From FB To GFB: 10 Tips To Get The Most From These Forums

[Globalfightback]

As a new user to this GFB (Global Fightback Forum Board), and especially if you're coming from social media sites such as Facebook, which have a completely different, timeline-based structure, you might find some aspects of this Board hard to navigate at first. However, once you're familiar with the structure you will find that it is a far better design for ordering, retrieving and adding to discussions - even years after they were initially created. After all, what's the point of investing time and energy in meaningful debate only for it to become largely invisible, and hence of little value, just a few hours or days later, as it gets lost in the depths of an ever-growing timeline?

Please note: You are advised not to click any links in other users' posts, including any in their profile signature, unless you are confident you can trust the poster. This is especially true of the posts and profiles of new members. Please flag any abuse to Admin via the Contact link.

Here are 10 tips to help you get the best from the forums.

1. The Forums are structured as follows:
(i) the overall body of the Forums is called the Board.
(ii) the Board is subdivided into various subject Categories, e.g. this one, which is General Information And User Tips; Global Environmental Issues; Science And Technology, etc.
(iii) within the Categories are located various Forums. For example, within the Fun Stuff Category there are currently three Forums: The Waiting Room; Music And Art; Jokes And Memes.
(iv) within each Forum are various Topics. You can see which Category, Forum and Topic you're in at any time from the trail of links that appear at the top of the page. To contribute to a Topic you make a Post.
(v) only Admin can create Categories and Forums. However, as a member of this Board you can create your own Topics within almost any Forum you choose, as well as contribute with your own Posts by replying to Topics created by other members (unless the Topic has been locked). You will see the permissions you have for each Forum listed at the bottom of the list of Topics within that Forum. To create a new Topic, simply select the New Topic button. Please note that if you are a new member your first Topics or replies (Posts) to existing Topics will require Admin approval before they become visible to other members. This is to minimise abuse by trolls and spammers. After a set number of Posts (currently three but subject to change) you will automatically be transferred from the Newly Registered Users Group into the Registered Users Group and will no longer need Admin approval; you will also have additional permissions with regard to adding attachments, creating Polls, editing, sending PMs etc.

2. The quickest way of replying to an existing Topic is to use the Quick Reply composition box. However, if you click the Full Editor & Preview button you will have more options, including being able to choose the colour of the font, adding pictures and Polls etc. The buttons for all these options appear at the top of the composition box. You can also preview the final appearance of your Post before posting it, or save it as a Draft to continue editing at a later date (these options are at the bottom of the composition box). Additionally, you can go to your own Posts at a later date and edit them, using the Pen button at the top-right of the composition box, as well as reporting Posts to Admin that you think contain unsavoury content, using the ! button.

3. When you are creating a new Topic, or replying to an existing one, do not refresh the page before submitting the content to the Board, otherwise your composition will be lost. You have a generous amount of time before the Board will terminate your log-in session, this currently stands at 2 hours; however, to ensure that you don't lose work you've spent a lot of time creating you might find it best to compose in something like a Word document before cutting and pasting the finished piece onto the Board. Alternatively, you could regularly save your ongoing composition as a Draft using the button below the composition box. This is then accessible from the Overview tab of your User Control Panel, which you can reach via the dropdown menu next to your logged in user name. Then, when you are starting a new composition, the option to Load Draft appears below the composition box (the system remembers which Forum you saved the Draft in). IMPORTANT: If you use Tor browser, or any other high-privacy browser or VPN, your session my be terminated much sooner than the two-hour default in the system settings, therefore it's even more important to compose your posts using an app such as Word on your pc or smartphone before cutting and pasting into the forum board, to avoid the frustration of losing your work. If the Board does time out, you might be able to recover your work by using the Back button in your browser, at which point be sure to copy to your clipboard before logging back in.

4. In order to receive automatic email notifications about any Topic you are interested in, including those you have started yourself, ensure that you subscribe to the Topic. To do this, select the dropdown menu with the spanner icon at the top or bottom of the Topic and tick the Subscribe Topic option. IMPORTANT: When you see a tick in the box next to the Subscribe Topic text this does not mean that you are already subscribed to the Topic. You must click this link to subscribe, after which the text changes to give you the option to Unsubscribe Topic. You can view a list of all your subscribed Topics from your User Control Panel.

5. Every time you log back on to the Board the Forums that contain new Posts and Topics since your last visit are highlighted with a different coloured icon to alert you to the new content.

6. To avoid the hassle of logging in each time you visit, select the Remember Me option when you log in (this will only keep you logged in on the device you are currently using to view the Board).

7. To search for content on something you're interested in (or something you read previously but can't now find) enter a word into the Search box that appears near the top of each page. Click the cogwheel symbol for an advanced search. There is, in addition, a similar field to allow a search within individual topics.

8. Always click the Board Index link near the top or bottom of the screen to be able to see all the Categories on the Board. (The Guest-Only Category becomes invisible to most members except Admin once you've logged in to avoid clutter. If you see a message 'You are not authorised to read this Forum' it's because you logged in after reading one of the Topics there; clicking the Board Index link will then get you into the main Board).

9. In addition to making Posts that are visible to all members of this Board, you can contact individual members by private message (PM). You can find all members currently subscribed to the Board using the Members link at the bottom of each page, from where you will see the Send Private Message link. You don't have as many options with regard to attachments etc. when sending PMs compared with posting in Forums: this is to safeguard members and also to avoid overloading the Board server. You can view all PMs you've sent using the Private Messages link next to your user name; in addition you can see any PMs you've received, and other alerts, from the adjoining Notifications link.

10. To choose a different Board style, click the dropdown menu by your user name, select User Control Panel, and in the Board Preferences tab select from one of the available Board styles. Additional styles may be added in due course. Please note: If you choose the Blackboard style, the Contact icons in the right-hand side panel are not currently configured, but you can still contact Admin via the envelope icon at the bottom-right of the page. You can also make other changes via your Control Panel, but to avoid potential misuse by spammers you cannot currently change your username. However, if you send a PM to Admin this can be done for you.

For more detailed user tips you will find a FAQ link at the top-left of every page. (While you're there, have a look at the options available in the adjoining Quick Links menu too, where you will find, amongst other things, a link to all the Posts you have personally created). If you have any queries that aren't answered here just get in touch with Admin using the Contact Us link at the bottom of every page, or send a PM to myself, Globalfightback.