Help Page / FAQ's

This page contains information to help guide users in the right direction, and outlines how the website functions overall.

Please post comments for additions or amendments to this story only.

Registration

To participate beyond viewing content, you must register in order to comment or post your own stories. To register you simply must go to our registration page, enter your desired username and email address, then check your email account for your password to access the site. A link will also be provided for ease of use. Click the link and you will be immediately logged in and guided to change your password immediately.

New registrations are automatically assigned into a moderated group, which means all comments and stories once submitted must be approved before going live to the public. This is purely a spam prevention method. There is no time limit or set amount of posts or comments before you are taken out of moderation. The more you post quality content, the sooner you come out of moderation.

Account Types

There are three (3) account types, or groups, which all provide unique functionality.

1. Basic - default group in which all new registrations are given. All content is moderated by an editor before going live.
2. Trusted - once we are happy that your not a spammer or here for the wrong reasons, you can be manually upgraded to a trusted user. No moderation is required for posting.
3. Editor - those who exhibit a passion and desire for the best interests of this website and its users, may be asked if they would like to become an editor. Editors have the ability to edit and moderate all site content.

Homepage Stories

Not all stories make it to the homepage. Members do not control whether or not a story is frontpage material or not. Only an editor can decide whether a story is shown upon the homepage, at which they will make the appropriate changes.

Signatures

Whilst the ability to have a signature exists within user profiles, a signature is a worthless piece of information that is not required nor allowed. No signatures are allowed in comments or stories.

Linking

• Linking is only allowed to websites that serve an informational purpose to a topic or content, and not simply because you can link to a website.
• All links are automatically assigned to open in a new window.
• All links are automatically assigned the rel="nofollow" attribute so search engines DO NOT follow or count links for search engine marketing purposes, they are for user purposes only.
• All links are automatically assigned an icon if they are linking to an external site.
• Links will be removed unless they cite exceptional relevance to the topic.
• Links should always be provided to a term that may not be readily known, being through wikipedia only.

The single most important question to ask yourself if you are linking to external content, "is this information absolutely relevant to link too, and that the information is so great I cannot simply cite or include within a blockquote the applicable content?" If the answer is not YES without a glimpse of doubt, then stick with NO.

Formatting Content

Whilst we could easily turn on a "What You See Is What You Get" (WYSIWYG) editor so that typing here is like typing in Microsoft Word or similar, we have chosen not to for a good reason. Editing allows choice, and we do not want people making dramatic change to the content of stories, instead we want similarity across the site. If we do not make it easy to edit, then edits are chosen carefully. This method we have adopted through using a very basic editor which inserts the tags around the content for you, also helps teach people how to write basic HTML to format their stories.

For the most part, there is typically no requirement to format using the options given in WYSIWYG editors in order to post a story or comment. So we don't agree that it is needed. We provide basics which means formatting is kept to a minimum as it should be.

Mistakes can be easily identified and fixed before posting as ALL posts must be previewed before submitted; there is no option around this for any member.

Adding Images

Adding an image is a process dependant upon what exactly you want to achieve.

Attach Image to story

• Below the text box in which you type your story an option called "File attachments" exists.
• Click the text and drop down the file upload box.
• Follow the simple instructions, browser your system for the file and upload.
• List is automatically selected for you, which attaches the file to the story.
• You can select the delete if you have made a mistake, leave it selected and upload the correct image.
• Once you submit your post the deleted file will be removed, the correct file will be attached.
• If you want to include your image in your text, like I have here as an example, then you must "untick" the "list" option and follow the below options.

Insert Image to Story

• From the "file attachment" box below you are given the URL of the uploaded image.
• In the format editing toolbar at the top of the text box, the far left option is insert image.
• Firstly place the flashing pointer inside your text box where you want your image inserted.
• Mouse over the insert image button and select.
• Enter the URL of your image.
• You must enter the actual correctly proportioned image size of the image.
• In one or two words describe the image.
• Hit OK and you will see the image code entered into your text. (Below image is direct result)

Wrapping text around an image is a little more complicated, thus if you would like it done you must submit through moderation for an editor to correct as members do not have HTML editing access. An example is the Kevin Rudd post.

Based on the image attached, the above inserted image I have scaled down through using smaller values in the width and height, yet the full values are actually 640x480. The image must always be scaled in proportion, otherwise it will look stretched or squashed.

Adding Video

• Only video from You Tube is allowed.
• Only an editor can post/approve video content directly.
• To post video content you must use the "moderated" story option, which means an editor will approve your video. Beside every video at You Tube, an embed URL is provided for that video. Copy that entire URL and paste it into your story. Whilst it will not show to you, an editor will see the HTML and review the video content.
• At the time of approval, the editor will make the appropriate changes in order for the video to work.