Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions you might have about using this Message Board.
Which fields must I fill in?
The "name", "subject" and "message" fields are required. You don't have to include your e-mail address if you don't want to. (But you may get useful direct e-mail responses, if you do.)
How much can I write?
Your "message" can be up to 3000 characters long. (Beyond that, it will be truncated. If you really want to write more, split it into separate messages.)
The "subject" can be up to 80 characters. Do make good use of this, to describe your topic clearly.
Should I put carriage returns in my entry to the "Comments" box?
Preferably not in the middle of a paragraph, since the browser's re-display of your message will wrap lines automatically. (Although the box is quite small, it will follow your typing, and you can still move around to see all your text with the slidebars.)
Do include a "return" when you really do want a new line in the displayed message.
And do put two "returns" between paragraphs, to get nice spacing.
Do I have to use English?
No. You may get a better response if you can write in English, but there is no objection to any other language you prefer to use.
How do threads work?
When you post a "new message", this starts a new "thread". Followups to this (and followups to followups) are part of this same thread, and are shown under the original message in the main Message Board list, with the latest message first. In this way, responses on the same topic are easy to find, even if they were posted much later.
Can I post a message anonymously?
No, not really. Even if you use a fake name and leave your e-mail address blank, the location from which you log in (your IP address) is always recorded and published. In principle, this allows you to be traced through your ISP.
Can I use HTML tags anywhere in my posts?
No. You must not use HTML tags in any field except the body of the message. And even there, they will be ignored! The system will just throw out everything between <>'s.
Can I include quotation marks?
No. There is a bug in the script, which cuts everything after a quotation mark like ". Sorry about this ...
Why didn't my post show up?
Maybe your browser did not reload the page yet, but simply pulled a copy out of your local cache. If you just "reload" the page in your browser, your post should then appear.
Will I be notified if there is a response to my post?
Not automatically. The responder my be kind enough to email you directly (recommended!), but otherwise you just need to check back from time to time.
Where can I get the scripts for this program?
The scripts are written in Perl and were originally created by Matt Wright. They are free to anyone who wishes to use them and you can get them, as well as other scripts, at: http://worldwidemart.com/scripts/. (I have modified them somewhat.)
