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[Sephyroth]

If you're new to the forums, here are some useful links to look over

• How to...
  
  • Use the Private Messaging System.
  • Edit Your Profile
  • Use the first row of buttons on the post screen
  • Use the second row of buttons on the post page
  • Report a Post which concerns you
• I'm ready to post, but I need help
• The Mudflats Forum Guidelines
• Contact the Admin Team

Some frequently asked questions about the forums -

How do I use the smileys?

You can just click on the smileys just above the box where you put your text in, and they will appear in your post.. Click on [more] (next to the I need coffee () smiley) to see the extra bonus smileys.

Why do I go back to the index screen after I post?

You don't have to. This is an easy to do modification on how you view the forums. First Scroll up and at the top of the screen is a link that says Profile click on it, this will open your profile.  Next click on Look and layout preferences on the left hand side of your screen.  Now click the box next to Return to topics after posting by default (5th checkbox down)and to save it click Change profile at the bottom.  It will save it but you should see the same page you were just on.  To get out of your profile click on Forum at the top of the page.

How many private messages can I have?

Members in the Greenhorn, Community Organizer and Town Mayor groups have a maximum of 20 private messages. When you become a Governor (at 250 posts) and you then get 50.

There's a reason why there is a limit, and that is to encourage people to clean out their PM box regularly.

How do I see the new posts?

You'll see something like this in the top left hand corner of the forum - this is what mine says, yours will probably have your name, and your private message count..

Hey, Sephyroth,you have 55 messages, 0 are new.
Yotal time logged in: 6 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes.
Show unread posts since last visit.
Show new replies to your posts.
November 16, 2008, 11:29:18 PM

There are two very important links in there -

Show unread posts since last visit.

Clicking on this will show you all the new posts since you were last logged into the forums.

Show new replies to your posts.

Clicking on this will show you any new replies to your posts. Yes, you will use that often - it helps you keep track of your discussions.

These links also appear at the bottom of any thread, to make navigation a little easier.

How do I stay on the thread after making a comment?

If you click on the PROFILE text at the top left (between SEARCH and LOGOUT) you can change your personal profile to do lots of cool things that make this easier.

You can change things so that the most recent comments are at the TOP of your screen (meaning you don’t have to worry about page number). You can click a box that takes away everyone’s avatar (less space taken up on my screen). You can click a box that means that you are NOT prompted after replying re: whether or not there are new responses while you’ve been typing. And most important, you can click a box that allows you to STAY IN THE THREAD after replying!

How do I make sure my post isn't made inside a quote?

when you hit the quote button, you get the message field with some text in it. The quoted text is preceded by a quote tag in brackets and ended by another quote tag in brackets.
Type your own text below the last quote tag and it'll show up outside the quote but in the same message field.

How do I refresh the page?

The refresh button is slightly different in each browser/ operating system.  Some use a single curlycue arrow, others use the double arrows  - one going up and the other down.  Most Microsoft based systems also have Refresh as part of a drop down menu either in Edit or View. Apple systems "reload current page".

Most all systems use the F5 button to do the same thing.

How can I see other pages in a thread?

At the top and bottom of this post (or the post right at the bottom) where it says - Pages 1 2 3 4

Click on 1 - you'll see the posts from page one. Click on 2 - page 2. Rinse. Repeat.

How do I get an avatar?

We have a selection of avatars already uploaded. If there's a specific picture you want, you can either try uploading it yourself, or give me a link to it and I'll go make it into an avatar for you..

More info on how to add an avatar and edit your profile can be found here -

http://www.themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,13.0.html

Edited to fix broken link

[Charcoal Sniper P.]

Notes from the Q&A in Chat:

How do I shrink pictures?
Here is an easy website that some one posted in one of the threads and in chat that can help.
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/

Why am I having trouble with my Avatar?
most likely it is because to be uploaded it must be smaller than 100x100 pixel

How do I post Links?
You can coppy and paste them right into your post.
Or you can embed (hyperlink) them into the text by highlighting what words you want your link to be and then clicking the little world icon abouve the post box, this will open a little box that you type or paste the link into, this will do the coding for you.

Do The forums get trolls, and what happens when a troll  (or spammer) comes along?
We do get trolls and spammers.  The moderation team will usually report the trolling posts, then remove the post(s) (they don't fully get deleted, they just go to an archive that only the moderators have access to) and then send the troll to the penalty box (we call that moose- nuggeting) or ban them outright depending.  We try to do this quickly and in a way that doesn't disrupt the forums, and the community. 

How many Moderators are there?
Presently 19, there are also 4 very active Administrators and several less active (or behind the scenes) Administrators.  Sometimes we add new Moderators and sometimes they need to move on, so the number changes.

Can I report a post?
Yes, if you see some thing that breaks the forum guidelines and or seems troll like please do report it.  You can do this by clicking on report to moderator which is at the bottom right hand side of every post, this will open a small text box where you write why you are reporting it.  It then gets sent to a place where only the mods can see it, and we discuss and act on it if necessary.  More than likely (but not always) we will get back to you on what action we took, because no one likes to be left hanging.

I am having Problems in live chat getting my post to post, what is the problem?
More than likely the curser was no longer in the text box when you hit enter.  Click with your mouse next to what you typed and press enter again.

These are pretty much all the questions that were asked, but if you have any more that aren't covered here feel free to ask any of the moderators or administrators in thread, in chat, or in a PM.