To post in these forums and to see all topics you need to be registered. If I allowed unregistered postings, the forums will be swamped with adverts for dubious sites and products.
Registering is easy – just go to the menu at the top left of the page and click register.
This will take you to a page with the legal agreement and you need to read it and agree to join. Assuming you are over 13 – (the page has different settings for younger children) you will get the page to put your details in.
First, pick a username. This can be your own name if you wish or a ‘nom de net’.
Next your email address. Few points here – if you put a false email address in you will not be able to join as the confirmation will not reach you. If you have anti-spam software it may decide the confirmation is spam so you may need to put allotment-garden.org into your whitelist.
Don’t worry about me spamming you – I won’t! Neither will your email be given to anyone else without your express and specific permission.
OK – now choose a password and put that in. I’d suggest you make it something you can remember easily. Incidentally, the way the passwords are stored as an encrypted string means I cannot see them.
Next you need to copy the letters and numbers into the confirmation code box. This stops automatic systems from registering and then posting adverts for their obnoxious products.
The next section – like ICQ number etc is publicly viewable. Consider if you want everyone to know your ICQ number before filling it in.
You can put your personal website in and even a commercial website if it is relevant to allotments and vegetable growing. (No viagra, gambling or other such rubbish thanks)
I’d suggest you put your location in – town or county. NOT your actual postal address.
A signature, if filled in, will appear at the base of your posts.
Now we come to preferences.
I’d strongly suggest you leave ‘Always show my e-mail address’ set at No
You may wish to change ‘Always notify me of replies’ to Yes
The rest I’d suggest you leave as the default settings.
It takes longer to explain than to do it!