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Creating an Identity
Creating an identity is important when using the board. An identity will allow other users to know more about you. How much information you wish to share with other users is entirely up to you. This bulletin board gives you several ways in which you can customize your identity.
Register and create a new account
Register for an account
It is important to register on the bulletin board so that when you create new content, it will be associated with your account rather than the anonymous account. This lets other users know that it is you that is posting new content. You can register for a new account by clicking the register link on the top left side of the board.Private boards require an invitation
If this is a private bulletin board, then you must be invited in order to receive an account. Contact the administrator of the board for more details on how to receive an account.Select an avatar
One of the neat features of some bulletin boards is the ability to select an avatar. An avatar is an icon that represents your account online. Depending on how the administrator of the board configured the settings, you can do the following:
- Select a stock avatar from a list that the administrator has chosen
- Use the URL of an avatar on another web site
- Upload your own image to this bulletin board
Some bulletin boards do not allow avatars and thus you will not have access to any of these features. You can change your avatar settings by clicking on the "My Profile" link on the top menu. Then click on the "Profile" link to change your profile settings.
Custom registration fields
Some bulletin boards have custom registration fields that you can fill in such as "year of birth," "the country you are from," etc.. These fields allow you to personalize your profile so that other users will have a little glimpse into who you are.
Hiding your identity
Protecting your email address
Some people wish to remain anonymous while using the bulletin board which is fine. Your email address will not be given out to any user even when they email content to you from the board. Instead, all communications through email are sent from the server, not the sender's account. This keeps your email address confidential.You can select a generic (blank) avatar to represent you while online. This minimizes your appearance and provides a bit of extra privacy.