Welcome to the board!
A few things to keep in mind:
- The board uses bbcodes for formatting posts instead of html. You'll find buttons above the text input box that allow you to format fonts, italics, etc., as well as to post images and links. For example, when you want to post an image, click on the image button and then when the bbcode (the stuff in the square brackets) shows up in the text input box, insert the address for the url where the image is stored in between the two sets of brackets. (It works the same way for links to web pages.)
- Images must be hosted on a website that allows hotlinking (such as Photobucket). The maximum size that we allow for images is 600 pixels wide and 450 pixels high, but please try to keep them smaller than that as much as possible so as to minimize downloading speed for everyone. (Some people are still on dialup!) If you want to share something bigger, please post a link instead.
- You can customize your personal information in several ways. For example, you can select an avatar picture to show beneath your username. Again, your avatar must be hosted on a website that allows hotlinking. The maximum size we allow for avatars is 100 x 100 pixels.
- You can also add a signature line that will be displayed beneath each post you make. Images are allowed in siglines (you have to use the bbcode for images to insert it), but please, keep any sigline image small (my recommendation is no more than 100 pixels high). If we find that people are including huge sigline images that repeat over and over on a thread to the point where it's annoying, we may decide to disable siglines. We'll play that by ear for now.
- You can also customize certain aspects of how you view the board. For example, if you hate seeing people's avatars or siglines, you can set it so that they don't show when you look at threads. You can also elect to receive notifications of replies on threads where you've posted, as well as a number of other things. Feel free to play around with your settings.
- We do have PMs, but you can turn that off if you don't want to receive them. (The way you do that is to block everyone.) You can also hide your email address (which I highly recommend).
- This board comes with a calendar link (there's a button near the top of the board, in the same area as the link for your profile, etc.). We will be adding birthday information (for those who are willing to be included) and possibly also dates for events, so be sure to check it upon occasion.
Your moderators are JayBee and Catsma. Please, no spamming, no marketing or commercial promotion-related content, no x-rated posts or pics, and no harassment or other obnoxious behavior. We will delete posts or even ban members if necessary and at our discretion.
Feel free to ask questions if you have any problems. There is a forum especially for board questions, or you can also PM me if you prefer.
Thanks for reading all of this, and I hope you enjoy your experience here!
