Frequently Asked Questions

Login and Registration Issues

Why do I need to register at all?

Registration will give you access to additional features not available to guest users such as definable avatar images, private messaging, emailing of fellow users, etc. It only takes a few moments to register so it is recommended you do so.

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Why do I get logged off automatically?

If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you login, the site will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. This is not recommended if you access the site from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university computer lab, etc.

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I’ve lost my password!

Don’t panic! While your password cannot be retrieved, it can easily be reset. Visit the login page and click I’ve forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be able to log in again shortly.

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I registered in the past but cannot login any more?!

Attempt to locate the e-mail sent to you when you first registered, check your username and password and try again. It is possible an administrator has deactivated or deleted your account for some reason.

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What does the "Delete all site cookies" do?

"Delete all site cookies" deletes the cookies which keep you authenticated and logged into the site. If you are having login or logout problems, deleting site cookies may help.

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User Preferences and settings

How do I change my settings?

If you are a registered user, visit your User Control Panel to alter your settings. This system will allow you to change all your settings and preferences.

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The times are not correct!

It is possible the time displayed is from a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, visit your User Control Panel and change your timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. If you are not registered, this is a good time to do so.

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When I click the e-mail link for a user it asks me to login?

Only registered users can send e-mail to other users via the built-in e-mail form. This is to prevent malicious use of the e-mail system by anonymous users.

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Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?

To post a new topic in a forum, click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You may need to register before you can post a message. A list of your permissions in each forum is available at the bottom of the forum and topic screens. Example: You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc.

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How do I edit or delete a post?

Unless you are a Site Administrator or moderator, you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the edit button for the relevant post, sometimes for only a limited time after the post was made. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic which lists the number of times you edited it along with the date and time. This will only appear if someone has made a reply; it will not appear if a moderator or administrator edited the post, though they may leave a note as to why they’ve edited the post at their own digression. Please note that normal users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.

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How do I add a signature to my post?

To add a signature to a post you must first create one via your User Control Panel. Once created, you can check the Attach a signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio button in your profile. If you do so, you can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box within the posting form.

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How do I create a poll?

When posting a new topic or editing the first post of a topic, click the "Poll creation" tab below the main posting form; if you cannot see this, you do not have appropriate permissions to create polls. Enter a title and at least two options in the appropriate fields, making sure each option is on a separate line in the textarea. You can also set the number of options users may select during voting under "Options per user", a time limit in days for the poll (0 for infinite duration) and lastly the option to allow users to amend their votes.

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Why can’t I add more poll options?

The limit for poll options is set by the Site Administrator. If you feel you need to add more options to your poll then the allowed amount, contact the Site Administrator.

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How do I edit or delete a poll?

As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator or an administrator. To edit a poll, click to edit the first post in the topic; this always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote, users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if members have already placed votes, only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it. This prevents the poll’s options from being changed mid-way through a poll.

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Why can’t I access a forum?

Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post or perform another action you may need special permissions. Contact a moderator or Site Administrator to grant you access.

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Why did I receive a warning?

If you have broken a rule, you may be issued a warning. Contact the Site Administrator if you are unsure about why you were issued a warning.

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How can I report posts to a moderator?

You should see a button for reporting posts next to the post you wish to report. Clicking this will walk you through the steps necessary to report the post.

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What is the "Save" button for in topic posting?

This allows you to save passages to be completed and submitted at a later date. To reload a saved passage, visit the User Control Panel.

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Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?

BBCode is a special implementation of HTML, offering great formatting control on particular objects in a post. The use of BBCode is granted by the administrator, but it can also be disabled on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML, but tags are enclosed in square brackets [ and ] rather than < and >. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.

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Can I use HTML?

No. It is not possible to post HTML on this site and have it rendered as HTML. Most formatting which can be carried out using HTML can be applied using BBCode instead.

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What are Smilies?

Smilies, or Emoticons, are small images which can be used to express a feeling using a short code, e.g. :) denotes happy, while :( denotes sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen in the posting form. Try not to overuse smilies, however, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may edit them out or remove the post altogether. The Site Administrator may also have set a limit to the number of smilies you may use within a post.

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Can I post images?

Yes, images can be shown in your posts. If the administrator has allowed attachments, you may be able to upload the image to the site. Otherwise, you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.example.com/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, e.g. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. To display the image use the BBCode [img] tag.

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What are global announcements?

Global announcements contain important information and you should read them whenever possible. They will appear at the top of every forum and within your User Control Panel. Global announcement permissions are granted by the Site Administrator.

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What are announcements?

Announcements often contain important information for the forum you are currently reading and you should read them whenever possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. As with global announcements, announcement permissions are granted by the Site Administrator.

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What are sticky topics?

Sticky topics within the forum appear below announcements and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them whenever possible. As with announcements and global announcements, sticky topic permissions are granted by the Site Administrator.

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What are locked topics?

Locked topics are topics where users can no longer reply and any poll it contained was automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons and were set this way by either the forum moderator or Site Administrator. You may also be able to lock your own topics depending on the permissions you are granted by the Site Administrator.

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What are topic icons?

Topic icons are author chosen images associated with posts to indicate their content. The ability to use topic icons depends on the permissions set by the Site Administrator.

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User Levels

What are Administrators?

Administrators are members assigned with the highest level of control over the entire site. These members can control all facets of site operation, including setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or moderators, etc., dependent upon the site founder and what permissions he or she has given the other administrators. They may also have full moderator capabilities in all forums, depending on the settings put forth by the site founder.

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What are Moderators?

Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) who look after the forums from day to day. They have the authority to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally, moderators are present to prevent users from going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.

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Private Messaging

I cannot send private messages!

There are three reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, the Site Administrator has disabled private messaging for the entire site, or the Site Administrator has prevented you from sending messages. Contact a Site Administrator for more information.

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I keep getting unwanted private messages!

You can block a user from sending you private messages by using message rules within your User Control Panel. If you are receiving abusive private messages from a particular user, inform a Site Administrator; they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages.

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I have received a spamming or abusive e-mail from someone on this site!

We are sorry to hear that. The e-mail form feature of this site includes safeguards to try and track users who send such posts, so e-mail the Site Administrator with a full copy of the e-mail you received. It is very important that this includes the headers that contain the details of the user that sent the e-mail. The Site Administrator can then take action.

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Friends and Foes

What are my Friends and Foes lists?

You can use these lists to organise other members of the site. Members added to your friends list will be listed within your User Control Panel for quick access to see their online status and to send them private messages. If you add a user to your foes list, any posts they make will be hidden by default.

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How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?

You can add users to your list in two ways. Within each user’s profile, there is a link to add them to either your Friend or Foe list. Alternatively, from your User Control Panel, you can directly add users by entering their member name. You may also remove users from your list using the same page.

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Searching the Forums

How can I search a forum or forums?

Enter a search term in the search box located on the index, forum or topic pages. Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the "Advance Search" link which is available on all pages on the forum. How to access the search may depend on the style used.

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Why does my search return no results?

Your search was probably too vague and included many common terms which are not indexed by this site. Be more specific and use the options available within Advanced search.

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Why does my search return a blank page!?

Your search returned too many results for the webserver to handle. Use "Advanced search" and be more specific in the terms used and forums that are to be searched.

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How do I search for members?

Visit to the "Members" page and click the "Find a member" link.

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How can I find my own posts and topics?

Your own posts can be retrieved either by clicking the "Search user’s posts" within the User Control Panel or via your own profile page. To search for your topics, use the Advanced search page and fill in the various options appropriately.

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Topic Subscriptions and Bookmarks

What is the difference between bookmarking and subscribing?

Bookmarking on this site is much like bookmarking in your web browser. You aren’t alerted when there’s an update, but you can come back to the topic later. Subscribing, however, will notify you when there is an update to the topic or forum on the site via your preferred method or methods.

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How do I subscribe to specific forums or topics?

To subscribe to a specific forum, click the "Subscribe forum" link upon entering the forum. To subscribe to a topic, reply to the topic with the subscribe checkbox checked or click the "Subscribe topic" link within the topic itself.

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How do I remove my subscriptions?

To remove your subscriptions, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to your subscriptions.

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Attachments

How do I find all my attachments?

To find your list of attachments that you have uploaded, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to the attachments section.

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