| FAQ Table of Contents |
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 Registering |
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Registration is not required to view current topics on the Forum; however, if you wish to post a new topic or reply to an existing topic registration is required. Registration is free and only takes a few minutes. The only required fields are your Username, which may be your real name or a nickname, a password, a valid e-mail address and a simple authentication code (see below). After you register a confirmation email is sent to the address you designate to activate your account so please enter this address carefully.
The information you provide during registration is not outsourced or used for any advertising by Skeptic Friends Network. Your personal privacy is important to us and we will never sell your personal information!
If you believe someone is sending you advertisements as a result of the information you provided through your registration, please notify us immediately.
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| Authentication Code |
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The Authentication Code is a simple code word that you need to enter in order to successfully register for this forum. Entering this code is a necessary action to combat spam and automatic (webbot) registrations.
The Authentication Code is SFN4EVER
We apologize for this inconvenience.
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| Smilies |
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You've probably seen others use smilies before in e-mail messages or other bulletin
board posts. Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an emotion, such as a smile
 or a frown
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automatically converts certain text to a graphical representation when it is
inserted between brackets []. Here are the smilies that are currently
supported by Skeptic Friends Network:
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smile |
[:)] |
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big smile |
[:D] |
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cool |
[8D] |
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blush |
[:I] |
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tongue |
[:p] |
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evil |
[}:)] |
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wink |
[;)] |
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clown |
[:o)] |
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black eye |
[B)] |
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eightball |
[8] |
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frown |
[:(] |
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shy |
[8)] |
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shocked |
[:0] |
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angry |
[:(!] |
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dead |
[xx(] |
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sleepy |
[|)] |
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kisses |
[:X] |
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approve |
[^] |
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disapprove |
[V] |
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question |
[?] |
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| Creating a Hyperlink in your message |
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You can easily add a hyperlink to your message.
All that you need to do is type the URL (http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/), and it will automatically be converted to a URL (http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/)!
The trick here is to make sure you prefix your URL with the http://, https:// or file://
You can also add a mailto link to your message by typing in your e-mail address.
This Example:
david_gluck@skepticfriends.org
Outputs this:
david_gluck@skepticfriends.org
Another way to add hyperlinks is to use the [url]linkto[/url] tags
This Example:
[url]http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/[/url] takes you home!
Outputs This:
http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/ takes you home!
If you use this tag: [url="linkto"]description[/url] you can add a description to the link.
This Example:
Take me to [url="http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/"]Skeptic Friends Network[/url]
Outputs This:
Take me to Skeptic Friends Network
This Example:
If you have a question [url="david_gluck@skepticfriends.org"]E-Mail Me[/url]
Outputs This:
If you have a question E-Mail Me
You can make clickable images by combining the [url="linkto"]description[/url] and [img]image_url[/img] tags
This Example:
[url="http://www.skepticfriends.org/forum/"][img]headerBG_left.jpg[/img][/url]
Outputs This:
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| How to format text with Bold, Italic, Quote, etc... |
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There are several Forum Codes you may use to change the appearance
of your text. Following is the list of codes currently available:
Bold: Enclose your text with [b] and [/b] . Example: This is [b]bold[/b] text. = This is bold text.
Italic: Enclose your text with [i] and [/i] . Example: This is [i]italic[/i] text. = This is italic text.
Underline: Enclose your text with [u] and [/u]. Example: This is [u]underline[/u] text. = This is underline text.
Aligning Text Left: Enclose your text with [left] and [/left]
Aligning Text Center: Enclose your text with [center] and [/center]
Aligning Text Right: Enclose your text with [right] and [/right]
Striking Text: Enclose your text with [s] and [/s]
Example: [s]mistake[/s] = mistake
Horizontal Rule: Place a horizontal line in your post with [hr]
Example: [hr] =
Font Colors:
Enclose your text with [fontcolor] and [/fontcolor]
Example: [red]Text[/red] = Text
Example: [blue]Text[/blue] = Text
Example: [pink]Text[/pink] = Text
Example: [brown]Text[/brown] = Text
Example: [black]Text[/black] = Text
Example: [orange]Text[/orange] = Text
Example: [violet]Text[/violet] = Text
Example: [yellow]Text[/yellow] = Text
Example: [green]Text[/green] = Text
Example: [gold]Text[/gold] = Text
Example: [white]Text[/white] = Text
Example: [purple]Text[/purple] = Text
Headings: Enclose your text with [hnumber] and [/hn]
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Example: [h1]Text[/h1] =
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Text
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Example: [h2]Text[/h2] =
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Text
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Example: [h3]Text[/h3] =
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Text
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Example: [h4]Text[/h4] =
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Text
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Example: [h5]Text[/h5] =
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Text
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Example: [h6]Text[/h6] =
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Text
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Font Sizes:
Example: [size=1]Text[/size=1] = Text
Example: [size=2]Text[/size=2] = Text
Example: [size=3]Text[/size=3] = Text
Example: [size=4]Text[/size=4] = Text
Example: [size=5]Text[/size=5] = Text
Example: [size=6]Text[/size=6] = Text
Bulleted List: [list] and [/list], and items in list with [*] and [/*].
Ordered Alpha List: [list=a] and [/list=a], and items in list with [*] and [/*].
Ordered Number List: [list=1] and [/list=1], and items in list with [*] and [/*].
Code: Enclose your text with [code] and [/code].
Quote: Enclose your text with [quote] and [/quote].
Images: Enclose the address with one of the following: - [img] and [/img]
- [img=right] and [/img=right]
- [img=left] and [/img=left]
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| Moderators |
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Moderators control individual forums. They may edit, delete, or prune any posts in their forums.
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| Cookies |
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These Forums use cookies to store the following information: the last time you logged in, your Username and your Encrypted Password. These cookies are stored on your hard drive. Cookies are not used to track your movement or perform any function other than to enhance your use of these forums. If you have not enabled cookies in your browser, many of these time-saving features will not work properly. Also, you need to have cookies enabled if you want to enter a private forum or post a topic/reply.
You may delete all cookies set by these forums in selecting the "logout" button at the top of any page.
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| Active Topics |
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Active Topics are tracked by cookies. When you click on the "active topics" link, a page is generated listing all topics that have been posted since your last visit to these forums (or approximately 20 minutes).
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| Editing Your Posts |
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You may edit or delete your own posts at any time. Just go to the topic where the post to be edited or deleted is located and you will see a edit or delete icon (  ) on the line that begins "posted on..." Click on this icon to edit or delete the post. No one else can edit your post, except for the forum Moderator or the forum Administrator. A note is generated at the bottom of each edited post displaying when and by whom the post was edited.
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| Attaching Files |
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For security reasons, you may not attach files to any posts. However, you may cut and paste text into your post.
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| Searching For Specific Posts |
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You may search for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, user name, date, and particular forum(s). Simply click on the "search" link at the top of most pages.
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| Editing Your Profile |
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You may easily change any information stored in your registration profile by using the "profile" link located near the top of each page. Simply identify yourself by typing your Username and Password and all of your profile information will appear on screen. You may edit any information (except your Username).
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| Signatures |
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You may attach signatures to the end of your posts when you post either a New Topic or Reply. Your signature is editable by clicking on "profile" at the top of any forum page and entering your Username and Password.
NOTE: HTML can't be used in Signatures.
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| Using your skepticfriends.org email address |
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You can check your email by going to mail.skepticfriends.org and using your full email address as the logon and your assigned password as the password. You can check your mail from wherever you you have web access. Each mailbox is limited to 10 megabytes of storage. Improper use of your mail account may result in your account being deactivated. Improper use is defined at the discretion of SFN staff and will always include any kind of illegal activity. If you would like an email account of your own send an email with your desired account name and password enclosed to atomic@skepticfriends.org.
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| Using Private Messaging |
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Private Messages are very similar to email but without the need to do anything except click the Private Messages link and send messages to other members. This service is automatically granted to all registered members. It's very easy to use and it's a great way to contact other members. You can use the PM Messenger like you would ICQ or AIM. Just keep the PM Messenger box open and you can message back and forth without needing to download anything. Members are limited a total of 100 messages in your Inbox. If you find you can't send more messages just clean out your Inbox and you will be free to send more messages. Any misuse of this feature may result in the locking of your account so please do not use this service to spam or harrass other members.
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| Lost Password |
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Changing a lost password is simple, assuming that e-mail features are turned on for this forum. 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 a code e-mailed instantly to your e-mail address of record that will allow you to create a new password. Because of the Encryption that we use for your password, we cannot tell you what your password is. For this reason it is absolutely necessary that you use a valid email address.
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| Can I be notified by e-mail when there are new posts? |
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Yes, the Subscription feature allows you to subscribe to the entire Board, individual Categories, Forums and/or Topics, depending on what the administrator of this site allows. You will receive an e-mail notifying you of a post that has been made to the Category/Forum/Topic that you have subscribed to. There are four levels of subscription:
- Board Wide Subscription
If you can subscribe to an entire Board, you'll get a notification for any posts made within all the forums inside that board.
- Category Wide Subscription
You can subscribe to an entire Category, which will notify you if there was any posts made within any topic, within any forum, within that Category.
- Forum Wide Subscription
If you don't want to subscribe to an entire Category, you can subscribe to a single forum. This will notify you of any posts made within any topic, within that forum.
- Topic Wide Subscription
More conveniently, you can subscribe to just an individual topic. You will be notified of any post made within that topic.
Each level of subscription is optional. The administrator can turn On/Off each level of subscription for each Category/Forum/Topic.
To Subscribe or Unsubscribe from any level of subscription, you can use the "My Subscriptions" link, located near the top of each page to manage your subscriptions. Or you can click on the subscribe/unsubscribe icons (  ) for that Category/Forum/Topic you want to subscribe/unsubscribe to/from.
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| What does it mean if a forum has Moderation enabled? |
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Moderation: This feature allows the Administrator or the Moderator to "Approve", "Hold" or "Delete" a users post before it is shown to the public.
Approve: Only the administrators or the moderators will be able to approve a post made to a moderated forum. When the post is approved, it will be made viewable to the public.
Hold: When a user posts a message to a moderated forum, the message is automatically put on hold until a moderator or an administrator approves of the post. No one will be able to view the post while it is put on hold.
NOTE: Authors of the post will be able to edit their post during this mode.
Delete: If the administrator or moderator chooses this option, the post will be deleted and an e-mail will be sent to the poster of the message, informing them that their post was not approved. The administrator/moderator will be able to give their reason for not approving the post in the e-mail.
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| Copyrighted Materials and Trademarks |
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The SFN takes intellectual property laws seriously. If an Administrator or Moderator, using a broad interpretation of the law, believes a post violates "Fair Use" provisions, it will likely be subject to editing or deletion. In other words, instead of copying a complete article found on the Internet or elsewhere into a post here on the SFN, you should post only a short snippet, and/or a link to the original. For another example, under Digital Millennium Copyright Act provisions, even links to other web pages upon which copyright infringement is found can themselves be considered copyright infringement, so be careful. You are free to use trademarked words, phrases or images so long as ownership of the marks is clear. Most of the time, you shouldn't have to explicitly include a trademark notice (for example, when talking about your great new Nike sneakers), but if you feel a need to use a trademark in such a way which might be confusing, then do so. If the Moderators or Administrators of SFN feel the use of a mark may incur liability (in a broad sense), it will be modified or deleted. Repeated infringement of copyright or trademarks by users here will not be tolerated, and may result in the loss of posting privileges.
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| Illegal Acts |
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Any post which, by the judgement of an Administrator or Moderator, describes or otherwise discusses how to accomplish illegal activities will be deleted. Posts which are, themselves, illegal acts will also be deleted, of course, and may also result in the immediate loss of posting privileges.
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| What is COPPA? |
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The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and Rule apply to individually identifiable information about a child that is collected online, such as full name, home address, e-mail address, telephone number or any other information that would allow someone to identify or contact the child. The Act and Rule also cover other types of information -- for example, hobbies, interests and information collected through cookies or other types of tracking mechanisms -- when they are tied to individually identifiable information. More information can be found here.
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| Getting Your Own Forum |
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The most recent version of this Snitz Forum can be downloaded at this Internet web site.
NOTE: The software is highly configurable, and the baseline Snitz Forum may not have all the features this forum does.
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