User-Friendly Tips for DUers..(Especially the newly minted)

[SoCalDem]

I updated this "hints' post I did back in 2002..Just in case some new folks are still figuring out how things work here:)

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Here's a quick primer on how the forums work..

1. Everything that you post as a new thread is "linked" to the front page and Latest page
(One exception...Lounge posts show up on Latest, but not the Home page)You can go to options and block the lounge from showing up there.

2. Before you start a new thread, please check the front page and latest to see if someone has beaten you to it.. It really looks goofy to see the same title 4 or 5 times on the Latest or Front Page.. Remember, too, that the subject line is "out there" for everyone to see.. Swear words inside a thread are not too objectionable, but if we want DU to be a "news source" for the masses, some words might be a turn-off before they even explore what we have to offer..

3. Post it in ONLY ONE forum... If it is less than well-recieved and you feel it would be better in a different forum, just hit alert and ask the mod to move it for you.. You may also use the DU mail for any mod or the administrators..

4. ACTIVATE YOUR DU MAILBOX...For those of you who don't even know you HAVE a DU mailbox...go to lobby....user options....modify profile..look for DU mailbox deactivated?..Make sure the "deactivate" is OFF.. I know this seems backwards, but that's the way it works...

5. Forums...:
...............LBN....Latest Breaking News.. All the particulars are in the HELP ... Briefly, though, The news must be NEW...Bear in mind that this is primarily a political message board, so the news should be political in LBN.. If someone dies, and is not a political figure, that post would be best suited to the Lounge... Please use the actual headline for the subject line.. The post MUST contain a link to the story.. Look before you post, someone may have beaten you to the punch.. If that is the case, just post your new information to THAT one... About the "Crossfire,Hardball,Donahue,Stock Market,Ari the Liar, Chimpy the Stutterer,etc" threads..Be sure you put the date/time so someone does not come here 4 hours after the show and see.."Chimpy on CNN NOW.....example.."Bush..CNN 7/23 1pm EST"

...............Editorial... Please post opinion pieces here.. They can be YOUR opinion pieces that you have written or from columnists.. Please provide links and be aware of copyright issues.. Three or four paragraphs is plenty..

..............General Discussion.... This is the place for threads that call for a lot of commentary and input. These still need to be "linked" if it is in reference to a specific news story..

..............The Lounge.... This is the place to "cut loose" and be silly..Most "rules" are checked at the door. .. Be aware though, that we do have several young posters here and totally tasteless or poprnographic stuff WILL be deleted.. Violators may be spanked, verbally ,at least :evilgrin:

..............Most of the other forums are pretty self- explanatory, but if you ever have a question, please post it to "Ask the Administration" (at the bottom of the forum list)

6. For those of you who donate, and have "search" capabilities, did you know that you can place the headline of what you plan to post...search for it, and if it's already posted, you can just click the link, and add your comments. That cuts way down on duplicates.

7. You can also look for specific posts (donor or not) by clicking on the headings in any forum. The default is "latest posts", but you can click on author, and all the posts will be alphabetical, so if you are looking for something a particular person wrote, it's a breeze..Or you can alphabetize the subject lines...in case you know the name of the thread, but cannot remember when it was posted or who wrote it.

8. There is a thread in the Meeting Room where we all play around with HTML tips and tricks.. It's a great way to ask for help. The thread moves like an iceberg (slow), so it's always there.. It contains links for the 3 previous ones, so pretty much everything you could think of is there..

Helpful hints

Use your "mark" button when you finish in a forum.. This will make all the folders show up as "read".. It will automatically put you back in the lobby so you can check your DU mail if you have any ... When there are new responses to the forum you just "marked" , the little folder icon on the left will be yellow..... ... If you are "done for the day" and have read all you want to, you can go to the lobby and hit "mark all".. When you return, only the "new" posts will show up as yellow folders.

...........Does the word "Nader" send you "over the edge"?? Click this little on any thread, and it goes "bye-bye"..

...........Start reading DU from the bottom, up... All the forums have good "stuff" (to quote fearless leader) in them.. This way you will know if that article you are dying to post has already been posted , too..( We all hate Ann Coulter, but do we really NEED 10 threads all about her?? ):evilgrin:


~~~~~~~~~~~Feel free to post YOUR tips and suggestions, too...... I was here for months before I even knew what the "bookmark" feature was all about..

[JM]

1. There are several you forgot

9) Under no circumstances should you feed the Matcom
10) When entering I/P, please keep your safety bar tightly fastened and keep hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times.
11) Posts in I/P are more vicious than they appear
12) Consuming liquids while reading any Matcom post in the Lounge may result in electrical shock.

JM

[Pale_Rider]

2. When quoting from articles ...

... be sure to use italics (see HTML lookup table)! Sometimes its confusing to discern whether something written is being quoted or not.