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Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to register?
Registration is required to read and post on this forum. Registration is free, and you are not required to post your real name. You are required to use an actual email address, however, as your password is sent to that address.
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How can I use smilies?
Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This message board automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical representation, which we call graemlins. You can use our Instant Graemlins buttons for automatic generation. For example, if you type :o in your post, it will automatically be converted to  - a shameful face. The following graemlins are currently supported:
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:)
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Smile
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:(
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Frown
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:o
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Embarrassed
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:D
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Big Grin
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;)
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Wink
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:p
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Razz
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:cool:
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Cool
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:rolleyes:
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Roll Eyes
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:mad:
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Mad
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:eek:
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Eek!
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:confused:
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Confused
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:hlp:
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Help
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:czt:
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Cat
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:lol:
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LOL
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:thx:
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Thanks
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:agree:
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I agree
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:driving:
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Driving
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:funny:
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Funny Post
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:hijack:
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Hijacked Thread
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:crazy:
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Crazy
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:orange:
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Orange Dance
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:redflg:
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Red Flag
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:lol2:
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LOL
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:2cents:
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My Two Cents
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:willy:
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Willy Nilly
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:thmbs:
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Thumbs Up
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:2thmbs:
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Two Thumbs Up
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:wishes:
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Best Wishes
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:grmbl:
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Grumble
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:ntwrthy:
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Not Worthy
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:poke:
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Pok3
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:rotfl:
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Rotflmao
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:soap:
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Soap Box
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:whee:
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Whee!
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:woot:
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Woot Woot!
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How do I use HTML and UBB Code?
You may not use HTML, but you can use UBB Code in your posts. Complete details on UBB Code are listed here.
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What are user titles?
Each registered member has a title that reflects his or her "rank" on this board. Administrators are given the title "Administrator". Moderators are given the title "Moderator". Some members are given special titles by the administration. All other users are given on this board are full members.
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What are moderators?
Moderators control individual forums. They can edit, delete, or prune any posts in their forums. If you have a question about a particular forum, you should direct it to your forum moderator.
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How can I change my registration profile?
You may easily change any info stored in your registration profile, using the "profile" link located near the top of each page. You must be logged in in order to update your profile.
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Are cookies used?
This bulletin board uses cookies to store the following information: the last time you logged in, your login identification, and your preferred "topic view." These cookies are stored on your browser. Cookies are not used to track your movement or perform any function other than to enhance your use of the message board. If your browser does not support cookies, or you have not enabled cookies on your browser, many of these time-saving features will not work properly and you will not be able to post new messages.
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How can I clear all cookies set on this board?
If you ever experience login problems, you may have a problem with the cookies that have been set in your browser. If this happens, you can try clearing all cookies set on this message board by clicking here
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What do those icons next to each topic mean?
These icons provide information on the state of each topic:
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Old Posts |
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![[new]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/closedb.gif "[new]") |
![[old]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/closed.gif "[old]") |
An open topic |
![[new]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/bang.gif "[new]") |
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An important topic |
![[new]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/poll_new.gif "[new]") |
![[old]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/poll_old.gif "[old]") |
An open poll |
![[new hot]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/hotclosedb.gif "[new hot]") |
![[old hot]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/hotclosed.gif "[old hot]") |
Topic with more than 15 replies |
![[new closed]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/redlockfolder.gif "[new closed]") |
![[old closed]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/yellockfolder.gif "[old closed]") |
A closed topic or poll |
![[new closed]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/moved_new.gif "[new closed]") |
![[old closed]](http://www.datastormusers.com/ubb/moved_old.gif "[old closed]") |
A moved topic or poll |
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Can I edit my own posts?
You may edit or delete your own posts at any time. Look for the edit icon on the post to be edited. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum moderator(s) or the message board administrators. A note is generated at the bottom of each post that is edited so that every one knows when a post has been edited. Note that if your post was the start of a new topic, deleting your post will result in the removal of the entire topic (all replies after your topic will also be deleted). Please note that your board administrators may disable the ability of members to edit or delete posts. Only registered members can edit or delete their posts.
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Can I use a signature?
You may use a signature (commonly used in email messages) on your posts. You may set your signature in your member profile. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose to include it with any post you make by checking the "include signature" box when you create your post. This message board's administrator may elect to turn the signature feature off at any time, however. If that is the case, the "include signature" option will not appear when you post a note, even if you have stored a signature. You may change your signature at any time by changing your profile, unless a message board administrator locks your profile.
Note: You may not use HTML in your signature file, but you may use UBB Code. Note that the board administrator may disable the UBB Code Image tag.
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Can I attach files?
For security reasons, you may not attach files to any posts. You may cut and paste text into your post, however, or use HTML and/or UBB Code (if enabled) to provide hyperlinks to outside documents.
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Can I search?
You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, by a particular registered member, by date, and/or by forum. Just click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.
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What are private messages?
The administrators of this message board may permit members to send private messages to each other. A private message is not email. Private messages are one-to-one communications that can only be read by the recipient. You can read private messages in your profile section. You can also elect to be notified by email whenever someone sends you a private message (you can set this in your profile). You can also prevent anyone from sending you a private message (also configurable in your profile). Only registered members may send private messages. This option can be disabled by the board administrators.
To send someone a private message, look for the private message icon on a post a person creates. You can send a private message through the person's member profile, or from your Buddy List, if you have added the person to your Buddy List.
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What is an Ignore List?
Ignore lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your ignore list can no longer send you a private message. You can put someone on your ignore list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to ignore list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use buddy lists.
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What is a Buddy List?
Buddy lists apply to private messages only. Anyone you add to your buddy list is stored in a handy location, so that you can easily send the person a private message. You can put someone on your ignore list by viewing the member's profile and clicking on the "add to ignore list" link. Private messaging must be enabled on this site in order to use buddy lists.
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Are there any censor features?
The message board administrators have the power to censor certain words that may be posted. This censoring is not an exact science, however, so certain words may be censored out of context. Please realize that the censoring, if any censoring is being performed, is being done by a computer based on the words that are being screened. Words that are censored are replaced with asterisks.
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What do I do if I forget my login ID and/or password?
Retrieving your login ID and password is simple, assuming that email features are turned on for this message board. All of the pages that require you to identify yourself with your username and password carry a "lost password" link that you can use to have your username and password emailed instantly to your email address of record.
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Can I be notified by email if someone responds to my topic?
If you create a new topic, you have the option of receiving an email notification every time someone posts a reply to your topic. Just check the email notification box when creating a new topic, if you want to use this feature. Only registered members can use this feature.
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What are Today's Active Topics?
When you visit this message board, you will see a link at the top of the list of forums called "Today's Active Topics". Clicking on this link will provide you with a list of topics in all open, public forums that have been posted to during the current day. Private forums posts are never included in this listing.
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Can I search private forums?
Yes, if you have permission to access the particular private forums you wish to search. Note that you must be logged in to search private forums.
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What are posting icons?
Depending on the configuration of your forums, you may be able to associate an icon with each post that you make. There are currently 14 icons, each expressing a different emotion or identification. These icons range from a simple note to sadness to warning. These icons appear next to each topic in a forum listing and on each post. If you do not see icons, your forum administrator may not be allowing icons on this particular forum. (Thanks to Kombat03 for the icon idea!)
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How can users get in touch with me if I hide my email address?
If you would prefer that your email address not be publicly available, but you want users to mail you through this message board, you may choose to do so by editing your mailing preferences. To do this, click the "my profile" link above, then click the "View/Update Profile" link. Choose the "No, but allow members to mail me through the board" preference.
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How can I report an inappropriate post?
If you see a post that you believe requires immediate attention from a moderator or administrator, click this icon:  . You can then write a brief note explaining why you are reporting this post. The alert goes to the forum moderator(s) and the board administrator via email. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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