Using the Home Buying/Selling Forum
Some of you have written that you aren't quite sure how to use the forum, whether it's to read messages or to send them. So I thought a basic tutorial might help you navigate my forum, and the others within About.
What is a Forum?
Many people ask that question, so don't feel like you're totally in the dark if you don't know the answer. A forum is a lot like using e-mail, with one important difference: your messages are sent to an area where everyone who enters the forum can read them. A forum is a lot like the bulletin board at your local grocery store, where people post notices about everything from babysitting to car washes.
Forums aren't the best places for private discussions, but they're perfect for asking questions and sharing opinions with lots of individuals, or for advertising your product and services. And you'd be surprised how many friendships have been born on Internet forums, because they're great places to meet people who share your interests.
How Do I Get to the Forum?
There are several pathways, and I think that helps create some of the confusion. They all take you to the messages, but by different routes. Here's one way.
When you click on Post In Forums, in the link bar at the top of this page, it takes you to the page below.
The gray box in the center column is where you type your user name and password if you've already registered. If you haven't registered yet, click on the Guest access, just to the right of the Just Visiting text. You can become a member from this page, but (in my opinion) the registration options you'll get later are more streamlined.
| Here's a Tip |
| Open a New Page in your browser. Keep this tutorial open on the original page, and use the new one to follow the tutorial's path through the forum. The full-sized forum pages are easier to view than my reduced versions. |
When you enter as a Guest, you are forwarded to the Forum's Start page, pictured below.
If there's a star to the left of the message title, it's new since your last visit. You may see other icons, too. A paper clip means the message has an attachment, such as a photo. Information about 'rules,' and links leading to forum FAQs and other help documents. In this case it there's a link to take you to the Web site's sister forum. Search features to help you find what you're looking for throughout our network.
Recent Discussions
Welcome
More About
Shows you the most recent conversations.
Contains a general 'welcome to the forum' message
Promos for other forums.
Now What?
If you see a message title that looks interesting, click on it to go directly to that message. Or click on the red Start Reading bar. Both actions take you into the forum.
Page 2 --> Reading Messages
Page 3 --> Sending Messages
Page 4 --> Other Ways to the Forum
