Login and Registration Issues


Why can't I log in?
Are you registered? You must register in order to log in. Have you been banned from the board? (A message will be displayed if you have.) If so, you should contact the webmaster or board administrator to find out why. If you have registered and are not banned and you still cannot log in then check and double-check your username and password. Usually this is the problem; if not, contact the board administrator -- they may have incorrect configuration settings for the board.


Why do I need to register at all?
You may not have to -- it is up to the administrator of the board as to whether you need to register in order to post messages. However, registration will give you access to additional features not available to guest users such as private messaging, emailing to fellow users, voting in polls,etc. It only takes a minute to register so it is recommended you do so.

Why is my DOB needed for my profile?
Phelps Anonymous is a forum for mature fans, 18+. If you do not have your DOB in your profile you will not be able to fully participate in the forum.

Be advised your profile is only visible to other registered members. Guests cannot access any of your profile information.

Why do I get logged off automatically?
If you do not check the Log me in automatically box when you log in, the board will only keep you logged in for the 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 cluster, etc.

How do I prevent my username from appearing in the online user listings?
When you log in, you will see an option Do not add me to active users list. If you check this box, your name will not appear on the active users list at the bottom of the forum home page.

I've lost my password!
Don't panic! While your password cannot be retrieved it can be reset. To do this go to the login page and click I've forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be back online in no time.


I registered in the past but cannot log in anymore!
The most likely reasons for this are: you entered an incorrect username or password (check the email you were sent when you first registered) or the administrator has deleted your account for some reason (usually inactivity) Some forums do delete inactive accounts from time to time. Being an active member will prevent this.


User Preferences and settings


How do I change my settings?
All your settings (if you are registered) are stored in the database. To alter them click on your user name, this will take you to your profile. There, you may alter your settings.


The times are not correct!
The times are almost certainly correct; however, what you may be seeing are times displayed in a timezone different from the one you are in. If this is the case, you should change your profile setting for the 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. So if you are not registered, please consider becoming one

I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
If you are sure you have set the timezone correctly and the time is still different, the most likely answer is daylight savings time (or summer time as it is known in the UK and other places). The board is not designed to handle the changeovers between standard and daylight time so during summer months the time may be an hour different from the real local time.

When I click the links for E-mail, PM, it asks me to log in.
Sorry, but these features are only available to registered users. This is to prevent malicious use of the messege system by anonymous users.

Why can't I see the Memberlist or search the forum?
Sorry, these features are only available to registered members.



Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?
Easy -- click the New Topic button on either the forum or topic screens. You must register before you can post a message. The facilities available to you are listed at the bottom of the forum and topic screens (the You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc. list)


How do I edit or delete a post?
Unless you are the board Admin or a Mod, you can only edit your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the blue edit button for the relevant post. Only an Admin or Mods may delete a post. If moderators or administrators edit the post you will see the edited by line in the post they edited.



How do I create a poll?
Creating a poll is easy -- when you post a new topic (or edit the first post of a topic, if you have permission) you should see a New Poll button on the right of your screen at about the middle of the page. If you cannot see this then you probably do not have rights to create polls. You should enter a title for the poll and then at least two options -- (one option per line--follow instructions). There will be a limit to the number of options you can list, which is set by the board administrator


How do I edit or delete a poll?
As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster, a moderator, or board administrator. To edit a poll, click the first post in the topic, which always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote then users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if people have already placed votes only moderators or administrators can edit or delete it; this is to prevent people rigging polls by changing options mid-way through a poll


Why can't I access a forum?
Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post, etc. you may need special authorization which only the forum moderator and board administrator can grant, so you should contact them.


Why can't I vote in polls?
Only registered users can vote in polls so as to prevent spoofing of results. If you have registered and still cannot vote then you probably do not have appropriate access rights.


Why does my post have to be approved by a Moderator? (Why can't I see what I just posted?)All "newbies" are put on Post Approval. this means that the content of their posts will be read and approved by a member of the Admin team prior to appearing on the board. This action will last only a few weeks until Admin feels the new member fully understands the rules and "flow" of the forum.



Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?
BBCode is a special implementation of HTML. Whether you can use BBCode is determined by the administrator. You can also disable it on a per post basis from the posting form. BBCode itself is similar in style to HTML: tags are enclosed in square braces [ and ] rather than < and > and it offers greater control over what and how something is displayed. For more information on BBCode see the guide which can be accessed from the posting page.


Can I use HTML?
That depends on whether the administrator allows you to; they have complete control over it. If you are allowed to use it, you will probably find only certain tags work. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the board by using tags which may destroy the layout or cause other problems. If HTML is enabled you can disable it on a per post basis from the posting form.


What are Smileys/Emoticons?Smileys, or Emoticons, are small graphical images which can be used to express some feeling using a short code, e.g. :) means happy, :( means sad. The full list of emoticons can be seen via the posting form. Try not to overuse smileys, though, as they can quickly render a post unreadable and a moderator may decide to edit them out or remove the post altogether. Also do not "QUOTE" too many times. A large amount of "Quotes" has the ability to slow down for forum.


Can I post Images?
Images can indeed be shown in your posts. However, there is no facility at present for uploading images directly to this board. Therefore you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.some-unknown-place.net/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor to images stored behind authentication mechanisms such as Hotmail or Yahoo mailboxes, password-protected sites, etc. To display the image use either the BBCode [img] tag or appropriate HTML (if allowed).

What are Pinned topics?
Pinned topics can appear in any forum, only on the first page. They are topics that we want to keep in one place, making them accessable to members. Only Admin and Mods can pin a topic. If you feel a topic is important enough to warrant being pinned, please pm Admin.

What are Locked topics?
Locked topics are set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You cannot reply to locked topics and any poll contained inside is automatically ended. Topics may be locked for many reasons.

What are Archived topics?
Archived topics are a set of locked topics that have been moved from their original forums to the Archives forum. This was done to older threads to keep the forum "clean" and uncluttered, thus improving board speed and navigation.


User Levels and Groups


What are Administrators?
Administrators are people permitted the highest level of control over the entire board. These people can control all aspects of board operation which include setting permissions, banning users, creating usergroups or moderators, creating new forums, etc. They also have full moderator permissions in all forums.


What are Moderators?
Moderators are individuals who Administration has appointed to oversee the content of the forums from day to day. They have the ability to edit/delete posts, lock/unlock, move, delete or split topics in all forums. Generally moderators are there to prevent people going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.

What are Usergroups?
Usergroups are a way in which board Administrators can group users. This forum has the following groups: Guests, Member, First Class Member, VIP Member, Admin and Mod. It is only possible to belong to ONE user group. Your user group will determine what areas of the site you have access to. "Guests" are a group of registered members with the ability to VIEW the board only. No posting privlidges are permitted.

Members have restricted access to forum untill member profile is completed.

First Class Members are able to view the open forum and the Fan Fiction section.

VIP Members, Admin and Mods, may access ALL AREAS of the forum.


What are Ranks?
Ranks are as follows: Newbie, Member, Jr. Member, Sr.Member and Hero Member. Your rank is determined by the number of posts you have. When you reach a certain number of posts you will automatically be promoted to the next rank. Hero Members, however, are permitted their own custom member titles.

How do I join a Usergroup?
Usergroup are assigned by Admin and can only be changed by Admin. You do not have the ability to join or leave a group at any time.


Private Messaging

I cannot send private messages!
There may be several reasons for this; you are not registered and/or not logged on, the board administrator has disabled private messaging for the entire board, or the board administrator has prevented you individually from sending messages. If it is the latter case you should try asking the administrator why.


I keep getting unwanted private messages or emails!
Right now, we have no way of controlling what member contacts another member. For now, though, if you keep receiving unwanted private messages or emails from someone, (i.e pm's containing Spam or otherwise offensive material) inform the board Administrator, be sure to include a full copy of the messege you received. They will investigate the situation and take the appropriate action.


Whom do I contact about abusive and/or legal matters related to this board?
You should contact the administrator of this board. If you cannot find who that is, you should first contact one of the forum moderators and ask them who you should in turn contact.