| Why should I register? |
In order to fully utilize the abilities of this forum, the administrator will probably require that you register as a member. Registration is free, and allows you to do the following:
- Post new threads
- Reply to other peoples' threads
- Edit your posts
- Receive email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify
- Send private messages to other members
- Enter events in the forum calendar
- Set up a 'buddy-list' to quickly see which of your friends are currently online
To register, you will need to specify a username and password, and a valid email address. Entering your email address will not leave you open to 'spam', as you can choose to hide your email address, and messages sent to you via email do not reveal your address to the sender in any case. (To verify this, you can try sending an email message to another user.) The administrator may have configured the forum to send you the final part of the registration process by email, so ensure that the email address you provide is valid and working.
If you are under the age of 13, the administrator may require that a parent or guardian provides consent before allowing you to complete the registration process. More information about this is available during the registration process. |
| What is controlled by the setting "Recieve Email from Admins"? |
| This setting controls whether you will receive mass mailings that would may be sent to inform members of changes to the forums, such as a planned maintenance outage or section re-organization. By taking your name off this list you will not affect whether administrators or moderators can contact you regarding an issue that affects you individually. Also, the forums will not re-sell your name or add you to any lists regardless of how you set this option. The mailings from admins are extremely rare and would be sent only in the event that major changes will affect the forums. |
| Does this forum use cookies? |
| The use of cookies on this forum is optional, but may enhance your experience of the site. Cookies are used to enable functions such as showing whether or not a thread or forum you are viewing has new posts since your last visit, or to automatically log you back in when you return to the site after being away for a while.
When you register, you will be given the option to 'Automatically login when you return to the site'. This will store your username and password in a cookie, stored on your computer. If you are using a shared computer, such as in a library, school or internet cafe, or if you have reason to not trust any other users that might use this computer, we do not recommend that you enable this.
This forum also gives you the option to use a cookie to track your current session, ensuring that you remain logged-on while browsing the site. If you choose not to store this information in a cookie, the session data will be sent through each link you click. Choosing not to use a cookie may cause problems if your computer's connection to the Internet uses a proxy-server and you share links with other users behind the same proxy. If in doubt, we recommend that you select 'yes' to enable the cookie.
After you have registered, you may alter your cookie options at any time by changing the settings on this page. |
| How do I clear my cookies? |
You may clear all your cookies by clicking here. If you return to the main index page via the link provided and you are still logged in, you may have to remove your cookies manually.
In Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP:
- Click the "Tools" menu.
- Select "Internet Options" from the menu that appears.
- Click "Delete Cookies" on the dialog box that appears. It will be in the center area of the "General" tab.
In Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the "Tools" menu.
- Select "Options" from the menu that appears.
- From the dialog box, select "Privacy" on the left.
- Find "Cookies" on the main pane, and click the "Clear" button adjacent to it.
Your cookies should now be removed. You may want to restart the computer and revisit the forums to be sure. |
| What Username can I have? |
| Virtually anything you want that is not taken. We do have restrictions on preventing some words from being used, and the system will provide an error message when you attempt to use one of the designated stop words. Your username will appear above all the posts you contribute, with a link to your profile information. Choose your username carefully, because you CANNOT change it once it is created. |
| How can I change the information in my profile? |
It is your responsibility to keep the information in your profile up-to-date. You should especially ensure that your email address is kept current. You can alter any of the fields in your profile, except your username. Once you have registered your username, it becomes yours for life. In extreme circumstances, you may request that the administrator change your username, but he or she will require a very good reason to do so.
Edit your profile here. |
| I lost my password, what can I do? |
If you forget your password, you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link on any page that requires you to fill in your password.
This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address, and an email will be sent to that address instantly, with instructions for resetting your password. |
| I've registered, why can't I post? |
| Our system sends a confirmation email to the address you used to register with. You must confirm your account by clicking on a link in the email. Other members have had these confirmation emails flagged by mail filters - check your bulk sender folders first. If you have still cannot find the confirmation email, contact a Forum Admin or Moderator to activate your account. |
| How do I get one of those cool, funny titles that others have below their user names? |
| By default, anyone who joins is simply called a "Member" in their user title. But you can change this to whatever you like. Use the User Control Panel link, then the Edit Profile option to alter the Custom User Title to show your real name, your company name, a URL or even a funny message or phrase. |
| Why can't I post a signature file with links at the bottom of all my posts? |
| Weêve opted not to allow sig files within posts, although you may take advantage of editing the custom user title that appears under your member name. That user title, in combination with your user name, effectively works as a signature to everyone on the forum. Remember, anyone clicking on your user name sees your profile page. There, you can list things like a link to your home page, your occupation and a biography, if you like. |
| How can I add a custom avatar to my posts? |
| We feel they distract from the discussion itself, so we havenÕt enabled the use of avatars for general members. Only Forum moderators are noted by an official Search Engine Watch avatar. |
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