IrishCentral Help Center - How to use the forums

Need help with using our forums. Hopefully, you'll find your answers here.

To post in any of the forums you need to be logged on to the site.  Once in the forums you can start a new thread, add a new post, reply to an existing post, edit one that you've written and report abuse.  This is done by simply clicking on the appropriate button or words above or below the post.

Start a new thread means you will be starting a new discussion within the chosen category within the forums.

Add a new post will do that to the existing discussion you are reading.

Reply to an existing post will copy the post to which you are replying automatically as part of your post.

Edit a post allows you to edit your own posts once submitted.

Report abuse allows you to report any post you consider break the forum rules.

Writing a post:

Select from the options available: start a new thread, add a new post or reply to an existing post and complete the boxes shown.  When you have entered your post in the boxes you can also format the text by using the icons shown.

• B, I and U are somewhat self-explanatory: simply highlight the text to be made bold, italicised or underlined.
• The icon with dots and lines allows you to add bullet points: highlight the text to be made into bullet points and click on the icon.  (You will need to use a full (paragraph) return between each bullet point).  Alternatively, click on the icon at the start of your bullet points.
• The following two icons with lines indicate that you can have all your highlighted text starting from the left or centralized.
• The A allows you to colour your text and the Font Size allows you to change the size of your text.
• The icon showing a tree allows you to add an image to your text.  If doing so, please ensure it does not measure more than 600 pixels wide and is RGB jpg or gif in format, otherwise it may not show properly.  Clicking on this icon will bring up a browser box allowing you to choose your image and save it to your post.
• The ABC above a check mark icon is a spell-checker, in case you feel the need of it.
• The smilely face icon lets you add emoticons to your text.  Once you click on the icon a popup window will show you all the emoticons you can click on and insert into your post.
• The paperclip icon allows you to add a hyperlink to another website.  Simply click on the icon and add the link's url.  I suggest you have the link open a new window so you can come back to the forums easily.
• The broken paperclip icon allows you to remove the hyperlink  from the text.  Simply highlight the text, click on the icon and it will remove the hyperlink.

Edit a post:
To edit one of your own posts, click the ‘Edit post' link underneath the post you want to edit.

Reply to a specific post:
To do this, click on the ‘Reply to this post' link underneath the post you wish to respond to.  This automatically quotes the existing post in the text box.  Simply write your response.

Deleting a post:
You can only delete one of your own posts.  To do this click on the ‘Delete post' link under the post concerned.

Guidelines for posting:
The forum software offers a profile option, in which you can enter some personal information that allows other users to know a bit more about you. However, please bear in mind that this profile is meant to provide some background to your posts and views, not specific information that allows other users to identify you. Giving out your full name, home address, or phone number is not recommended, neither is providing the name of your workplace or place of study. If you share any information about yourself online, it could be collected and used by third parties to send you unsolicited materials.

There are obvious dangers of giving out your address or phone number online; please also be careful when it comes to providing your email address to other users. If you chose to do so, think twice before opening emails from strangers, especially emails with attachments; these may transmit a virus or other harmful files.

Also, please remember that this site and everything you write is open for the world and his wife to read.  If you do not want your children, family, neighbours, the vicar or your Boss and all to read it, don't write it!

Try to keep your posts friendly:
Express your views freely whilst remaining sensitive to how the wording and perceived tone may affect other users. Remember that we are all human; other users and Administrators are people too. Like you, they have feelings, so please try to respect each other in order to promote a helpful and supportive community.

Remember that it becomes very difficult for a healthy discussion to develop when posts are couched in personal insults; we welcome debate, but please respect other users' points of view and try to remain polite when posting an opposing opinion. Adhere to the same standards of behaviour online that you follow in real life; if you wouldn't say it to someone's face then please don't say it to someone in a forum post or comment.

Share your knowledge; if you benefit from the information in the forums, then it would be nice if you could pay back the community by assisting others too. In the same vein, give feedback; if someone helps you by answering your question, try to add a follow-up response letting them know if it worked or not.

Please try to refrain from posting in text speak; it is difficult to interpret and annoying to read. Always double-check your spelling and grammar before posting.

Bear in mind that without face-to-face contact, sarcasm and humour can easily be misconstrued as a personal attack. Smilies can always be used to convey the tone you are trying to imbue your post with.

Please welcome new members in a friendly manner; we were all newbies at one point.

Please always reread your post before clicking on the submit button. If you are feeling angry at a view posted by another user, consider whether your post will further inflame a situation.

A good post is one that allows other users to pick up the conversation or debate in a non-aggressive way, and is relevant to the forum it is posted on.

Also try to keep your posts on-topic; this makes conversations easier to follow and understand, and forums more constructive to use. If you want to discuss something that is not particularly relevant to the topic you wish to post in, please start a separate thread.

Reporting abuse:
If you feel that any post in the forums breaks the forum rules in any way, click on the Report abuse link.  This will bring up a box which will ask you to choose a category for the complaint and offers you the chance to write your own message.  When submitted, this will come to the Communities team for action.

Finding posts since your last visit:
When you go into a category you may see a green cross next to the number of posts and the thread title will be in bold.  This indicates that a post has been added to that thread since you last logged in to the site.

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