Frequently Asked Questions

    Login and Registration Issues

    Why can’t I login?
    There are several reasons why this could occur. First, ensure your username and password are correct. If they are, contact an Executive to make sure you haven’t been banned. It is also possible the website owner has a configuration error on their end, and they would need to fix it.
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    Why do I need to register at all?
    Registration will give you access to features not available to guest users such as participating in board discussions, definable avatar images, private messaging. It only takes a few moments to register so it is recommended you do so.
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    Why do I get logged off automatically?
    If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you login, the board will only keep you logged in for a preset time. This prevents misuse of your account by anyone else. To stay logged in, check the box during login. This is not recommended if you access the board from a shared computer, e.g. library, internet cafe, university computer lab, etc.
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    How do I prevent my username appearing in the online user listings?
    Within your User Control Panel, under “Board preferences”, you will find the option Hide your online status. Enable this option with Yes and you will only appear to the Executives, Directors and yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.
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    I’ve lost my password!
    Don’t panic! While your password cannot be retrieved, it can easily be reset. Visit the login page and click I’ve forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be able to log in again shortly.
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    I registered but cannot login!
    First, check your username and password. If they are correct, then one of two things may have happened. If COPPA support is enabled and you specified being under 13 years old during registration, you will have to follow the instructions you received. New registrations will need to be activated by your before you can login. If you were sent an e-mail, follow the instructions. If you did not receive an e-mail, you may have provided an incorrect e-mail address or the e-mail may have been picked up by a spam filer. If you are sure the e-mail address you provided is correct, try contacting an Executive.
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    I registered in the past but cannot login any more?!
    Check your username and password, if they are correct try contacting an Executive and inform them of the issue you are having.
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    What is COPPA?
    COPPA, or the Child Online Privacy and Protection Act of 1998, is a law in the United States requiring websites which can potentially collect information from minors under the age of 13 to have written parental consent or some other method of legal guardian acknowledgment, allowing the collection of personally identifiable information from a minor under the age of 13. If you are unsure if this applies to you as someone trying to register or to the website you are trying to register on, contact legal counsel for assistance. Please note that the phpBB Group cannot provide legal advice and is not a point of contact for legal concerns of any kind, except as outlined below.
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    Why can’t I register?
    It is possible an Executive has banned your IP address or disallowed the username you are attempting to register with. Contact an Executive for assistance.
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    What does the “Delete all board cookies” do?
    “Delete all board cookies” deletes the cookies created by phpBB which keep you authenticated and logged into the board. It also provides functions such as read tracking if they have been enabled by the board owner. If you are having login or logout problems, deleting board cookies may help.
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    Formatting and Topic Types

    What is BBCode?
    BBCode is a special implementation of HTML, offering great formatting control on particular objects in a post. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML, but tags are enclosed in square brackets [ and ] rather than < and >. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.
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    Can I use HTML?
    No. It is not possible to post HTML on this board and have it rendered as HTML. Most formatting which can be carried out using HTML can be applied using BBCode instead.
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    What are Smilies?
    Smilies, or Emoticons, are small images which can be used to express a feeling using a short code, e.g. :) denotes happy, while :( denotes sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen in the posting form. Try not to overuse smilies, however, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a staff member may edit them out or remove the post altogether.
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    Can I post images?
    Yes, images can be shown in your posts. You may be able to upload the image to the board using the attachments. Otherwise, you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.example.com/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, e.g. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. To display the image use the BBCode [img] tag.
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    What are global announcements?
    Global announcements contain important information and you should read them whenever possible. They will appear at the top of every forum and within your User Control Panel. Global announcements can only be created by senior staff.
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    What are announcements?
    Announcements often contain important information for the forum you are currently reading and you should read them whenever possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. As with global announcements, announcement can only be made by senior staff.
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    What are sticky topics?
    Sticky topics within the forum appear below announcements and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them whenever possible. As with announcements and global announcements, sticky topics can only be created by senior staff.
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    What are locked topics?
    Locked topics are topics where users can no longer reply and any poll it contained was automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons and were set this way by a member of staff.
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    What are topic icons?
    Topic icons are author chosen images associated with posts to indicate their content.
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    Posting

    How do I post a topic in a forum?
    To post a new topic in a forum, click the relevant button on either the forum or topic screens. You may need to register before you can post a message. A list of your permissions in each forum is available at the bottom of the forum and topic screens. Example: You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc.
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    How do I edit or delete a post?
    Unless you are an executive or director, you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the edit button for the relevant post, sometimes for only a limited time after the post was made. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic which lists the number of times you edited it along with the date and time. This will only appear if someone has made a reply; it will not appear if a director or executive edited the post, though they may leave a note as to why they’ve edited the post at their own discretion. Please note that normal users cannot delete a post once someone has replied.
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    How do I add a signature to my post?
    To add a signature to a post you must first create one via your User Control Panel. Once created, you can check the Attach a signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can also add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio button in your profile. If you do so, you can still prevent a signature being added to individual posts by un-checking the add signature box within the posting form.
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    How do I create a poll?
    When posting a new topic or editing the first post of a topic, click the “Poll creation” tab below the main posting form. Enter a title and at least two options in the appropriate fields, making sure each option is on a separate line in the textarea. You can also set the number of options users may select during voting under “Options per user”, a time limit in days for the poll (0 for infinite duration) and lastly the option to allow users to amend their votes.
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    Why can’t I add more poll options?
    The limit for poll options is set by the executives. If you feel you need to add more options to your poll than the allowed amount, contact an executive.
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    How do I edit or delete a poll?
    As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a director or an executive. To edit a poll, click to edit the first post in the topic; this always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote, users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if members have already placed votes, only directors or executives can edit or delete it. This prevents the poll’s options from being changed mid-way through a poll.
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    Why can’t I access a forum?
    Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post or perform another action you may need special permissions. Contact a director or executive if you believe that you should be granted access.
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    Why can’t I add attachments?
    Attachment permissions are granted on a per forum, per group, or per user basis. The executives may not have allowed attachments to be added for the specific forum you are posting in, or perhaps only certain groups can post attachments. Contact an executive if you are unsure about why you are unable to add attachments.
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    What attachments are allowed on this board?
    Executives can allow or disallow certain attachment types. If you are unsure what is allowed to be uploaded, contact an executive for assistance.
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    How do I find all my attachments?
    To find your list of attachments that you have uploaded, go to your User Control Panel and follow the links to the attachments section.
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    Why did I receive a warning?
    If you have received a warning a member of staff should have sent you a PM about this. Most likely you have broken one of the site rules. Contact a member of the senior staff if you are unsure about why you were issued a warning.
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    I have found a suspicious post/thread, what should I do?
    If you believe that a post is spam or just suspicious please report it to the staff and we will look into it next time we are on.
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    How can I report posts to staff?
    You should see a button for reporting posts next to the post you wish to report. Clicking this will walk you through the steps necessary to report the post.
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    What is the “Save” button for in topic posting?
    This allows you to save passages to be completed and submitted at a later date. To reload a saved passage, visit the User Control Panel.
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    Why does my post need to be approved?
    The executives may have decided that posts in the forum you are posting to require review before submission. It is also possible that an executive has placed you in a group of users whose posts require review before submission. Please contact an executive for further details.
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    How do I bump my topic?
    By clicking the “Bump topic” link when you are viewing it, you can “bump” the topic to the top of the forum on the first page. However, if you do not see this, then topic bumping may be disabled or the time allowance between bumps has not yet been reached. It is also possible to bump the topic simply by replying to it, however, be sure to follow the board rules when doing so.
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    Can I reply to old threads?
    Of course you can!
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    Can I have a thread dedicated to my pet?
    Yes. As some members already have done, you can create a thread dedicated to sharing information about your beloved companions in the Petting Zoo.
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    Why can't I view posts in the Display Cabinet?
    For security reasons, new members cannot view the site's Display Cabinet (creative area) until they have made at least three posts.
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    Why Can't I View the Exhibition Centre?
    Newly registered users (those who have made less than three posts) cannot view the Exhibition Centre for security reasons - we want to make sure that members are here to have fun and make new friendships, not to steal other people's creations.
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    Searching the Forums

    How can I search a forum or forums?
    Enter a search term in the search box located on the index, forum or topic pages. Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the “Advance Search” link which is available on all pages on the forum. How to access the search may depend on the style used.
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    Why does my search return no results?
    Your search was probably too vague and included many common terms which are not indexed by phpBB3. Be more specific and use the options available within Advanced search.
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    Why does my search return a blank page!?
    Your search returned too many results for the webserver to handle. Use “Advanced search” and be more specific in the terms used and forums that are to be searched.
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    How do I search for members?
    Visit the Memberlist page and click the “Find a member” link.
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    How can I find my own posts and topics?
    Your own posts can be retrieved either by clicking the “Search user’s posts” within the User Control Panel or via your own profile page. To search for your topics, use the Advanced search page and fill in the various options appropriately.
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    Why doesn't the search feature work?
    It has come to the attention of the staff that there may be errors with the search feature, and we believe that it may have become confused after the recent events. We are looking into this and seeing about fixing it.
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    User Preferences and settings

    How do I change my settings?
    If you are a registered user, all your settings are stored in the board database. To alter them, visit your User Control Panel; a link can usually be found at the top of board pages. This system will allow you to change all your settings and preferences.
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    The times are not correct!
    It is possible the time displayed is from a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, visit your User Control Panel and change your timezone to match your particular area, e.g. London, Paris, New York, Sydney, etc. Please note that changing the timezone, like most settings, can only be done by registered users. If you are not registered, this is a good time to do so.
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    I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
    If you are sure you have set the timezone and Summer Time/DST correctly and the time is still incorrect, then the time stored on the server clock is incorrect. Please notify an Executive to correct the problem.
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    My language is not in the list!
    At this time the Executives have decided that the site will only be available in English.
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    How do I show an image along with my username?
    There are two images which may appear along with a username when viewing posts. One of them is an image associated with your rank, indicating your status on the board. Another, larger image, is known as an avatar or icon and is generally unique or personal to each user. Registered users are able to either choose an avatar from the gallery or upload their own.
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    What is my rank and how do I change it?
    You have two: one is the usergroup that you are a part of (e.g. member), and the second is dictated by how many posts you have. You cannot change your usergroup except when you reach 1000 posts and become a post whore, but the second you can change by posting (all though posts made in the Playpen don't count). You can find your rank by clicking on your username and viewing your profile. It will also appear underneath your avatar on your mini profile, next to your posts.
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    What are the ranks?
    n00b - 0 posts New Bee - 1 post Member - 20 posts Established - 50 posts Fanatical - 100 posts Infatuated - 500 posts Obsessed - 1000 posts Legend - 2000 posts Royalty - 5000 posts Immortal 10,000 posts
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    When I click the e-mail link for a user it asks me to login?
    Only registered users can send e-mail to other users via the built-in e-mail form, and only if the executive has enabled this feature. This is to prevent malicious use of the e-mail system by anonymous users.
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    User Levels and Groups

    Who is the Board Founder?
    Krissy. The board founder is the person who created the site. Although the site was created by Krissy, we also count Sapph/Fayth as a board founder as if it wasn't for her Artificial Sweetener would never have been created.
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    What are Executives?
    Executives, also known as administrators, are members assigned with the highest level of control over the entire board. These members can control all facets of board operation, including setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or assigning staff, etc.. They also have full moderating capabilities in all forums. The executives were chosen by the board founder due to their dedication to the site.

    The executives are Krissy, Sapph/Fayth, Juels, and Chelle.
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    What are Directors?
    Directors, also known as global moderators, are members who look after the forums from day to day. They have the authority to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics. Moderators are present to prevent users from going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material. They assist the executives with taking care of the whole forum.

    The director is Aurora/Rachael.
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    What does "Senior Staff" mean?
    The senior staff are the staff members in the highest ranks of staff. This includes the executives and directors. The senior staff are in charge of taking care of the site as a whole. If you have any issues or concerns the senior staff are the best people to contact, as there is usually one of us around checking on the site.
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    How do I become a staff member?
    You can only become a staff member if one of the Executives assign you to a position here. At the moment there are no vacancies we are looking to be filled, but when we are hiring again an announcement will be made which we encourage all members to consider applying for if they have the time. All staff positions are discussed between the senior staff so that we can all agree on who will best suit the position we are after.
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    I noticed someone is no longer staff/I used to be staff, why have I been demoted?
    Reasons why staff have been demoted and staff have chosen to step down are confidential and stay between the senior staff and the member involved. If you have been demoted you will have received a PM from an Executive explaining why, which you are welcome to respond to again via PM.
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    What is the “Meet the Staff” page?
    This page provides you with a list of site's staff, providing you with information about them including their names, interests, and favourite things.
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    What are Post Whores?
    Post Whores are members who have made over 1000 posts here. When you reach 1000 posts your rank should change from member to post whore. If it doesn't please contact a senior staff member.
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    What are usergroups?
    Usergroups are groups of users that divide the community into manageable sections executives can work with. Each user can belong to several groups and each group can be assigned individual permissions. This provides an easy way for executives to change permissions for many users at once, such as changing moderator permissions or granting users access to a private forum.
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    Where are the usergroups and how do I join one?
    You can view all usergroups via the “Usergroups” link within your User Control Panel. If you would like to join one, proceed by clicking the appropriate button. Not all groups have open access, however. Some may require approval to join, some may be closed and some may even have hidden memberships. If the group is open, you can join it by clicking the appropriate button. If a group requires approval to join you may request to join by clicking the appropriate button. An executive will need to approve your request and may ask why you want to join the group. Please do not harass them if they reject your request; they will have their reasons.
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    How do I become a usergroup leader?
    At this time you cannot become a leader of a usergroup.
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    Why do some usergroups appear in a different colour?
    The executives have assigned a colour to the members of different usergroups to make it easy to identify the members of this group.
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    What is a “Default usergroup”?
    If you are a member of more than one usergroup, your default is used to determine which group colour and group rank should be shown for you by default. The executives will determine which your default usergroup is.
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    Private Messaging

    I cannot send private messages!
    There are three reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, the executive has disabled private messaging for the entire board, or the executive has prevented you from sending messages. Contact an executive for more information.
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    I keep getting unwanted private messages!
    You can block a user from sending you private messages by using message rules within your User Control Panel. If you are receiving abusive private messages from a particular user, inform a senior staff member; and they will take further action to help prevent that user from continuing to abuse you and the private message system.
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    I have received a spamming or abusive e-mail from someone on this board!
    We are sorry to hear that. The e-mail form feature of this board includes safeguards to try and track users who send such posts, so e-mail the board founder with a full copy of the e-mail you received. It is very important that this includes the headers that contain the details of the user that sent the e-mail. The executives can then take action.
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    What are my Friends and Foes lists?
    You can use these lists to organise other members of the board. Members added to your friends list will be listed within your User Control Panel for quick access to see their online status and to send them private messages. Subject to template support, posts from these users may also be highlighted. If you add a user to your foes list, any posts they make will be hidden by default.
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    How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?
    You can add users to your list in two ways. Within each user’s profile, there is a link to add them to either your Friend or Foe list. Alternatively, from your User Control Panel, you can directly add users by entering their member name. You may also remove users from your list using the same page.
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    Hot Seat

    What is the "Hot Seat"?
    The Hot Seat is a forum where you can get to know your fellow members. If you don't already have a thread in there, create a thread, and members will be able to ask you questions. Or just reply to one of the existing threads and ask one of the members a question. You can, of course, not answer a question if you wish. It's entirely up to you what you answer, just as it's up to the other members what they ask you.
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    What should I call my thread?
    Whatever you like.
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    So it doesn't have to have the words "Hot Seat" in it?
    No. Not unless you want it to.
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    What can I ask the other members?
    Whatever you like, within reason. Please try not to ask questions which are too morbid in topic, this may upset some people. If you're unsure if your question is too morbid, either ask someone for a second opinion, or go with something else. Where it is possible, also try to relate your question to the member you're asking (for instance, don't ask someone that doesn't write about a film they'd re-write if they could, or someone that doesn't like rock music about their favourite rock band).
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    Can I ask everyone the same question?
    No. If you ask several members the same question, this comes under spamming.
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    Do I have to answer questions that I'm asked?
    No. You're perfectly within your rights to refuse to answer any questions that you are asked.
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    Why are some hot seat threads locked?
    The staff close hot seats if it has been 6 months or more since that member has been online. If your hot seat has been closed PM one of the Executives or Directors and they will open it for you.
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    phpBB 3 Issues

    Who wrote this bulletin board?
    This software (in its unmodified form) is produced, released and is copyright phpBB Group. It is made available under the GNU General Public License and may be freely distributed. See the link for more details.
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    Why isn’t X feature available?
    This software was written by and licensed through phpBB Group. If you believe a feature needs to be added, please visit the phpbb.com website and see what phpBB Group have to say. Please do not post feature requests to the board at phpbb.com, the group uses SourceForge to handle tasking of new features. Please read through the forums and see what, if any, our position may already be for a feature and then follow the procedure given there.
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    Who do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?
    Any of the executives listed on the Meet the Staff page should be an appropriate point of contact for your complaints. If this still gets no response then you should contact the owner of the domain (do a whois lookup) or, if this is running on a free service (e.g. Yahoo!, free.fr, f2s.com, etc.), the management or abuse department of that service. Please note that the phpBB Group has absolutely no jurisdiction and cannot in any way be held liable over how, where or by whom this board is used. Do not contact the phpBB Group in relation to any legal (cease and desist, liable, defamatory comment, etc.) matter not directly related to the phpBB.com website or the discrete software of phpBB itself. If you do e-mail phpBB Group about any third party use of this software then you should expect a terse response or no response at all.
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    Miscellaneous

    Why Can't I Post in the Chatbox?
    Newly registered users (those with less than three posts) cannot post in the chatbox. If you are not a newly registered user but cannot post in it, please PM an executive.
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    What/Who is "George"?
    George was Krissy's (Aurelia's) dog from 2007 until 2010. Sadly, he died of a tumour underneath his heart aged three. The account was set up before his death as a judging account for contests that require anonymous voting, such as the Member Awards, and we kept it active to preserve his memory and continue to use it for some contests.
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    Who is Fayth/Faythire/Sapph/Sapphire?
    Fayth (real name Sapphire) is the co-owner of the site and was close friends with several of the members. Without her the site would not have been created, but sadly, she is no longer with us. We keep her account open and as an executive in her memory.
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    I believe that someone is breaking the rules, what should I do?
    If you believe that a member is breaking the rules, please PM an Executive with the details and we will look into it for you.
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    What happened to the...?
    Recent events in May 2012 caused many of the features to be lost. This includes many of the styles, gallery, arcade, and other MODS. Please check this thread for an explanation & list of features which were lost.

    At this point the staff are trying to put the site back together to what it formally was, however this will take some time so please bear with us. The gallery however will not be returning.
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    I have found an error or issue with the site, what should I do?
    As it mentions in the rules, please check our Facebook and Twitter pages and your email inbox before you report it; it may well be a work in progress. When reporting issues and errors please post in the Spotlight, or PM a staff member, but please remember that this may mean that it takes longer for you to receive a reply. Any issues which are posted elsewhere on the site may be missed so please do not post things in other boards and threads.
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    My question wasn't answered here, what should I do?
    If you are a member, just PM your question to one of the senior staff members and they will be happy to help you out. If you are a guest you will need to register first to be able to ask one of us a question.
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