ECA-Bulletin Board Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The new Bulletin Board system is constructed to a very common internet model and its usage is intended obvious.
There are some rules for accessing and using the system.
If you have any suggestions for additions/modifications, please email
webmaster@emsworthcruisingassociation.co.uk.

Click on the questions below to go to the answer, or scroll down to browse the entire list.


General Questions About ECA-bulletin board

What is ECA-bulletin board?
     ECA-bulletin board is an electronic discussion forum for members of the Emsworth Cruising Association. Members of the list can place messages on the notice board which can be read by any other board members. Messages can be about rallies, meets, items for sale and wanted (private only), new products etc. (For more information about subject matter, see Guidelines on Content.) Any ECA member is welcome to join ECA-bulletin board. There are currently 3 members (as of January 2008).

If I join ECA-bulletin board, how many messages can I expect?
     It is your choice whether you receive messages or not. For each topic you can choose whether you wish to be notified of new messages. The system will, at most, send you only one message until you have visited the topic and read the message and any subsequent replies. On most days you will get none. The normal setting is that you get notified of any replies to messages you have placed, but this can be reversed, and you can also ask for notification of replies to topics you have not spoken on.

Who runs ECA-bulletin board?
     The ECA-bulletin board was originally conceived and set up by Tony Browne who is the current ECA-bulletin board administrator, although any other registered Committee member is permitted to act as moderator. You can contact the ECA-bulletin board administrator by sending a "Private Message" to "admin".

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Using ECA-bulletin board

How do I join?
     Access www.emsworthcruisingassociation.co.uk/bulletin on the internet and click on "register" at the top-right. You will be given a "profile" page in which to enter your details. Most of the fields may be left blank/default. The required entries are:

  1. Your UserName. This may be anything you like so long as it is unique, inoffensive and clearly identifies you to other ECA members.
  2. Your Password. This can be almost anything so long as you can remember it. This can be reset by "admin" if you forget it.
  3. Your e-mail address. This is required in order to check that you are who you say you are. You can choose whether you wish to make it visible to other ECA board members.

When you have completed the form, press "Submit" and a message will be sent to "admin" who will confirm or reject your registration. Please read the guidelines for posting and information about viruses before you post to the list. You will be notified by e-mail when your registration has been accepted.
After your registration has been accepted, you will need to log-in each time you wish to access the bulletin board. The "Log in" button appears just below the "Register" button at the top right of the initial screen.

How do I leave?
     To unsubscribe, send a "private message" to "admin" asking to be deleted.


    

How do I post a public message?
     To post a message, select a topic and click on the "NewPost" or "PostReply" button. You should enter your message into a special message preparation box. You can test your message by clicking on "Preview" or post your message by clicking on "Submit" or just change your mind and go somewhere else. There are lots of special effects available using the various buttons: no special instructions will be given, just try them and see what happens.
     If you cannot find a suitable topic area for your intended message, please send a brief "private message" to "admin" who may set one up for you.

How do I reply to a public message?
     Having read the original message, click on either "Reply to this Topic" or "Quote". For "Reply.." you get an empty text-box, for "Quote" you get a copy of the original message which you can then annotate.

How do I send a private message?
     At the top centre of the screen is a link which says either "You have no new messages" or "You have n messages". Click on this link, select "Post new Message" and enter the name of the addressee. Alternatively, in any public or private message from your correspondent, click on either the "pm" (private message) or the "Quote" button. Or, in the memberlist details, click on the "pm" (private message) button. Private messages are seen only by the sender and addressee and are constructed just like public messages.

How do I receive a private message?
     At the top centre of the screen, click on the link which says "You have n messages". Select "Inbox" and you will see a list of all your messages. New messages will be at the top of the list and show a flag to indicate that they have not yet been read. Click on the appropriate message.

Are there any guidelines I should follow when posting messages?
     Yes! The main guideline is your own common sense – ask yourself whether you think your fellow ECA-bulletin board members will want to read your message. People are busy, and resent having to read lots of irrelevant messages. If members post too many unhelpful messages, then people will get fed up and leave the forum, thereby defeating its purpose. If you are in doubt about whether your message is suitable, please send a brief "private message" to "admin".

     In addition to the above, please follow these guidelines:

Guidelines on Content:
     You are welcome to post messages on any aspect of sailing. Suitable topics include:

  • messages concerning official club business, such as up-coming rallies (places available, etc.), meetings, circulars, and so on
  • requests for sailing partners for a cruise you are planning
  • questions about cruising locations, equipment, etc.
  • answers to questions posted by other members
  • reports about cruises you have undertaken
  • equipment wanted or for sale (private sales only)

     If you are relatively new to the list, and you are posting a question (e.g., asking advice about equipment), then you should "search" for relevant keywords before submitting your message. Perhaps this question has been asked (and answered) recently! – in which case you could contact the sender privately for more information. Instructions for accessing the archives are given further down this FAQ.
     If your message is not about sailing, it probably should not go on the list! There are plenty of other lists devoted to outdoor issues. Please do not forward virus warnings, or any other kind of mass mailing to the list – for more on this, see the information in this FAQ about viruses.
     Please do not post any commercial messages, including messages about topics in which you have a semi-commercial interest. Possible examples include cruises you are skippering (as a commercial skipper), leftover cruise fundraising merchandise you want to sell, and messages promoting books you have written or films you have produced. If you're in any doubt, please send a brief "private message" to "admin".
     Don't post anything offensive or defamatory. If you're posting a response to a previous message, take the time to read it through one more time before pressing the 'submit' button. Consider the advice in the previous paragraph.

     If you are new to the internet, it's definitely worth reading about 'netiquette' (i.e., internet etiquette) before posting any message. Sites that contain netiquette guides include:
www.albion.com/netiquette
www.fau.edu/irm/about/netiquette.php

     A list of other sites is at:
directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Internet/Etiquette/

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Hints and Tips

What is the ECA-bulletin board web site?      The web site address for ECA-bulletin board is www.emsworthcruisingassociation.co.uk/bulletin . At the web site, there are searchable archives of previous public messages, a private message area holding private messages either sent to you or by you. and a list of members with whatever details they choose to show. You have to be a member of ECA-bulletin board to access the web site.

How can I get access to ECA-bulletin board on the world-wide web?
     The web site address is given above. Registration is described under How do I join?.

Can ECA-bulletin board be used to spread viruses? Also, how can I stop myself getting viruses?

Summary:

  • ECA-bulletin board cannot be used to spread viruses, because it has been set to manage only text messages.
  • The bulletin board may send you messages notifying you of various events. These messages are safe.
  • It is possible for people to forward hoax virus warnings to the list. A hoax virus warning is a message warning you about a virus threat that is not real, and usually encoraging you to take inappropriate action, such as deleting a system file or forwarding the message to everyone you know. Please don't post any virus warnings (or indeed any non-sailing related messages) to the list. See the guidelines for posting for more information.
  • Make sure you are protected against viruses. If you don't know about how to do this, go to sites like www.bestcomputerguy.com/avoid_virus.htm to learn more.

How can I get access to the archives of previous messages?
     Go to the ECA-bulletin board web site (see previous question – 'How can I get access to ECA-bulletin board on the world-wide web?'). You can either search the Forums/Topics by hand or you can click "Search" (top centre) and request details of keywords used previously.

If I can't post attachments with ECA-bulletin board messages, is there somewhere I can put photos so others can see them?
     At present there is no way to place photos within the bulletin board. However, if you have photos which already exist elsewhere on the internet, these can be linked-to within messages by using the [img] link.

I'm getting too many messages in my Inbox – is there a way to reduce the number of messages coming from ECA-bulletin board?
     Yes! Identify the topic which is sending you messages and set the switch at the bottom to say "Do not notify me".

My email address has changed – how do I get ECA-bulletin board messages sent to the new address?
     On the bulletin board, click on "Profile" (top left) and make the necessary change.

How do I add a file to the ECA-bulletin board web site?
     This can't be done.

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I tried to post a message but it didn't appear on the board. What should I do?
     Did you remember to click "Submit" at the bottom?


further Information

Tony Browne, March 2006

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