Posting, Replying To & Editing Messages

Post New

You can only post a new thread from the post list of a forum. When in the post list, you will see a button near the top of the screen labeled 'Post New' which allows you to post a new message. After clicking on that button, you will be taken to a simple form. You will then:

1. Fill out the text box labeled 'Subject' with a maximum of 80 characters. You should make your subject descriptive of your message. Make sure that your subject does not contain spoilers. (See more on rules regarding spoilers.) Markup cannot be used in the subject.

2. Choose a post icon - this is the icon that will appear to the left of your message in the post list. Click on the arrow in the drop-down box, and then click on the icon you'd like to use. If you do not select an icon, the default chat bubble will be chosen. The icons are simply to give an idea of the message content and your emotions, and are just a fun way of brightening things up.

3. Choose whether or not to use Markup in your post. (Choose "enable Markup" or "disable Markup.") Generally, you'll probably want to leave this option enabled. Even if you're not using any markup in your post, it's harmless to leave that option selected. The "disable Markup" option makes markup not work; it's generally only handy if you're doing a survey template, or if you're trying to display to someone how the markup works.

4. Type your message in the text box titled 'Post.' You may use markup in your posts. If you'd like to use an icon in your post, you can either type in the markup code for it, or you can simply click on the icon from the selection above the post box (your browser must have Javascript enabled to use this feature).

5. If you wish, you can spell check your post by clicking either the 'Spell Check' button (details here.)

6. Next, you will see a checkbox asking you if your post is directly related to Buffy or Angel - in other words, is your post on topic or off topic? If your post is directly related to one of these shows (i.e. a review of an episode, a question about a character, etc.), leave the box UNCHECKED. If your post is Off Topic (i.e. a comment on an actor's new movie, a post about your blind date, etc.), make sure the box is CHECKED. This allows people to spot Off Topic posts, or even hide them via their profile settings. (When people refer to "OT" posts, this is what they're talking about — Off Topic posts.)

7. If you're logged in, and if you have a signature filled out in your profile (details here), you will see a checkbox asking if you wish to include your signature with this post. If you do want to include it, leave the box checked. If you don't want to include your signature with this particular post, click the box to uncheck it. If you are making a very short post (especially as short as simply "I agree" or the like), please do not include your signature (unless it's very short, such as just your name). Note that if you don't have a signature filled out in your profile, you will not see this option when posting.

8. If you're logged in, you will see a checkbox to have all replies emailed to you. If you have set your Preferences to receive replies via email, this box will already be checked by default. You may uncheck it if you do not wish to receive replies to this message via email. If your preferences are set NOT to have replies emailed to you, this box will not be checked by default. If you check this box, any replies to this message will be sent to the address you have in your Profile as your real email address.

9. If you're logged in, you will next see a checkbox to add the thread you're posting to your Favorite Threads list. Check the box to add the thread to your list; leave it unchecked if you don't want the thread on your Favorite Threads list. (Details here about the Favorite Threads list.)

10. Finally, you will see a checkbox to preview your post. If you leave this unchecked, then your post will be submitted as soon as you hit 'Continue.' If you check this box, then clicking 'Continue' will take you to a preview screen where you can see your message as others will see it, including your signature, if you chose to include it. If you are satisfied with the post, you can then click the first 'Continue' button on the page. If you need to change something, you can scroll down to the edit box and make changes, then click the second 'Continue' button.

       Note: If you are posting in the Profile Request Forum, then the Preview checkbox must be checked if you need to attach a file. The only reason for attaching a file is if you are requesting a profile pic to be made/hosted for you, and the picture is on your computer. You can then use the attachment feature to upload it from your computer to this server, and then a moderator can take care of it for you. More details can be found here.

Note: If there are any problems with your post, you'll get an error and the message will not be posted. You'll then need to hit your back button and correct the problem, which could result in you losing the post you typed. It's never a bad idea to copy your post before submitting it, just in case. You can do this by highlighting the message and hitting Ctrl+C (or right-click and choose "Copy"). If you do have to go back and you find the message gone, just click your mouse in the message text box and hit Ctrl+V (or right-click and choose "Paste"). Full details on how to copy and paste are below. (The most common problem is forgetting to enter a subject for the post.)

Reply

In order to reply to a post, you must be viewing it. If you are looking at a post, you will see a button at the upper right of the post labeled 'Reply.' Click on this button to make a reply to that post.

When replying within a thread, you should hit the 'Reply' button on the post you are actually replying to. That is, if JoeBlow says that he thinks Oz is a serial killer, and you wish to debate this theory, you should hit the 'Reply' button directly on JoeBlow's post. This allows for the threading to work correctly, so that people can follow the thread in a logical manner. Also, since some people have replies emailed to them, they may be confused if you reply to the "wrong" post. Let's say you write up your well-thought out reasons why Oz is not a serial killer, but you replied to JaneDoe's post about Willow's favorite cereal. Jane will be confused when she gets your heated argument about Oz's killer tendencies.

If you just have a general comment about the thread in general, you should generally reply to the first message in the thread (the parent post).

Once you've clicked the reply button, posting your reply works exactly the same as posting a new message (see steps outlined above). The only difference is that in general, there is no need to change the subject. However, if you are changing the topic a bit, you may wish to change the subject line accordingly.

If you are replying to an off topic message, chances are that your reply is off topic as well - therefore, you should leave the off topic box checked. If you are replying to what was originally an on topic message (directly related to Buffy or Angel), but the conversation has veered off topic, please be sure to check the off topic (OT) box.

Below the area in which you type your reply, you will see the post you're replying to. It shows you the poster's username, the subject, and the message. If you wish to quote something that someone said and reply to it, you can simply copy the sentence(s) from there, and paste it into your reply text area. Then you'll need to do something to indicate that it's a quote - the best way is to use the quote markup tags around the quoted text.

Not sure how to copy and paste? Click and hold your left mouse button at the beginning of what you'd like to copy, pull the mouse over to the end of what you'd like to copy, and let go of the left mouse button. The text is now highlighted. Then, hit and hold the 'Ctrl' key on your keyboard, and then hit the 'C' key. Then let go of both keys. (Or, you can right-click and choose 'Copy.') Now click your mouse at the spot in the text box where you would like the copied text to appear. On your keyboard, hit and hold the 'Ctrl' key, and then hit the 'V' key, and quickly let go of both keys. (Or, you can right-click and choose 'Paste.') Now the text you copied is in your message. Again, when quoting someone, make sure to use the quote markup tags around it, or otherwise indicate that it's a quote.

Edit / Delete

If you are the author of a post then you can edit or delete it by clicking on the 'Edit/Delete' button. Once you've clicked the button, you'll be taken to a text box with your message filled in.

• You can change the subject by changing the text that appears in the subject box.

• You can change the body of the message by changing the text that appears in the larger text box below the subject.

• You can change the off topic (OT) status by checking or unchecking the check box.

• If you originally included your signature with the post, you can remove it by unchecking the "Include signature with post" box. To leave your sig in the post, leave this box checked. (Note that once you remove the sig from the post, you cannot add it back in later.)

• If you don't want your post to be marked as edited, uncheck the "Mark as edited" box. If this box is checked, your post will say "Last edited by Your Name at xx:xx p.m." at the bottom.

• When you are finished making changes, click the button labeled 'Change this post.' This will automatically take you to a preview of your edited message. If it looks correct, click 'Submit Post.' If not, scroll down to the edit box to make changes, and then click 'Continue' again when you're done.

• If you want to delete a post, there's no need to change or "erase" any part of the message. Simply look at toward the bottom of the screen, below the text box with your message in it. You'll see a button labeled 'Delete this post' - click it.

• You'll be taken to a page where you must confirm that you want to delete the post (you can't get it back once you've deleted it). If you're sure, click the button labeled 'Yes, I want to delete this post.'

• If there were no replies to your post, the deleted post will disappear without a trace.

• If there were any replies to your post before you deleted it, then your post will not completely disappear. Instead, the subject will be replaced with 'Post deleted by [your username]' and the message will be blank when viewed. This is because if the post completely disappeared, there would be nowhere for the replies to go.

Note: Any post can be edited or deleted by an administrator or moderator, and we reserve the right to use this ability as we deem necessary. We will rarely edit the real content of your message - if the content itself is somehow inappropriate, we will normally simply delete the post. Editing is generally done in the case of certain errors, such as if you forget necessary spoiler tags, or an off topic message is not marked as such. We will generally notify you by making a note at the bottom of your message. We might also reply to the edited message, or send you a private message.