Posting Guidelines

[Jeff]

Before you post to the forums, please read the following posting guidelines and our forum policies:

Check our Instant Messaging Centers
We’ve created special centers for all the major instant messengers: AOL Instant Messenger, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, and a final center for alternative messengers such as Trillian and Odigo. The messaging centers are your best place to get started with the basics. The most frequently asked questions are generally answered there.

Search the Forums
Before you ask a question, search the forums to see if your question has previously been asked (and answered). There’s a wealth of information already in the forums, and the chances are good that your question has already been answered.

Post in the Correct Forum
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with our forums. You’ll see we have forums dedicated to all of the major instant messengers, plus some related topics like webcams. We even have off-topic forums where you can hang your hat, kick back with your favorite cold beverage and rant or rave about whatever’s on your mind. But please post your topic to the right forum. If in doubt, just ask. Our are real people just like you, and they’re happy to jump in and give you a hand whenever needed.

Use a Descriptive Title
The forums here get pretty busy at times. Make it easier for everyone by providing a descriptive title. "Please help!" and "I have a problem" are poorly worded titles. Instead, describe your question or problem in the title, like "How do I block someone?" or "Need help getting Super Webcam mode working." This makes it easier for people with the answers to find your post and provide an answer.

Provide Details
When you have a question or need help, the more detail your provide, the better someone will be able to help. Your operating system, software version, connection type and computer configuration are all useful details. Mainly, you should provide the details necessary for someone else to reproduce your problem.

Images
If you need to share an image to clarify a problem or explain a solution, you can attach or link to an image in your post. Please keep the image size down to no more than 500 pixels in width; this helps viewers running at lower resolutions see things properly. Do not link to copywrited images. If in doubt, ask first.

Use Color and Fonts Sparingly
Resist the urge to get artistic, and use colors and fonts sparingly, usually to emphasize a small piece of text in your entire post. Do not change the color or font of your entire post or there's a good chance a moderator will change it back. We've chose the default font and colors to make it easily readable for everyone; please respect those choices.

Respect Your Fellow Members
BigBlueBall is a community of people who share a common interest in instant messaging. There are newbies and experts; programmers and casual users; young and old; all kinds of people participate in the forums. Everyone brings something unique to the forums (yes, even you!). Your personality, experience and self-expression add dimension and make the forums an interesting and useful place. Be yourself—but always remember to respect your fellow members. As you write, remember my personal rule of thumb: Don’t say anything that would embarrass your mother!

Thanks,

Jeff and the Staff at BigBlueBall.com

[Jeff]

Added section on posting links.

[Jeff]

Added section on linking images in forum posts.

[Jeff]

Added section on colors and fonts.