Post by Audio Pineapple on Feb 25, 2007 13:04:40 GMT 1
So I've been having people asking me about aspects of the board so I thought that this would be useful for answering those questions and some other ones. If you have a question that isn't on here then you can add it on in a reply and I'll get to it next time I log on. There are currently four sections to this FAQ (Registration, Pictures and Profiles, Board Usage and Forum Etiquette)
Registration
It won't let me use the name I want!
The registration mechanism will let you register but at the moment it is refusing to allow any spaces in names or any special characters - so it is only allowing letters a-z and numbers. Register with any name as you are able to change this afterwards.
So how do I change my name then?
This can be done (luckily as I registered myself as riotsdrillsdevil rather than Audio Pineapple lol.) After you have registered and logged in to your profile you will see a line of options near the top of the forum, reading from 'home' to 'logout.' Click the one entitled 'profile.' Then click where it says 'modify profile' and there will be a box that says 'Display Name.' Put the name you want to show up with your posts in here - and this time it will accept spaces and special characters lol.
Pictures and Profiles
Types of Pictures
People seem to be having problems getting 'pictures' alongside them and if you do ask for help it would be useful if you (and I) knew what type of picture you were talking about. There are two types, an avatar (av, avi) and a signature (sig, banner.) The avatar is the smaller picture directly underneath your name and the sig is the larger picture that goes underneath your posts.
How do I host an image?
The process gets a lot simpler if you host your image yourself, because then the picture won't get removed if the website changes address. An easy site to use to do this is photobucket.com . It's free and easy to use and safe to sign up to. Follow the instructions on the site and put the image you want up on there.
Avatar: I have the url of the image so now what?
Click the following: Profile > Modify Profile
Partway down the page is a section inscribed, avatar. Select 'none' on the drop down menu and underneath there will be a box asking for the url you wish to use. Enter it in and in the two boxes underneath put '100' and '100'. If you've entered the URL correctly you should now have your avatar.
Sig: I have the url of the image so now what?
Click the following: Profile > Modify Profile
Partway down the page is a section inscribed Signature. You can have text here or pictures or both or just leave it blank. If you want text, just type what you want to say into the box and if you want pictures then put the url of the image in and put in front of it and [/IMG] after it to make it show up. If you’ve done this correctly you’ll have your sig.
I still can’t work out how to do it
No problem, either post (or send by PM) me the picture that you want used (saying if it is for an av or a sig) and I’ll see if I can sort it for you.
Hey! I just realised what a ‘pocket-holder’ is! How do I change it?
When you sign up to the board you initially start out as a ‘pocket holder’ as this is the ‘newbie’ level. To change this you just need to post. The levels change at 25 and 75 posts past the number (such as 25, 75, 125, 175, 225 and so on.)
What is custom text?
This is a small piece of text that you can put underneath your avatar when you modify your profile. You don’t have to use it but you could have something such as “Sara’s #1 fan” or “PB Fanatic.”
Account Preferences
A series of drop down menus and text boxes where you can show your fellow members things about you. You can also select “choose skin” but at the moment only one exists (please see the ‘smilie and skin request thread’ for more information on this topic.)
General Forum Usage[/u][/i]
How Do I Post?
If you go into a thread, at the bottom is a blank box. Enter what you wish to say in here and click ‘post.’
If you want to start a thread or poll then go into the forum you want and click the respective buttons.
If you want to edit your post after you have clicked ‘post’ then click ‘modify’ on the same post.
If you want to quote someone else’s post then click ‘quote’ on their post.
What is PM? How do I do it?
PM stands for Private Message and it is a way of communicating with other forumers privately. To send one click on the forumer's profile and then on 'send PM'
Prison Break General
The place for discussion , both serious and light-hearted.
Groups
Because we all have our favourite and least favourite characters this is where you can start up fanclubs or anti-fanclubs for them. If there isn’t one for your character then feel free to create one. If you want to join one then ask the thread-starter in the thread and they’ll let you in. You can also go into rival groups to make fun of the character and stance they have chosen. But PLEASE remember this simple rule: the character, not the forumers. Saying “LJ is a brat” in the LLJ thread is allowed, saying “AP you’re such a fucking idiot if you like LJ” or “all LJ fans are pathetic” is not allowed and could lead to serious action being taken against you. So, yet again, remember to play nice.
Off-Topic
Where you can talk about things other than prison break; real life things, music, films, books, games other TV programs. Just remember the forum etiquette and you’ll be fine.
Creations
You can post your graphics (avatars, sigs, wallpapers…) music videos and fanfiction on this board. If they are PB related just create your own thread but if they are for a different show (or movie, book…) then please go into ‘creations (non PB)’ and post them there.
The spoiler-free rule also applies here. Please don’t write about, or post images of anything that hasn’t aired on channel five yet. Otherwise it will be removed.
And remember that if you give reviews to other people’s things you’ll be more likely to get reviews on your own creations!
RDD Games
Here we visit the weekly competitions. Feel free to enter any of them that you want and you could get a point (or more) on the Leader Board. If there is a game you want to suggest then you can say so in the Support Forum in the Game Suggestion thread.
Check In
Where the pocket-holders come in introduce themselves to the rest of the forum. You don’t have to create a thread but it’s a nice way for other forumers to meet you and to start your RDD experience.
Support
Where you are now! Familiarise yourself with the rules, make suggestions or request smilies, skins or help.
Forum Etiquette
Spoiler Free?
The golden rule of the forum is that it is spoiler-free. Most people on here are spoiler-phobic, which means that they don't want to know anything that will happen in a future episode. Whether this is saying something as large as "Abruzzi is going to die in early season two" or as small as "Haywire comes back in episode six" or “wow, did you see the adverts for next episode, _____ looks really good” or entirely faked such as "Mahone is really an alien" it can seriously spoil the enjoyment of the people watching it who like to work out things for themselves and be surprised by events.
Because we're based in the UK, anything post UK-Pace is considered a spoiler. If you've watched at US-Pace or know things that will happen in the future you're more than welcome to join the forum but you'll have to remember to keep quiet about what you know that we don’t.
And as an extra warning I consider myself to be spoiler-phobic so the punishments for deliberately breaking this rule can be severe. Saying that though I know how easy it is to slip up and post one accidentally. If it was a genuine accident you don’t need to worry, it’s easily fixed and the people around here are nice, they won’t hold it against you.
Swearing?
Currently there is no swearing filter so you’re allowed to swear – especially useful when writing stories that won’t become mangled after posting. If you are swearing at another forumer to upset them however your post will be edited and, if it is very bad, you will receive a formal warning. So let’s remember to play nice.
Text Speak?
Small amounts of text speak (such as lol, imo and owtte) are accepted but when people use it for every word it becomes incredibly confusing to read and makes the forumer and their points come across as juvenile. If you usually talk like this then I can’t stop you but I can see this causing tension in the future between certain members and it would be easier just to type normally.
Well that's all I could think of, but like I said, if you have a question that hasn't been answered them post it here or PM me.
Registration
It won't let me use the name I want!
The registration mechanism will let you register but at the moment it is refusing to allow any spaces in names or any special characters - so it is only allowing letters a-z and numbers. Register with any name as you are able to change this afterwards.
So how do I change my name then?
This can be done (luckily as I registered myself as riotsdrillsdevil rather than Audio Pineapple lol.) After you have registered and logged in to your profile you will see a line of options near the top of the forum, reading from 'home' to 'logout.' Click the one entitled 'profile.' Then click where it says 'modify profile' and there will be a box that says 'Display Name.' Put the name you want to show up with your posts in here - and this time it will accept spaces and special characters lol.
Pictures and Profiles
Types of Pictures
People seem to be having problems getting 'pictures' alongside them and if you do ask for help it would be useful if you (and I) knew what type of picture you were talking about. There are two types, an avatar (av, avi) and a signature (sig, banner.) The avatar is the smaller picture directly underneath your name and the sig is the larger picture that goes underneath your posts.
How do I host an image?
The process gets a lot simpler if you host your image yourself, because then the picture won't get removed if the website changes address. An easy site to use to do this is photobucket.com . It's free and easy to use and safe to sign up to. Follow the instructions on the site and put the image you want up on there.
Avatar: I have the url of the image so now what?
Click the following: Profile > Modify Profile
Partway down the page is a section inscribed, avatar. Select 'none' on the drop down menu and underneath there will be a box asking for the url you wish to use. Enter it in and in the two boxes underneath put '100' and '100'. If you've entered the URL correctly you should now have your avatar.
Sig: I have the url of the image so now what?
Click the following: Profile > Modify Profile
Partway down the page is a section inscribed Signature. You can have text here or pictures or both or just leave it blank. If you want text, just type what you want to say into the box and if you want pictures then put the url of the image in and put in front of it and [/IMG] after it to make it show up. If you’ve done this correctly you’ll have your sig.
I still can’t work out how to do it
No problem, either post (or send by PM) me the picture that you want used (saying if it is for an av or a sig) and I’ll see if I can sort it for you.
Hey! I just realised what a ‘pocket-holder’ is! How do I change it?
When you sign up to the board you initially start out as a ‘pocket holder’ as this is the ‘newbie’ level. To change this you just need to post. The levels change at 25 and 75 posts past the number (such as 25, 75, 125, 175, 225 and so on.)
What is custom text?
This is a small piece of text that you can put underneath your avatar when you modify your profile. You don’t have to use it but you could have something such as “Sara’s #1 fan” or “PB Fanatic.”
Account Preferences
A series of drop down menus and text boxes where you can show your fellow members things about you. You can also select “choose skin” but at the moment only one exists (please see the ‘smilie and skin request thread’ for more information on this topic.)
General Forum Usage[/u][/i]
How Do I Post?
If you go into a thread, at the bottom is a blank box. Enter what you wish to say in here and click ‘post.’
If you want to start a thread or poll then go into the forum you want and click the respective buttons.
If you want to edit your post after you have clicked ‘post’ then click ‘modify’ on the same post.
If you want to quote someone else’s post then click ‘quote’ on their post.
What is PM? How do I do it?
PM stands for Private Message and it is a way of communicating with other forumers privately. To send one click on the forumer's profile and then on 'send PM'
Prison Break General
The place for discussion , both serious and light-hearted.
Groups
Because we all have our favourite and least favourite characters this is where you can start up fanclubs or anti-fanclubs for them. If there isn’t one for your character then feel free to create one. If you want to join one then ask the thread-starter in the thread and they’ll let you in. You can also go into rival groups to make fun of the character and stance they have chosen. But PLEASE remember this simple rule: the character, not the forumers. Saying “LJ is a brat” in the LLJ thread is allowed, saying “AP you’re such a fucking idiot if you like LJ” or “all LJ fans are pathetic” is not allowed and could lead to serious action being taken against you. So, yet again, remember to play nice.
Off-Topic
Where you can talk about things other than prison break; real life things, music, films, books, games other TV programs. Just remember the forum etiquette and you’ll be fine.
Creations
You can post your graphics (avatars, sigs, wallpapers…) music videos and fanfiction on this board. If they are PB related just create your own thread but if they are for a different show (or movie, book…) then please go into ‘creations (non PB)’ and post them there.
The spoiler-free rule also applies here. Please don’t write about, or post images of anything that hasn’t aired on channel five yet. Otherwise it will be removed.
And remember that if you give reviews to other people’s things you’ll be more likely to get reviews on your own creations!
RDD Games
Here we visit the weekly competitions. Feel free to enter any of them that you want and you could get a point (or more) on the Leader Board. If there is a game you want to suggest then you can say so in the Support Forum in the Game Suggestion thread.
Check In
Where the pocket-holders come in introduce themselves to the rest of the forum. You don’t have to create a thread but it’s a nice way for other forumers to meet you and to start your RDD experience.
Support
Where you are now! Familiarise yourself with the rules, make suggestions or request smilies, skins or help.
Forum Etiquette
Spoiler Free?
The golden rule of the forum is that it is spoiler-free. Most people on here are spoiler-phobic, which means that they don't want to know anything that will happen in a future episode. Whether this is saying something as large as "Abruzzi is going to die in early season two" or as small as "Haywire comes back in episode six" or “wow, did you see the adverts for next episode, _____ looks really good” or entirely faked such as "Mahone is really an alien" it can seriously spoil the enjoyment of the people watching it who like to work out things for themselves and be surprised by events.
Because we're based in the UK, anything post UK-Pace is considered a spoiler. If you've watched at US-Pace or know things that will happen in the future you're more than welcome to join the forum but you'll have to remember to keep quiet about what you know that we don’t.
And as an extra warning I consider myself to be spoiler-phobic so the punishments for deliberately breaking this rule can be severe. Saying that though I know how easy it is to slip up and post one accidentally. If it was a genuine accident you don’t need to worry, it’s easily fixed and the people around here are nice, they won’t hold it against you.
Swearing?
Currently there is no swearing filter so you’re allowed to swear – especially useful when writing stories that won’t become mangled after posting. If you are swearing at another forumer to upset them however your post will be edited and, if it is very bad, you will receive a formal warning. So let’s remember to play nice.
Text Speak?
Small amounts of text speak (such as lol, imo and owtte) are accepted but when people use it for every word it becomes incredibly confusing to read and makes the forumer and their points come across as juvenile. If you usually talk like this then I can’t stop you but I can see this causing tension in the future between certain members and it would be easier just to type normally.
Well that's all I could think of, but like I said, if you have a question that hasn't been answered them post it here or PM me.