Here is a brief explanation of some of the questions you may have
about the Stable Minds message boards. If you do not see your answer here,
you can post a question on the Tech Support/Test Board.
Can I put html tags anywhere in my posts?
You can only use HTML tage in the body of your message.
They will not work in the From, or Subject lines. If you want to display one image, use the space provided below where you compose the body of your message. If you want to display two in one post, use HTML.
Why do the words "alert," "script" and "location" automatically get changed?
You will see that these three words have a letter changed to a number - they become "al3rt," "scr1pt" and "locat1on." This was done in order to prevent people posting code that will end up running on other people's compuers when they read a post. Basically, in order to be able to post pictures inside the main post of your message, it was decided that this board would support HTML (the standard web language). Unfortunately, that also means that people could make pop ups jump up, or direct users to a spam website...or worse. In order to prevent this, an easy mechanism is to disable the "script" and "alert" javascript commands by changing the letter to a number. If HTML was disabled on these boards, then you would only be able to post 1 photo per post.
How do I post photos??
The boards at Stable Minds provide a convenient photo-posting option if you only want to post one photo. First, your photos MUST be uploaded to a location on the internet. If you do not already have the option of doing this, maybe look into applying for a "HomeStead" here on StableMinds. Click on the link at the left for more information on HomeSteads.
Once you have your photo online, simply type (or cut and paste) the URL of your photo into the "Optional Image Link" box at the bottom of the posting form, exactly the way it would appear in the address bar of your browser.
If you want to post multiple images in one post, the following must be typed in the message area of your post, where you want your photo to show:
<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.yourURLhere.com/yourfilename.jpg">]]>
In another browser, go to the photo you want to post and copy and paste its EXACT URL between the quotes (leaving the quotes in).
If just ONE letter of the code or the URL is incorrect or missing, your picture will not be displayed. Filenames are case sensitive. Each quote ["] must be there, and each quote angle [<] and [>] must be included exactly correct to make it work. The best plan is to copy/paste the URL from your web browser and paste it, then add your angle quotes and HTML tags.
Feel free to test out these techniques on the Tech Board.
Why should I register my name?
By registering your name, you save and password-protect it so no one else can post using your identity. It's a good idea to do this! You will remain "logged in" as long as you sign on from the same IP address. If you switch computers, you will have to click on "Register my Name" again and just sign in with your username and password. Those who choose not to register will be identified by a random string of letters that constitutes a fingerprint, which in a way allows them to be identified as well.
What's the deal with the cookies?
Everytime you post to the board, you make a seperate posting transaction. There is no way for the board to know who you are, unless you pass some information that identifies you each time.
You could type in your name and password each time, but that would be painfully annoying, so....this board uses 'cookies'. These are tiny pieces of information that relate to this website only, and they are only given to the PC that you are using if you provide a matching username and password. This prevents anyone falsifying someone elses name, and also makes available even stronger authentication if people need to be 100% sure that the person is who they say they are.
You can be logged in from as many systems as you want at the same time with the same identity, providing you provide the correct username and user password, which you can get by clicking on the 'Register your name' link.
For those of you worried about leaving cookies everywhere, or if someone else has access to the computer that you've been using, then you should 'log out' or remove the validity of the PC you are using from using your ID. This is done by clearing your cookie whick can be done from the 'Register your name' link.
Information held in the coookie is that the PC you are using is an authenticated system to use your name. Nothing else relating to you is stored in the cookie.
Level of security of the cookie is medium. It is readable but not understandable by most users. It requires a reasonable amount of effort to duplicate or forge, and uses what was considered the standard in military encryption about 10 years ago. Therefore only a determined fraudster with a high level of skill would be able to forge your identity, provided that you clear them when you leave your PC, rather than leaving them around to be stolen by someone.
What if I post from more than one computer?
Before posting on another computer, click on "Register my Name" at the top of the board and enter your name and password. It will then display all of the info you entered the first time (and place the cookie on your machine). Don't do anything at this screen - just go ahead and start posting. You'll never have to do it again unless you clear your cookies, delete temporary internet files, or sign on from another un-cookied computer. Your name is always saved, whether you clear your cookies or not.
Why didn't my post show up?
Your post most likely did not show up, because your browser did not reload the
page, it simply pulled it out of cache. Please reload your browser and it
should then appear. Same idea applies to Follow-ups that do not appear below a message. Hit "Refresh" on your browser.
What do the different-colored horseshoes mean?
The horseshoes are a way of identifying a member's status. You don't get a horseshoe until you register your name. You can identify members and their role on the boards by the following:
 = Member
 = Homesteader (click HERE for info on Homesteads)
 = Admin
 = Webmaster & Moderators
What are the "Default" checkboxes for in the "Post a New Message" area?
You can set the board to display a certain photo or website link automatically every time you post by entering the information and checking off the "Default" box. Not recommended unless it is something relatively small, because people will get pretty tired of seeing the same thing over and over again when they read your posts.
Who is responsible for administration of this site?
is your site admin. She and the moderators have the authority to remove posts, ban users, and generally maintain order. Be nice to your admins!
Where can I get the scripts for this program?
The scripts are written in Perl and are based on scripts created by Matt Wright. They are
free to anyone who wishes to use them and you can get them as well as other
scripts at: http://www.scriptarchive.com/.
Because of the licencing of this particular script, you may also request the actual
script used for this site. It includes various anti-spam enhancements and also
some alterations to ensure that the scripts are easier to configure. Assistance
with configuration can be obtained by contacting Peter Edmond
at Another Mouse Limited.
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