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General faq's |  |
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Technical faq's |  |
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Forum faq's |  |
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How is forum content organized?How do I get started?
If you are unfamiliar with how discussion forums work and would like some tips on "netiquette", here are our suggestions about how to get involved.
- "Lurk" (read without posting) to find out whose company you are entering.
- Explore the site to find a discussion you feel at home in.
- Familiarise yourself with a discussion thread before making your post (threads can be long, and are navigated using a numbered page menu above the posts).
- Be aware that though discussions may read like private conversations, forums are public spaces, are read silently by many, and may even appear in Google searches.
- If linking to or quoting an article, give a sense of why you'd like to discuss it with other contributors (and keep quotes as brief as possible).
- Attribute quotes clearly to their sources.
- Take on the idea rather than the individual.
- Since discussions are like conversations, others may expect you to return and reply. It can help to respond to what has been said in making your point and to clarify disagreements before making challenges.
- To keep track of a discussion, you can set up a "watch", or bookmark the relevant page. (What is a watch?)
How do I find the discussion forums?
Each debate and column on openDemocracy has its own discussion forum.
Discussion forums can be located by entering any debate or column on the site, and clicking on the tab "Discussion".
At the bottom of most articles there is a link to the corresponding discussion forum. It says "Join the discussion".
Finally, there is the discussion overview page, which can be located by clicking on "discussion forums" in the left hand column on openDemocracy's homepage. Here you can follow discussions across the site, as well as the most recent posts, hottest forums, and 'Editor's Picks'.
How is forum content organized?
Forums contain a list of discussion topics related to the debate you are in. You can see the title of the debate up top.
Topics (also known as "threads") are discussions that consist of one or more messages displayed as a list. Anyone can start a new topic.
Messages are the individual discussion posts made by openDemocracy members. You need to be signed in to post a message.
Replies are messages posted in response to other messages, and can be seen by clicking on a topic and scrolling down.
Do I have to be registered to use the forums?
Yes. It is free to be a member of openDemocracy, and it only takes seconds to register. Just enter your email address and a password.
If you are already a member and receive openDemocracy's weekly email, all you need to do to use the forums is sign in.
How do I create a new topic?
To start a new topic, click on "Post New Topic" in any forum. If you cannot see this link click on "Back to Topic List" and look again. You need to be at the 'entrance' of the discussion forum to create a new topic.
Type your topic header in the subject line and type your message or question in the message box. This should be as easy as writing an email. Just click "Post Message" when you are ready.
How do I reply to someone else's post?
If you see a post you would like to respond to, click on "Reply" in the upper right hand corner of the post.
Type your topic header in the subject line and type your message or question in the message box. This should be as easy as writing an email. Just click "Post Message" when you are ready.
How do I format my message?
When you are writing a message you can use bold, italics and underline to emphasise your points, or just make it look prettier.
Highlight the word (or words) you would like to format, and click on either of the three square buttons above the message field. This will insert html code that looks like this: [b]/[b]around your word. Once you publish the text, this code is invisible. The word will simply be formatted as you have chosen (in this case bold).
On some computers the code gets inserted at the bottom of the text, rather than around the selected word. If this happens you will need to cut and paste the code around the word (or words) yourself: [b]like this[/b]
The forums will automatically make any web addresses in your text click-able when you publish a post.
You cannot use any other kind of html code in posts.
You can quote the full text of the post you are replying to by clicking "Quote Original" above the text field. This is only practical if the original post was quite short, or if the current topic/thread you are in is extremely long. Otherwise it is best to copy and paste the passages you would like to respond to from the handy copy directly under your message field. Remember to indicate when it is you writing or when you are quoting another member.
How do I preview my message before posting?
To preview a message before it is posted, click on "Preview" under the message field, and you will be shown a copy of your text, as it will look when it is published - including any formatting (NB! At this time the preview function does not work. It will not display line breaks or formatting. Please trust your message will look normal when posting. Do not attempt to amend with html code like <p> or <br>).
Can I edit my messages after they have been posted?
Yes. Even after a message has been posted you can click on the image of a pencil in the upper right hand corner of the post, and then change the text. You need to be signed in to do this. You can only edit your own posts.
How do I search the forums?
From the main page for discussion forums, type your term(s) into the search box, select which forum(s) you want to search, and click on "Go".
When you are in a Forum page, you can click on Search Forum to use an advanced search page where you can narrow your search by specifying a date range or filtering by username.
What are forum preferences? Can I change how forums look?
You can edit your viewing preferences in the "Control Panel" which can be found at the top right of any forum.
Here you can choose how many messages should be displayed to you on one page, and what time zone you are in. You can also set your "watch" preferences.
The other two section in the Control Panel are "Profile" which contains a link to the "My Account Page", and "Watches".
Under "Watches" you can see a list of the topics and forums you are watching. This is also where you delete any watches you would like to stop receiving.
What are watches? What does it mean to "watch" a forum?
A watch notifies you if the topic you are interested in has been updated. Notifications may be sent by e-mail.
To add a topic to your watch list, click on the "Watch This Topic" link at the top of the topic page. Click on "Stop Watching Topic" to end the email notifications.
After 30 days, inactive watches automatically expire.
To see the current list of topics you are watching, click on "Your Control Panel" then "Watches". From this screen you can choose to receive email notifications when new posts are made. Just click on Add Email Notification next to the topic for which you want to be notified.
You can delete a watch by clicking in the Delete tick box for the watch you want to delete, then clicking the Delete button.
Will people see my email address? Do I have to use my real name?
Other members will not be able to see your email address (unless you want them to). openDemocracy always protects your private information and does not share it with anyone.
You can edit your public profile in the "My Account" area after signing in. Here you can write a short biography for yourself, and select the location where you live. When other members click on your name in the forums they will be able to read your bio, as well as see a list of all the posts you have written in the past.
In the "My Account" area you will also be asked to enter your real name. openDemocracy operates on principles of openness and honesty. Please don't be shy to let others know who you are and what you think. Edit your profile today.
If you do not write your name in the "My Account" section, the forums will display the first half of your email address (before the @) as your username.
Links to "My Account" are in the upper right hand corner anywhere on the site, and also in the "Control Panel" area in any forums under "Profile". You need to sign in first.
Why am I not allowed to paste articles in messages?
Members will love to get links or references to articles you've enjoyed on the Web. Please share recommendations. However: please do not post the full text of articles from other sites in openDemocracy's discussion forums. This infringes the copyright of the author and/or of the publication where it originated. It is illegal.
If you would like to quote an article or encourage other members to read it, please post extracts followed by the web address (link) where it can be found. Otherwise the forum moderator may delete or edit your post.
On that note, please avoid posting the full text of openDemocracy articles on other sites, too. We'd like them to visit us. Please link to us generously.
Are forums moderated? Is there anything I am not allowed to say?
All posts in the discussion forum are read by the moderator shortly after they have been posted. openDemocracy operates on openness and trust, and intervention will always be kept to a minimum. Discussion forums belong to the members.
However, it is expected that members abide by the terms & conditions of the site. Please do not use profane or offensive language, and be respectful to the views of others - even if they are profoundly unlike your own. You will meet many different kinds of people in the forums.
If you are offended by a post, you can ask to have it removed. The moderator, jessica.reed@opendemocracy.net will consider your request, and either ask the offender to rephrase, or remove the message entirely.
If a message has been edited by the moderator, it will say so at the bottom of the text.
Will the authors of articles read my posts?
If you ask specific questions of authors or make comments about their articles, sometimes you will be lucky to get a direct response. Please always indicate which article or which author you are referring to.