don't hesitate to email The Smerkers Team and we'll help you fix the problem as quickly as possible.
Do I have to fill out everything in my profile?
No, you can opt to only submit the compulsory information if you wish. However, the more you let us know about yourself, the better, as it means we're better able torelate to you. Also, it's a great idea to tell us a little more than your profile allows you to in the Introduce yourself thread.
Can I change my username?
You can't change the username you use to log in with, no. But you can change your display name! Simply go to your profile and alter whatever is entered in the yellow box beside "display name".
Can I delete posts?
Yup, simply by clicking the "delete" button at the top of your post. You can also edit them by clicking the "modify" button, just incase you've thought of something straight afterwards that you want to add. And you can even preview your post to eliminate any typos etc.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, simply by selecting the "delete account" button when you modify your profile. However, remember this is permanent!
What does the "reputation" thing mean?
The number next to "reputation" in the mini-profiles to the left of each member's post, underneath their avatars, represent how many times someone has "blessed" them.
It's quite simple: if a member does something helpful, that you approve of, comes up with a good idea or makes you laugh, etc, you can choose to "bless" them. It's like a rating. Conversely, if they do something you disprove of, then you may choose to "curse" them, which deducts a point from their reputation score. Bear in mind you may only "bless" or "curse" once per hour.
Edited 3/8/06 - tidied up information, and adding new relevent links.
FAQs
General
How do I join?
It's simple:
Click "register" at the top of the homepage, fill out the information, agree to the full ProBoards.com Terms of Service and click the "create an account" button at the bottom.
Remember to provide a valid personal e-mail address because that's where the verification e-mail will be sent, along with your first password!
My password/activation link hasn't come through; what do I do?
The e-mail to your address sometimes takes a while to come through. If it doesn't reach you within 24 hours then you can ask for it to be re-sent here.If it still has not come through, then please e-mail The Smerkers Team and we'll help you sort out the problem a.s.a.p.
Is there an age limit?
Not at all! As long as you can use a computer competantly enough to navigate the forums and you're honest about how old you are, then everyone's welcome!
What's the forum about?
It's not about anything in particular, just a place where people collect to talk about anything and everything they can think of! So feel free to participate in discussions and even start threads of your own.
Are there any rules?
There are is a post detailing basic conduct here, which is all common sense really. Also, it's helpful if you introduce yourself here so that we know who you are and what you like.
Is it alright to swear/mention more "adult" topics?
Yes, you can swear because we implement filters which automatically block out swear words. This is because otherwise some sites, such as schools, work and colleges etc won't allow their employees/students to access sites containing swear words and they might get in trouble for viewing said sites too. Due to this, the Smerkers team ask you not to try to bypass the filters.
Also, if you are going to post material which would be unsuitable for younger members or those at work/school/college to view, then please make sure to label posts with "NSSW" (this means Not Suitable for School or Work).
What happens if I do something wrong?
There's not really a lot you can do wrong! If you're mean to other members or behave inappropriately, then a Moderator will have a word with you about your conduct. Some members have behaved very inappropriately in the past and haven't listened to any warnings, and as such resulted in a banning. However this is rare and banning doesn't happen without a good reason.
If something inappropriate is posted, then a Mod will probably edit the post and/or notify you of it. The Smerkers Team request that material which could be deemed pornographic or illegal is not linked to or included in any posts, shoutbox conversations, avatars or signatures. Such material violates the ProBoards.com Terms of Service, and as such could result in the banning of the member, or even deletion of the forum itself, in extreme cases.
"Wrong" coding can easily be fixed by clicking the "modify" button at the top of your posts. A helpful "how-to" tutorial on codes and such can be found here.
I think the site has broken - who do I tell?
Due to the popularity of ProBoards.com as a host, the site will sometimes have technical difficulties which are not due to individual members. The Admin or a Mod will usually notify members of this in the Announcements board. If there are any glitches/problems which have been overlooked, however, you can give details about them in the bugs/errors thread or e-mail The Smerkers Team.
You can also PM the Mods if you have any questions.
What's a PM?
A PM is a Personal Message. They're like e-mails that can be sent between members' accounts on forums. You can PM someone by clicking on their name. This will take you to their profile. Then you just need to click the "send personal message" link at the top, and type your message to them.
What is a Mod/Global Mod/Admin?
Admin is short for the administrator; this is the person who runs the site. In this case it's Graham.
A Global Mod is the Admin's second in command: they have more power than normal Mods but not quite as much as Admin. They're able to modify certain parts of the forum and ban people. The site doesn't currently have a global mod..
There are currently three active Moderators: Kim, James and myself (Ellen). We are able to edit posts and post messages on certain boards, whereas other members cannot.
Can I become a Mod?
At the moment there's not enough members to warrant any more Modships being awarded to people. Once there is a significant increase in numbers, however, it'll be up to the Admin as to who is appointed a Mod and when, with the agreement of the Global Mod and other Mods. This is usually based upon who they think would be best for the job, who's contributed lots to the site, helped with the running of it, and who's likely to continue frequent the place in the future.
Why are some people's names different colours?
Their name colour is to signify what type of member they are. Mods have green names and members have blue ones. The Mods also have different coloured stars underneath their names too, and these indicate whether they're Admin, a Global Mod or a Mod.
Will I get stars underneath my name?
Yup. You start off with one star, and then earn another each time you hit a milestone of posts:
You get 2 stars at 25 posts
3 stars at 100 posts
4 stars at 500 posts
5 stars at 750 posts
Members = yellow stars
Moderators = green stars
Global Mods = blue stars
Admin = red stars
Why can't I see certain boards?
First, you have to make sure you're logged in. Boards such as The Hobby Horse, Half Time Review, At Home With..., Debates and Saint Jimmy' Gospel are members-only areas.
You will also find you get an error message after clicking on "the cemetary" link on threads which are old and have been locked and moved, due to being no longer relevant to or approrpiate for the forum. These can now only be viewed by moderators.
Why can't I see profiles?
Again, make sure you're logged in, as profiles are also reserved for members' eyes only.
If you have any problems with logging in, please don't hesitate to email The Smerkers Team and we'll help you fix the problem as quickly as possible.
Do I have to fill out everything in my profile?
No, you can opt to only submit the compulsory information if you wish. However, the more you let us know about yourself, the better, as it means we're better able torelate to you. Also, it's a great idea to tell us a little more than your profile allows you to in the Introduce yourself thread.
Can I change my username?
You can't change the username you use to log in with, no. But you can change your display name! Simply go to your profile and alter whatever is entered in the yellow box beside "display name".
Can I delete posts?
Yup, simply by clicking the "delete" button at the top of your post. You can also edit them by clicking the "modify" button, just incase you've thought of something straight afterwards that you want to add. And you can even preview your post to eliminate any typos etc.
Can I delete my account?
Yes, simply by selecting the "delete account" button when you modify your profile. However, remember this is permanent!
What does the "reputation" thing mean?
The number next to "reputation" in the mini-profiles to the left of each member's post, underneath their avatars, represent how many times someone has "blessed" them.
It's quite simple: if a member does something helpful, that you approve of, comes up with a good idea or makes you laugh, etc, you can choose to "bless" them. It's like a rating. Conversely, if they do something you disprove of, then you may choose to "curse" them, which deducts a point from their reputation score. Bear in mind you may only "bless" or "curse" once per hour.
Edited 3/8/06 - tidied up information, and adding new relevent links.