How to get around on this site without losing your mind

RedStateGreen

DO NOT post any personal identifiers on the open boards, ie: real name, address, telephone number, personal email address, place of employment, etc. We have NO way of protecting the information. This board is read by people all over the world, by governments, by news agencies, and other posters. If you wish to exchange info, please do it by PM if you are certain the person receiving it is okay. We cannot provide any personal information, nor can we be responsible for information that you provide to others. The Staff.

Welcome to Peak Oil.com!
Here are some answers to basic questions that will make your time here more enjoyable:
1) I just got here, what do I do first?
a) Read the Code of Conduct. You will be expected to follow it while you're here.
b) Introduce yourself in the Welcome forum. This is the forum that you're in. Introductions in other forums will be moved to the Welcome forum.

2) I have an urgent question, who can I ask?
We realize that your situation is unique and your question urgent. However, your question most likely has been answered numerous times in the last four years. To help reduce bandwidth and keep this site functional, we ask that you please use the Search function for this site before making a new topic.

At the top of every page is the Search function. At the top, it's below the Google search box. Another link is in the sidebar to the left:

When you hit the Search link, you should come to this page:

Follow the directions and hit the "Search" button at the bottom.
If you get too many threads, try searching again, using the "Search thread topic only" option under "Search previous", there to the right of the search box.

If you do not get any threads answering your question, try using different keywords.

If this still does not answer your question, go to the forum list and determine in which forum your question belongs. Make sure your question belongs in the forum by reading the forum descriptions and any notes at the top of the forum (most of these are marked READ THIS FIRST) before posting.

If you're still not sure which forum your topic belongs to, posting it in the Open Discussion thread is the best bet. Threads posted in the wrong forum will be moved.

2a) I found a thread that looks right, but it's ancient. Is it okay to post in it?
Yes! Please do! Posting in old threads is welcomed. This keeps all the information on a particular topic in one place. Post away!

3) I just found the PERFECT news item/speech/video/cartoon, can I post it?
Please use the search function first to make sure no one else has posted the item already. We often have numerous postings of the same article, which leads to confusion and waste of the moderators' time in merging these threads.

Check the date on the item. The older the news item, video, or speech is, the more likely someone has posted it a dozen times here already.

4) How do I post, add pictures, etc?
The Forum FAQ, next to the "Search" function, answers those kind of questions. If you have other difficulties, visit the Forum Tutorial or ask your question in the Technical Support forum.

5) How do I quote someone else's post?
By using the 'quote' button at the upper right of the 'posting' screen. Please do not quote the entire post; remove the part you are not replying to that lies in between the [ quote ] and [ /quote ] tags (extra spaces inserted so as not to 'quote' anyone Laughing

)

The Code of Conduct forbids quoting a whole news article. Only quote a few paragraphs at most.

Also, do not use the 'quote' function unless you need to. Excessive quotes make the thread overly long and difficult to read.

6) My links, pictures, etc. are coming out too big, and people are yelling at me! What do I do?
Don't paste long links into your post. Instead, use the link button on the second row at the top of your post screen (it looks like a little earth with a chain below it). Ferretlover has also posted directions for manually posting a link below.

Pictures can be reduced to manageable size using photo manipulation software such as Paint, Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, or other similar tools, many of which come standard on commercial computers. If you don't have access to one of these, posting a link to the picture is the best choice.

7) I don't believe peak oil is going to be that bad. In fact, I found this new technology that will make everything better. Should I post about it?

We welcome all kinds of posts. You may want to use the Search function to make sure your item has not been already discussed. Remember also that this is a forum to discuss peak oil -- your post may not be fully appreciated by other members.

The administration has graciously provided a new forum for those who feel that other technologies will mitigate or entirely erase the effects of peak oil called "Cornucopians Only". To sign up for this forum, hit the "Usergroups" link to the right of the "Search" link at the top of the forum, then choose the group from the drop-down menu.

7a.) I think (we might be in trouble / the end is near). Are there usergroups for me?
In the interest of balance, there are usergroup forums for "Moderates" and "Doomers" as well. Come on down! Very Happy

8 ) Something's not working! I can't (post, insert links, edit, get to my messages, etc.)
Go to the Technical Support forum and post your problem there. It may be that others are having the same problem.

Posting advice from Ferretlover:
* Remember to check your PMs (private mesages).

* Once in a while you will run across a locked thread. There are several reasons for locking a thread, the most common being a Lot of pages. You cannot post in a locked thread, but you can read it, and copy-n-paste something to bring up or add to in another thread. If you start reading a long thread, and don't have time to finish it in one sitting, copy the URL address. When you have time to return to reading that thread, just insert the copied URL, and you will go back to where you left off.

* Don't post in all caps. That is considered yelling, and irritates the heck out of everyone.

* Please don't hit the enter button two or more times after each sentence. It makes the posts difficult to read and is a waste of precious bandwidth. The enter button is also NOT an exclamation point. If you feel a 'consumerism frenzy' ("I Must Consume space") coming on, please do it in the Real World.

* When quoting a previous post: When the screen comes up for you to type in your response, you have the option of deleting any portions on which you are not responding. Please do so. There are no contests for the most reposted quotes.

* Please remember that this is a discussion site. Agree with, refute or attack ideas, NOT the poster.

There are two ways to hyperlink (that I know of):
1. Have the url address handy; click on the greenish ball with the chain link below it. A Script Prompt box should appear. Paste the URL address you have handy over the top of the http:// that appears there. Click ok. Then, the box will appear again. Erase the "webpagename" words and write a name for your link. Click ok.
NOTE: If you get a box that says, "Error. You didn't write the URL. You didn't write the page name," you have something engaged (pop-up blocker?). Click ok. Then, somewhere at the top of your screen, a temporary 'permission' line will appear. Something like "This website is using a scripted window to ask you for information. If you trust this website, click here to allow scripted windows." Click it, and then the above mentioned box should appear. (If it doesn't, your are on your own-I am not that computer savvy!).
2. Paste your URL into your post. At the front of it, type [url=
The http part should immediately follow the equal sign-no space.
At the end of your URL address, type: ]link[/url]
First bracket, in front of the word, link, must immediately follow the end of the URL address-no space.
Where the word, link, is is where you put the name of your link. Or, you can just use link, or article, or story--you get the picture.
If you want to post an URL that starts with www, just add the http:// to the front of it, then follow the directions above.

Posting advice from TheDude:
Don't try and post text with foreign language characters such as umlauts or grave accents. For example, these are Os with umlauts:

If you use foreign language characters, the server will refuse to accept your post.

There are a couple ways to keep track of what's been posted lately:

* By selecting the link at the top of each page labeled View posts since last visit

* By using the Last 24 Hours link in the sidebar.

TheDude and Steam_Cannon have created a little thread on Posting Tips you might be interested in.

This page is under construction. If you have other basic forum-wide questions, this is the place to add them!

Wren · Tar Sands Joined: Apr 30, 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Oregon

Thank you. This was very helpful for me.

RedStateGreen

cipi604

RedStateGreen · Last edited by RedStateGreen on Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:18 pm; edited 1 time in total

biofuel13

How do I get my signature to appear in/under my posts? Apparently I need to type it in html coding? I'm not sure how to do that.

wisconsin_cur

biofuel13

'Sconnie Cur--

Yeah I already have my quote entered on my account page, but it never seems to appear on my posts. I guess this is the typical outcome of two Wisconsin guys trying to figure out a computer problem. We stand around, shrug, and then go drink some beer. Laughing

wisconsin_cur

biofuel13

biofuel13

Problem fixed. I owe ya a 6-pack of Pabst! Thanks!
_________________
"With man gone will there be hope for gorilla? With gorilla gone will there be hope for man?" --Ishmael by D. Quinn

Mominator · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 26, 2008 Posts: 106 Location: FL

Question:
On some forums where I'm active it seems a little bit of a faux pas to bump really old threads. In the interest of not starting threads with topics that were already discussed (perhaps ad nauseum) is it OK to bump the old thread if I still have a question after reading it? Would it be preferrable to start a new thread and referrence the old one?
TIA Smile

_________________
~Laura

"If you weren't smart enough to plan ahead then Doom on you!" ~Dodo bird

wisconsin_cur

Ferretlover