F R E Q U E N T L Y      A S K E D      Q U E S T I O N S 

COMMUNITY FORUMS AT VISITWIMBERLEY.COM

Do I have to register?
What are the benefits of registering?
What about my privacy?
How can I use smilies?
How do I add links to my messages?
What are moderators?
How can I change my registration profile?
Can I customize the bulletin board in any way?
Are cookies used?
Can I edit my own posts?
Can I search?
Can I add a standard signature to my posts?
What do I do if I lost my username and/or password?
Can I be notified by email if someone responds to my topic?
What are icons?

What are the benefits of registering?
Of course, you can start new conversations or reply to messages in forums. But there's more! You can choose to be notified by email when someone responds to your message, you can share information (such as your website address) in your Profile, and can use a meaningful Signature. All these goodies are optional, and you determine whether you want your information kept private. This website never discloses forum email addresses!

Your Privacy Is Foremost
The forums are automatically maintained via scripting at the server level, and your email address is never displayed unless you choose that option in preferences, which you control. Your email address resides in a protected area on a server with the highest level of security. We believe that these forums only work in an environment of mutual trust, and we will continue to take every step to protect your privacy. You don't even have to use your real name to register, although many people like to add that personal touch. 

Smilies (Emoticons)
You've probably seen others use smilies before in email messages or other bulletin board posts. Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This bulletin board automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical representation. For example, if you type :o in your BB post, it will automatically be converted to - a shameful face. The following smilies are currently supported:

:)	smile
:(	frown
:o	embarrassment
:D	big grin
;)	wink

Using UBB Code
You may use UBB Code in your posts. Use UBB Code to link to a web address, or for bolding and italicizing. A complete list of current UBB Codes are listed here.

Moderators
Moderators maintain the integrity of the forums. They can edit, delete, or prune any posts in their forums. You are welcome to address a question to a moderator, just as to any poster, but since our moderators are all volunteers, please respect their time and address questions to them within the forum. We appreciate your respect for their already limited time.

Changing Your Profile
You may easily change any info stored in your registration profile, using the "profile" link located near the top of each page, or in the "Members" menu on the left. Simply identify yourself by typing your username and password and all of your profile information will appear on screen. You may change any items, except your username.

Customizing User Preferences
As a registered bulletin board user, you may store your username and password in memory for up to one year at a time. This will prevent you from having to type your user name and password every time you post a note. You also have the option of changing the default number of days back to view topics. Just click on the "prefs" link and you can make either of these settings.

Cookies
This bulletin board uses cookies to store the following information: the last time you logged in, your username and password, and your preferred "topic view", if you set it in preferences. 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 bulletin 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.

You may delete all cookies set in this forum by visiting the "preferences" area of the forum and selecting the "delete cookies" link.

Editing Your Posts
You may edit your own posts at any time. Just go to the topic where the post to be edited is located and you will see an edit icon on the line that begins "posted on..." Click on this icon to edit or delete the post. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum moderator or the bulletin board administrator. A note is generated at the bottom of each post that is edited so that every one knows when a post has been edited.

Adding Signatures
You may use a signature (commonly used in email messages) on your posts.  If you click on the profile link at the top of most bulletin board pages (or in the left menu), you will be able to edit your profile, including your standard signature. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose to include it any post you make by checking the "include signature" box when you create your post. You may also change your signature at any time by changing your profile.

Note: You may use UBB Code in your signature.

Searching For Specific Posts
You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, user name, date, and particular forum(s). Just click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.

Lost User Name and/or Password
Retrieving your username and password is simple. 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.

Email Notification
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 on the "New Topic" forum when you create your new topic, if you want to use this feature.

What are icons?
You may want 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.