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We have put together the answers for all frequently asked questions in this section and ask that you read through it before asking us a question. Also, please refer to the other threads in this section for other details about the site.
BuffyForums' FAQs
We recently upgraded our forum software, migrated to a new host and are restructuring. So, there are a lot of changes still happening. General guidance on using the site, specific to the new updated version, can be found under the other Help headings too (General Help, Managing Your Account, Creating Content, etc.).
1. What is this place?
BuffyForums is a discussion board with an emphasis on critical thinking and openness to differing opinions. We all obviously love something about Buffy the Vampire Slayer mythology more than our hearts can contain. And we are here to talk and share in that love and vent some frustration we have with the parts we didn't like. Always remember that what you dislike could be what another person loves. We strive for respecting each other's opinions.
BuffyForums originally began in February 2007 as a temporary home for the members of BuffyWorld Forums which was experiencing heavy periods of downtime and ultimately an irreversible and unsuspected purging of the database losing all our posts and member information. At that point BuffyForums became its own distinct community in an effort to provide a reliable place for all our television discussion, fanart, and fanfic needs. You are very welcome to join our community here.
2. How do I get a picture under my name?
To get an avatar (image) under your name:
- Click on your name in the top right and enter "My Profile".
- There you can select to "Edit Avatar" (where your profile picture would be on the left).
- You must note however, that an avatar may not exceed 100 by 100 pixels or 10000 bytes. If you need any help resizing it or have any problems please ask in the Fanart Requests thread. Or, browse the Banner and Icon gallery in the Welcome area for icons and banners other members have offered for use.
3. How do I put an image in my signature?
You must have posted at least ten times before you will be able to have a banner in your signature.
- Click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- Under the "Account" tab scroll down to "Conversation Detail Options" and within "Visible Post Elements" select to "Edit Post Signature".
- Here you can upload an image or provide a forum link code to the image on a hosting site. You can enter text here too. Remember to save your edit.
4. Why can't I see my signature?
If you can't view signatures check your setting to see them is on.
- Click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- Under the "Account" tab scroll down to "Conversation Detail Options" and look within "Visible Post Elements" to check that "Show signatures" is ticked.
5. What are the titles under my name? Can I change it?
You may not change your title until you have made at least ten posts.
- To change your title, click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- At the top of your "Profile" you have the option to enter a custom "User Title".
6. What are groups and how do I join them?
Groups are merely threads devoted to a particular character, relationship or topic. They are not elite. You can create a group or browse through the existing groups and if you're interested in being a group member, you can click the button to join or PM the group creator. If you can't see who the group creator is then please contact a moderator to ask who to get in touch with.
7. Can I change my user name?
If you want to change your user name you will need to contact an administrator or super moderator to change this for you.
8. My PM box says it is full but there is nothing in there
Private messages create a thread between you and the other members participating in the conversation. The messages you send and receive can be found in both your inbox and sent items folders. If you delete a PM it will be moved into your trash folder, but it can be recovered from there. You need to select messages to permanently delete within your trash in order for them to go completely and free up space if you have reached the maximum number of private messages.
9. What are moderators? Can I be one?
Moderators are members that have been selected to oversee the forum. They keep it clean, organized, and fair to all other members. Becoming a moderator is not easy. New ones are only added if they are needed and at that, they are chosen for their contribution to the forum and for their respect for other members.
10. Warning points
We have devised a system here to tackle spam, spoilers and problematic behaviour. The maximum points you can have before getting banned is 20 points. For the common offences you get 5 points and therefore need 4 warnings to get banned (4 warnings X 5 points = 20 points). At 15 points you're suspended for a week (3 warnings X 5 points = 15 points).
You may be given a warning without receiving any points for the infraction too. This is at the discretion of the moderators, if they feel the situation warrants some leniency. Otherwise, there are three levels of warnings. Ranging from the more common offences that incur 1 or 5 point infractions, to more serious infractions that incur a 10 point level. Then there are the occasions when a full immediate 20 points ban may be issued, such as to accounts created for spamming. The warning points quantity is determined by the levels and you will be issued points according to the nature of the offence.
When you receive a warning you will be sent a PM and email explaining the level of warning you have, how many points you have and what the warning was for.
If, after 30 days you have not received any further warnings your points will be taken away so you will be back to nothing, or if you were on 2 warnings you will be back to just 1.
11. Can I create a thread?
Registered members can create threads. Although the standard post minimum of only 10 characters exists when starting a new thread, please consider writing enough in your initial post to explain your idea or the point of discussion sufficiently that other members will be able to more fully participate in their responses.
12. Why is there a character limit for the comment function?
Comments can be used for brief, light comments, but responses that offer new ideas, that expand and continue or add to the discussion should be made in a main post on the thread. Using the comments feature for a more involved response that is just posted across consecutive comments will result in a warning or even the multiple comments being deleted. The limit on the size of comment you can make helps to prompt members to edit down a comment or switch to creating a main post instead.
13. How do I sign out?
Click on your name in the top right hand corner and the option to "Log Out" can be found there.
14. How do I get a forum?
If you want a forum like this one you need to buy it here: vBulletin
15. Signature Spoilers... What is allowed?
It's still spoilerish if it hasn't aired anywhere other than the US so far. You need to use the spoiler tags if you want to use spoiling visuals in your sig. For text, as long as the quote doesn't reveal anything about the episode/season then it is fine to place in your sig. If you are unsure and want to run it by us Moderators before placing it in your sig, then let us know what it is and we will let you know.
16. Can we post links to other Forums?
You can link other forums for reference or discussion but please don't start threads advertising your forums here. Same goes for websites, put them in your signatures, but don't post just to advertise. Occasionally, other sites that run events that the community may be interested in hearing news about are allowed to have a specific thread to announce details here, but only after a request has been approved by the moderators.
17. What are reputation points and how do they work?
Reputation is awarded through the 'like' function that appears at the bottom right of posts. You award reputation through the likes that you give to other members' posts and receive reputation through the likes given to your posts. How much reputation you give and how much you receive depends on the reputation giving power of the person awarding the 'like'.
Your reputation giving power is affected by how long you have been a member, the number of posts you have made and your own reputation. Your reputation score is displayed by a scale of pips underneath your avatar/name/title in your post information. If you hover over the pips, it will show you the title associated to that reputation score. Unless the lines are blank white and then it will tell you that the user's reputation is turned off.
If you click your name in the top right and select "User Settings", then go to your "Account" tab, you'll find the option to tick to enable "Reputation Level" to show. If you do NOT want to take part in this system, make sure it isn't ticked. Don't forget to scroll down to save any changes you make.
18. Disabled Sections
We have some sections that are hidden or only become accessible after a certain number of posts are made:
The Social Media Section, is a section where members who have posted at least 10 times can put forward ideas and make suggestions for our site promotion.
The Promoters' Section, is an area for the moderators and the site promoters (members who are specifically involved in running BuffyForums' various social media platform pages).
The Moderator Section, as suggested by the title, this forum is for the moderators only, it cannot be viewed at all. To become a moderator, read point 9.
19. Why has my thread been moved?
We work to try to keep the site tidy and easy to navigate. Moderators might move threads to more appropriate sections or, if you've started a thread that already exists, merge the threads or post a link to the other existing thread and close your own.
We also may move threads to The Archive section under Extras. You can contact a moderator for a thread to be moved back if you want to reopen it. Or you can start a new thread on the same topic if an archived thread is quite old and just provide a link to the previous thread in your opening post.
20. How do I attach images in my posts?
By clicking 'Upload Attachments' underneath the text box for creating a new post in a thread. Here you can choose whether to upload a few basic sizes of the image or click to upload a thumbnail in your post which will then open the full size image when clicked. Although there is a limit to the uploading of photos.
Alternatively, if you use an image hosting site you can get a forum code for the image you have there that you would like to link to and paste that code into the main body of your post. This will insert the thumbnail as a reduced representation of your hosted image. If you want to link through to your file at your image host (perhaps to provide a full wallpaper view), you will also need to provide the URL link underneath your thumbnail separately. If you click to "preview", at the bottom right of your reply box, you can see how the images will appear in your post.
BuffyForums' FAQs
We recently upgraded our forum software, migrated to a new host and are restructuring. So, there are a lot of changes still happening. General guidance on using the site, specific to the new updated version, can be found under the other Help headings too (General Help, Managing Your Account, Creating Content, etc.).
1. What is this place?
BuffyForums is a discussion board with an emphasis on critical thinking and openness to differing opinions. We all obviously love something about Buffy the Vampire Slayer mythology more than our hearts can contain. And we are here to talk and share in that love and vent some frustration we have with the parts we didn't like. Always remember that what you dislike could be what another person loves. We strive for respecting each other's opinions.
BuffyForums originally began in February 2007 as a temporary home for the members of BuffyWorld Forums which was experiencing heavy periods of downtime and ultimately an irreversible and unsuspected purging of the database losing all our posts and member information. At that point BuffyForums became its own distinct community in an effort to provide a reliable place for all our television discussion, fanart, and fanfic needs. You are very welcome to join our community here.
2. How do I get a picture under my name?
To get an avatar (image) under your name:
- Click on your name in the top right and enter "My Profile".
- There you can select to "Edit Avatar" (where your profile picture would be on the left).
- You must note however, that an avatar may not exceed 100 by 100 pixels or 10000 bytes. If you need any help resizing it or have any problems please ask in the Fanart Requests thread. Or, browse the Banner and Icon gallery in the Welcome area for icons and banners other members have offered for use.
3. How do I put an image in my signature?
You must have posted at least ten times before you will be able to have a banner in your signature.
- Click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- Under the "Account" tab scroll down to "Conversation Detail Options" and within "Visible Post Elements" select to "Edit Post Signature".
- Here you can upload an image or provide a forum link code to the image on a hosting site. You can enter text here too. Remember to save your edit.
4. Why can't I see my signature?
If you can't view signatures check your setting to see them is on.
- Click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- Under the "Account" tab scroll down to "Conversation Detail Options" and look within "Visible Post Elements" to check that "Show signatures" is ticked.
5. What are the titles under my name? Can I change it?
You may not change your title until you have made at least ten posts.
- To change your title, click on your name in the top right and enter your "User Settings".
- At the top of your "Profile" you have the option to enter a custom "User Title".
6. What are groups and how do I join them?
Groups are merely threads devoted to a particular character, relationship or topic. They are not elite. You can create a group or browse through the existing groups and if you're interested in being a group member, you can click the button to join or PM the group creator. If you can't see who the group creator is then please contact a moderator to ask who to get in touch with.
7. Can I change my user name?
If you want to change your user name you will need to contact an administrator or super moderator to change this for you.
8. My PM box says it is full but there is nothing in there
Private messages create a thread between you and the other members participating in the conversation. The messages you send and receive can be found in both your inbox and sent items folders. If you delete a PM it will be moved into your trash folder, but it can be recovered from there. You need to select messages to permanently delete within your trash in order for them to go completely and free up space if you have reached the maximum number of private messages.
9. What are moderators? Can I be one?
Moderators are members that have been selected to oversee the forum. They keep it clean, organized, and fair to all other members. Becoming a moderator is not easy. New ones are only added if they are needed and at that, they are chosen for their contribution to the forum and for their respect for other members.
10. Warning points
We have devised a system here to tackle spam, spoilers and problematic behaviour. The maximum points you can have before getting banned is 20 points. For the common offences you get 5 points and therefore need 4 warnings to get banned (4 warnings X 5 points = 20 points). At 15 points you're suspended for a week (3 warnings X 5 points = 15 points).
You may be given a warning without receiving any points for the infraction too. This is at the discretion of the moderators, if they feel the situation warrants some leniency. Otherwise, there are three levels of warnings. Ranging from the more common offences that incur 1 or 5 point infractions, to more serious infractions that incur a 10 point level. Then there are the occasions when a full immediate 20 points ban may be issued, such as to accounts created for spamming. The warning points quantity is determined by the levels and you will be issued points according to the nature of the offence.
When you receive a warning you will be sent a PM and email explaining the level of warning you have, how many points you have and what the warning was for.
If, after 30 days you have not received any further warnings your points will be taken away so you will be back to nothing, or if you were on 2 warnings you will be back to just 1.
11. Can I create a thread?
Registered members can create threads. Although the standard post minimum of only 10 characters exists when starting a new thread, please consider writing enough in your initial post to explain your idea or the point of discussion sufficiently that other members will be able to more fully participate in their responses.
12. Why is there a character limit for the comment function?
Comments can be used for brief, light comments, but responses that offer new ideas, that expand and continue or add to the discussion should be made in a main post on the thread. Using the comments feature for a more involved response that is just posted across consecutive comments will result in a warning or even the multiple comments being deleted. The limit on the size of comment you can make helps to prompt members to edit down a comment or switch to creating a main post instead.
13. How do I sign out?
Click on your name in the top right hand corner and the option to "Log Out" can be found there.
14. How do I get a forum?
If you want a forum like this one you need to buy it here: vBulletin
15. Signature Spoilers... What is allowed?
It's still spoilerish if it hasn't aired anywhere other than the US so far. You need to use the spoiler tags if you want to use spoiling visuals in your sig. For text, as long as the quote doesn't reveal anything about the episode/season then it is fine to place in your sig. If you are unsure and want to run it by us Moderators before placing it in your sig, then let us know what it is and we will let you know.
16. Can we post links to other Forums?
You can link other forums for reference or discussion but please don't start threads advertising your forums here. Same goes for websites, put them in your signatures, but don't post just to advertise. Occasionally, other sites that run events that the community may be interested in hearing news about are allowed to have a specific thread to announce details here, but only after a request has been approved by the moderators.
17. What are reputation points and how do they work?
Reputation is awarded through the 'like' function that appears at the bottom right of posts. You award reputation through the likes that you give to other members' posts and receive reputation through the likes given to your posts. How much reputation you give and how much you receive depends on the reputation giving power of the person awarding the 'like'.
Your reputation giving power is affected by how long you have been a member, the number of posts you have made and your own reputation. Your reputation score is displayed by a scale of pips underneath your avatar/name/title in your post information. If you hover over the pips, it will show you the title associated to that reputation score. Unless the lines are blank white and then it will tell you that the user's reputation is turned off.
If you click your name in the top right and select "User Settings", then go to your "Account" tab, you'll find the option to tick to enable "Reputation Level" to show. If you do NOT want to take part in this system, make sure it isn't ticked. Don't forget to scroll down to save any changes you make.
18. Disabled Sections
We have some sections that are hidden or only become accessible after a certain number of posts are made:
The Social Media Section, is a section where members who have posted at least 10 times can put forward ideas and make suggestions for our site promotion.
The Promoters' Section, is an area for the moderators and the site promoters (members who are specifically involved in running BuffyForums' various social media platform pages).
The Moderator Section, as suggested by the title, this forum is for the moderators only, it cannot be viewed at all. To become a moderator, read point 9.
19. Why has my thread been moved?
We work to try to keep the site tidy and easy to navigate. Moderators might move threads to more appropriate sections or, if you've started a thread that already exists, merge the threads or post a link to the other existing thread and close your own.
We also may move threads to The Archive section under Extras. You can contact a moderator for a thread to be moved back if you want to reopen it. Or you can start a new thread on the same topic if an archived thread is quite old and just provide a link to the previous thread in your opening post.
20. How do I attach images in my posts?
By clicking 'Upload Attachments' underneath the text box for creating a new post in a thread. Here you can choose whether to upload a few basic sizes of the image or click to upload a thumbnail in your post which will then open the full size image when clicked. Although there is a limit to the uploading of photos.
Alternatively, if you use an image hosting site you can get a forum code for the image you have there that you would like to link to and paste that code into the main body of your post. This will insert the thumbnail as a reduced representation of your hosted image. If you want to link through to your file at your image host (perhaps to provide a full wallpaper view), you will also need to provide the URL link underneath your thumbnail separately. If you click to "preview", at the bottom right of your reply box, you can see how the images will appear in your post.
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