Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to register?
Registration is required if you plan to post new topics or reply to existing topics. Registration will allow you to upload files and to use the upload/download file manager. Registration is free, and you are not required to post your real name. You are required to post your actual email address, however.
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What are user titles?
Each registered member has a title that reflects his or her "rank" on this board. Administrators are given the title "Administrator". Moderators are given the title "Moderator". Some members are given special titles by the administration. All other users are given their titles based on the number of posts they have made:
Posts |
Title |
0 |
Baby Smurf |
20 |
Smurfling |
150 |
Smurf |
400 |
Super Smurf |
1000 |
Blue Believer |
2000 |
Blue Buddy |
User titles are also known as Member Status titles. Sometimes, board administrators or moderators may change a user title in recognition of a person's special status on the BBS, or as a friendly reward for good deeds. Such user title changes are at the sole discretion of SmurfBBS administrators.
User titles are also sometimes changed by board administrators and moderators to help keep track of people who change their Public Name often. In this case, the user title lists all of the previous Public Names so other users can keep track of who's who.
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How do I use HTML and UBB Code?
You can use HTML and/or UBB Code in your posts. You may use any HTML tags, but please be very careful that you use proper HTML syntax. If you do not, the moderator or administrator may have to edit your post. UBB Code is similar to HTML, but offers just a few basic functions, such as hyperlinking, image display, bolding and italicizing. Complete details on UBB Code are listed here.
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How can I use smilies?
Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This message board automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical representation, which we call graemlins. You can use our Instant Graemlins buttons for automatic generation. For example, if you type :o in your post, it will automatically be converted to - a shameful face. The following graemlins are currently supported:
:)
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Smile
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:(
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Frown
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:o
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Confused
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:D
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Big Grin
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;)
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Wink
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:p
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Razz
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:cool:
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Cool
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:rolleyes:
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Roll Eyes
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:mad:
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Mad
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:eek:
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Eek!
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:confused:
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Embarrassed
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:yum:
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yum!
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:gnap:
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GNAP!
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:santa:
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Santa Smurf
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:ahar:
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Pirate Smurf
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:football:
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Football Smurf
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:grad:
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Graduate Smurf
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:gargamel:
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Gargamel
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:azrael:
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Azrael
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:smurfette:
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Smurfette
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:halo:
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Angel Smurf
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:vanity:
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Vanity Smurf
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:techno:
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Techno Smurf
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:swoof:
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Swoof
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:astro:
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Astro Smurf
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:king:
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King Smurf
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:zzz:
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Sleeping Smurf
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:hearts:
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Enamored Smurf
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:clown:
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Clown Smurf
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:wild:
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Wild Smurf
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:viking:
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Viking Smurf
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:sassette:
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Sassette Smurfling
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:happy:
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Happy Smurf
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:tut:
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King Tut Smurf
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:unclesam:
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Uncle Sam
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:scuba:
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Scuba Smurf
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What are moderators?
Moderators control individual forums. They can edit, delete, or prune any posts in their forums. If you have a question about a particular forum, you should direct it to your forum moderator.
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How can I change my registration profile?
You may easily change any info stored in your registration profile, using the "private msgs/ profile" link located near the top of each page. You must be logged in in order to update your profile.
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How can I clear all cookies set on this board?
If you ever experience login problems, you may have a problem with the cookies that have been set in your browser. If this happens, you can try clearing all cookies set on this message board by clicking here
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What do those icons next to each topic mean?
These icons provide information on the state of each topic:
New Posts |
Old Posts |
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![[new] [new]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/closedb.gif) |
![[old] [old]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/closed.gif) |
An open topic |
![[new] [new]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/bang.gif) |
![[old] [old]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/bang.gif) |
An important topic |
![[new] [new]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/poll_new.gif) |
![[old] [old]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/poll_old.gif) |
An open poll |
![[new hot] [new hot]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/hotclosedb.gif) |
![[old hot] [old hot]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/hotclosed.gif) |
Topic with more than 15 replies |
![[new closed] [new closed]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/moved_new.gif) |
![[old closed] [old closed]](https://bluebuddies.com/ubb/moved_old.gif) |
A moved topic or poll |
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Can I use a signature?
You may use a signature (commonly used in email messages) on your posts. You may set your signature in your member profile. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose to include it with any post you make by checking the "include signature" box when you create your post. This message board's administrator may elect to turn the signature feature off at any time, however. If that is the case, the "include signature" option will not appear when you post a note, even if you have stored a signature. You may change your signature at any time by changing your profile, unless a message board administrator locks your profile.
Note: You may not use HTML in your signature file, but you may use UBB Code. Note that the board administrator may disable the UBB Code Image tag.
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Can I attach files?
Files may be attached to posts using the upload / download file manager. For help uploading and downloading files, read the Smurf Picture & File Upload help files. You may also cut and paste text into your post and use HTML and/or UBB Code to provide hyperlinks to outside documents.
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Can I search?
You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, by a particular registered member, by date, and/or by forum. Just click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.
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What are member ratings?
Members may rate each other. Only registered members may be rated and they can only be rated by other members.
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What are private messages?
Private messages are one-to-one communications that can only be read by the recipient. You can read private messages in your profile section. You can also elect to be notified by email whenever someone sends you a private message (you can set this in your profile).
To send someone a private message, look for the private message icon on a post a person creates. You can also send a private message through the person's member profile page.
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Are there any censor features?
The message board administrators have the power to censor certain words that may be posted. This censoring is not an exact science, however, so certain words may be censored out of context. Please realize that the censoring, if any censoring is being performed, is being done by a computer based on the words that are being screened. Words that are censored are replaced with asterisks.
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What do I do if I forget my login ID and/or password?
Retrieving your login ID and password is simple, assuming that email features are turned on for this message board. 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.
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Can I be notified by email if someone responds to my topic?
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 when creating a new topic, if you want to use this feature. Only registered members can use this feature.
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What are posting icons?
Depending on the configuration of your forums, you may be able 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. If you do not see icons, your forum administrator may not be allowing icons on this particular forum. (Thanks to Kombat03 for the icon idea!)
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How do the new post images work?
Every time you begin browsing the board, a cookie is set in your browser containing the date and time. When you return later, this cookie is read, and the date in the cookie is compared to the last post time of each topic. If the topic has had new posts since you last visited the board, it will be marked with a "new" icon. Use this link to update the new post indicators. (You may also find the update link on your "my profile" page.)
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What are Avatar Images?
Avatar Images are small images that users may choose that represent themselves. Like signatures, a user's avatar is displayed with each post he or she makes. You may choose an avatar by editing your profile.
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Can I upload an Avatar Image of my own?
Yes, you can upload your own avatar. Go to the Private Msgs / Profile page and choose "Select a Different Avatar Image". From there you can upload an avatar and select it for use on the board.
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Can I get email notification of replies to topics I'm interested in?
Yes, you may. When making a full reply to a topic, check the "Email Notification: emails sent to you whenever someone replies." option, located below the Instant Graemlins / Instant UBB Code™ boxes.
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Can I view a list of topics I've subscribed to?
You can find the list of topics, and manage your subscripions from your Edit Topic Notifications page. (You may also find a link to this page on your "my profile" page.)
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What is Quick Reply?
Quick Reply allows you to add a reply to an open topic without leaving the topic itself. At the bottom of each topic will be a field in which you may write your reply. Once you are done, you may post the reply directly, preview the post (if allowed by the administration), or move the post to the normal reply page. If you do not wish to use Quick Reply, you may turn it off by editing your preferences - click the "my profile" link at the top of the page, then click the Edit Preferences link.
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How do I create new polls?
To create a new poll, click the "New Poll" button available inside of a forum: . If the button is not visible, then polling is disabled in that forum.
Creating a new poll starts like creating a new topic - you must provide a topic subject, and a message for the post.
The polling system on this board allows you to place multiple questions in a single poll. Each question may have multiple options for users to choose from. While creating the poll, you will need to decide the number of questions to ask, and the number of options each question will have.
Once you have posted your poll, you can not return to edit it. You will be able to preview the poll, and return to make changes before the poll has been posted.
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How do I vote in a poll?
To vote in a poll, click the button inside of a poll topic. Please note that the administrator may choose to restrict certain users from voting in polls, and you may not have permission to vote as a result.
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What is the "Blue Arrow" at the top of each topic?
When you visit a topic, you may see a blue arrow icon ( ) at the top of the page. If you click on this icon, or the link next to it, you will be taken to the first new post made since you last started browsing the board. If there have been no new posts in that topic since you last started browsing the board, you will be taken to the last post in the topic instead. Note that this feature may be disabled by the board administration.
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How will I be notified when I have received a private message?
An icon ( ) and a message will be displayed below the "log out" link at the top of most pages.
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What is the Smurf Community Directory?
The Smurf Community Directory is a searchable, browsable list of all of the members on this community. On the Directory page, you may find members based on certain information that each member has provided in his or her public profile. To use the Smurf Community Directory, click the "smurf community" link at the top of this page.
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What is the Member of the Moment?
The Member of the Moment is a box that may be displayed on the Community Directory page. Every hour, a new Member of the Moment is chosen and displayed on the Community Directory page. The selection is completely random, and is not controlled by the board administration.
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