New to forums? (or 'Tips how to find your way around')

[grotbag]

The forums like a great big department store! You may need help finding your way around at first.

The different departments are called forums.

The clothes rails in each department are called threads.

The garment hanging on the rail for every member to see is called a post.

Members are a group of like minded people with a common interest who get to know each other via the forum and become internet friends.


Forum (department) examples in the 'bikerforum' are :-
New Members
Bike Chat
Classic and Vintage bike chat
Bike Sport
New Bikers etc etc


When you first log in, it's like being stood in the stores elevator with clickable words (Tabs) every where you look. Across the top on the higher grey bar you will see the 'Home, Forum, Links, Who's online' Tabs etc. Clicking on these Tabs opens and closes the automatic elevator doors and takes you right into the other departments.

'Holme' is the foyer, click on this and it will bring you back to the first page you see after log in.
'Forum' the different departments
'Links' to other websites
'Who's Online' shows what other members are reading or what they are looking for.
'Mark Forums Read' will not show you any new posts from before you click on this, for example: members are only posting in 'the garage' and your not interested the 'Mark Forums Read' tab will stop showing those as new posts to be read.
'Today's Posts' will show all of the new post's since your last visit to the forum. It will also highlight any new posts while you are in the forum. This save opening and closing each forum individually.
'My Threads / Replies' Will only show what you have posted.
'Open Buddy List' If you have started a buddy list, you will find them all in here.
'My Profile' takes you to your profile and info
'User CP' (User Control Panel) takes you to the control panel where you can access your emails, edit your profile, signature, Avatar (picture next to your user id) and right at the bottom of the left hand side list, you can sort out your attachemnts / picture's that you've posted.
'Members Extra' is a drop down menu. On the menu to choose from are 'Games Arcade', Classified Ads', 'Link Directory', Chatroom', 'Members Gallery'. Clicking on any of these words take you to that area, each members extra area has more choices once you are there.
'FAQ' will take you to a list of 'User Maintenance', 'General Forum Usage' & 'Reading and Posting Messages', or in other words 'How to'!! Click on any of these and they take you to more lists with specific questions, such as 'What are smilies?', 'Can I edit my own posts?' or 'What Are Moderators?'.
'Members List' takes you to a clickable alphabetical list A - Z of registered members, with their public information, when they joined and when they last visited.
'Calendar' opens up to a monthly view with any events written in. This is where you are able to add events to the calender.
'New Posts' is self explanatory.
'Search' Will open a box for you to type in the item or the post that you want to find quickly.
'Log Out' self explanatory.


On the 'Home' page, the rest of the items each have an orange tab which opens up or closes the contents for example, if you open up 'Main Menu' you will find you now have quick access to :- Homepage, Forums, Gallery, Games Arcade, Classified Ads, Article Section & Link Directory.


Its a bit like being in an elevator, you have to decide which department you want to go to, then push that button! (or click your mouse). If your new and have never posted before then the first forum you need to visit is the 'New Members' forum to introduce yourself, after all, you wouldn't just walk straight up to a group of friends who are chatting in a pub and just join in their conversations without saying hello I'm .... first, would you?

When you in the New Members forum, you will see 'Threads in Forum'.

Click on the words 'New Thread'. It opens up a new page (screen) with 'Post New Thread' at the top.
First you have to decide what you want to call your thread and give it a Title: in the box next to those words.
Then in the big empty box, you click your mouse in it, when you see a flashing curser it's time to type your introduction. Type as much or as little as you feel comfortable with but not your whole life story please!! When your happy with what you've put, click on the words 'Preview post' and you will be able to see what your post will look like when its up in the forum. If your happy then scroll down and click on the words 'Submit new thread' (next to 'Preview post').


The easy way to find your way around is to just click on the various tabs and have a look. You can't break anything! Good luck!

[grotbag]

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[Spree]

Nice one GB - Now stickied

[grotbag]

why fank you kind sir

[manx67]

hi i am a new member originally from the iom but have lived outside glasgow now for 16 years it has taken me years to persuade my wife i need a bike again but finally she has give in so for my christmas i am getting a brand new xl 125 varadero the only problem is what colour silver or black i will leave it to you all to decide and the one with the most votes i will pick thanks for reading this

[druidsam]

Originally Posted by manx67

hi i am a new member originally from the iom but have lived outside glasgow now for 16 years it has taken me years to persuade my wife i need a bike again but finally she has give in so for my christmas i am getting a brand new xl 125 varadero the only problem is what colour silver or black i will leave it to you all to decide and the one with the most votes i will pick thanks for reading this

i posted a poll on another thread for you..its here manx67,s new bike



...................Sam