Member FAQ

The purpose of this sticky topic is to inform members. If you're not a member and never want to become one don't waste your time reading this. It basically addresses cookie concerns and instant messaging options.

COOKIES:
This forum uses two cookies to mark which posts are new to you (or were changed in the last 30 days, after that they are marked as new again) and to enable instant messaging and other member services. They not shared with marketeers. The information they contain only helps you use this forum and serves no evil purpose. OK?

When you logout you effectively remove both cookies from your system. If you don't want to have to enter your user name and password every time you visit, don't log out and you won't have to.

INSTANT MESSAGING:
Members can (and infrequent ones perhaps should) change their IM preferences for "notify by e-mail" to YES. Changing the default NO to YES does not compromise any privacy features, it just instantly sends the text of each IM you receive as an e-mail from yourself to yourself. (You still reply via IM.) I hope that makes sense... You don't need to login just to check IMs.

You can also refuse instant messages from any or all members via an Ignore List. (There may be various reasons why a member would choose to do this but at least the sender will basically be told the message could not be sent and they won't ask me if the IM system is broken...)

To modify your default IM preferences click on "Hey, (member), you have - messages" (top right on any page). Then click on "Preferences" (just above and to the right of "Subject" and a bit hard to see so maybe it's all my fault in the first place). The rest should be self explanatory and you can even IM yourself to test it.

BTW:
IMO this is "our" forum not only mine. I appointed myself moderator because I intend to keep it clean just like any campsite I spend time at. We all share that responsibility in that we choose what we think is beneficial to others and we can all edit our own posts and/or IM any member privately. If anyone wants to share moderator responsibilities just say the word.

On a related note for any member still reading:
I recently received a message I want to share because I love the metaphor and, like I said, this is ours so it reflects on each of us.
" ...is a rushing river that sweeps away every thread in a day or two... Yours is a placid lake where I can just relax and drift along soaking up everyone's reflections..."

thanks db,
that did answer a lot of questions

db,
I have to tell you the changes you made to the Discussion Forum have all been great.  Even though I am only using a small part of what it offers, it is quick and convenient.  I especially like the "Last 10 Posts" feature.

Did you have to buy this software or do you have programmer friends who help you with it?  Perhaps it is your so called life when earning a way back to the real world of canoeing the Q/BW.  It has to  take some serious chunks of time and money, and I appreciate it...a lot.

Thanks,
dwight

Thanks-
I assume you are referring to the "10 most recent posts... forum" which is nice in a way but it's also deceiving. It's a per topic overview, meaning if three people post to the same topic it will only show the most recent one and ignore the other two. I've actually been thinking about removing or at least rewording that link. (someday)

OTOH-
My feeble brain loves the "show the last ten posts from this person" feature. Since we all read (hear) what we want to and people come and go only to resurface again later, someone's posting history offers valuable insight regarding credibility and the weight that any one post should be given. "Anonymous" always means no name no point - why bother. IMHO

The code behind this board was time consuming for a self taught hack like myself to modify and implement but it started as "open source" (freely offered for personal use). After all that work, paying to remove the credit link to the YaBB folks did cross my mind but my wallet just laaaaughed and laaaaughed and laaaaughed. Even PBS has commercials these days and since the idea behind QuietJourney basically mirrors the idea behind open source, leaving the credit seemed like the right thing to do. YaBB - Yet another Bulletin Board

You're welcome.