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theFray

Explanations on a sample INDEX PAGE

First line:

Topic:

Click here to see a list of all Fray topics

Culturebox:

Name of the topic you are in: click here to see first page of posts

Dec 9 2000

Date of most recent post on this page

Third line:

[Double arrow]

Click here to go to first page of posts

[single arrow]

Click here to go to previous page of posts/LATER than this page

[time box]

Time of most recent post on this page

[single arrow]

Click here to go to next page of posts/EARLIER than this page

[double arrow]

Click here to go to oldest page of posts

view fray Editor's picks

see a list of recommended posts from this Fray thread

At the lefthand side of the list of messages:

[star]

this poster has made many good posts in the past

[tick]

shows a particularly recommended post

[+ in box]

There are replies to this post: click here to see the titles

(3)

number of replies to this post

[eom]

end of message: i.e. this post contains no more text than you can see right now.

Below list of messages:

[timedate searchbox]

to find a message if you know when it was posted: enter a SLIGHTLY LATER TIME [mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm] and click go. A page of posts from that time will come up.

[search box]

enter a few distinctive words, and you will see a list of posts containing those words

Explanations on a sample MESSAGE

First line:

Topic:

Click here for a list of all Fray topics

Culturebox:

Name of topic you are in

Click here to return to 1^st page of posts

Dec 9 2000 4:30 PM

Time of post you are looking at

Click here to return to the list/pull up posts from around

this time.

2^nd line:

Takes you to the post above this one in the index (list of messages)

Takes you to the post below this on in the index (list of messages)

Post a reply to this message: yours will appear indented below this message

More by this user;

This gives a list of posts made from the same computers. Therefore it doesn't necessarily give every post by that person (they may use other computers) and they may not all be by the same person (several people may use the same computer).

Underneath message:

[list of posts below message]

lists all the posts in this thread. The one you have open is in red. You can open any other by clicking on it.

Fray FAQs

I made a post and now I can't find it. Where is it?

The posts are listed in time order. If you remember when you posted it you should be able to find it: don't forget that we use Pacific Time on the Fray boards.

My post is not on the first page of messages. Where is it?

I want to look at older posts, how do I do that?

Same answer. Click on the arrow on the right of the time box on the index page. A page of posts from before the current one will come up. You can repeat this as many times as we have pages of posts.

How long do you keep the posts?

Until we run out of space. We can't give a simple answer because it depends on the levels of postings. You can look at the oldest page of posts for any Fray by clicking on the double arrow to the right of the timebox on the index page. Recommended posts--those with a tick beside them--will be kept for longer.

How does More by This User work?

This gives a list of posts made from the same computer. Therefore it doesn't necessarily give every post by that person (they may use other computers) and the posts may not all be by the same person (several people may use the same computer). It is a helpful guide but not infallible.

I still can't find my post! You deleted it, you censor. Did you?

Almost certainly not, unless it was obscene, or very offensive. Are you sure you are looking in the correct Fray thread? Have you tried the search engines? Maybe you accidentally posted it as a reply to someone else's post, in which case it will be harder to find.

Try this: make another post on The Fray, using the same computer. Open it, and click on More by this User above the post. This will bring up a list of your posts, and you can find the one you have lost.

I really have had a post deleted. Why?

Are you sure? (See above). If you're sure, these are the possible reasons:

1) The post contained obscenities or inappropriate sexual imagery.

2) It contained extremely offensive material eg racial epithets generally considered abhorrent.

3) You made so many other obscene posts that all your posts were deleted, including a few that were not obscene.

4) You posted under a false name with intent to mislead or offend

5) You posted the same message many many times--spamming

6) Your post was aimed at harassing or intimidating another poster

7) You were pointlessly off-topic in a way that other, on-topic, posters found unacceptable.

Can you summarize the rules of the road?

Certainly.

Don't use offensive or obscene language. Don't abuse anyone, including the writers, and don't make threats. Do not deliberately impersonate someone else, especially not other Fray posters. Break these rules and your post may be deleted and you may be banned from the Fray.

Any other tips?

Glad you asked. Don't include your address or phone number in your post unless you are very sure you are willing for absolutely anyone to have them. Your email address is up to you: some people have eg a hotmail address just for posting on boards, so they can give it out and get feedback without compromising their privacy.

While you are welcome to use a pseudonym, you cannot deliberately pretend to another identity in order to harass or mislead someone else.

I have a different problem. What should I do?

Email the Fray Editor at . This is for questions and comments on how the Fray works, not comments on the articles. If you want to talk about particular posts, make sure you include either the URL or the time, date, thread, name of post and name of poster. Please always include the name you post under.