In this FAQ:

How do I get started? How do I find the discussion forums?
Do I have to be registered to use the forums? How do I create a new topic? How do I reply to someone else's post? How do I format my message? How do I preview my message? Can I edit my messages after they have been posted? Your profile
Will people see my email address? Do I have to use my real name? Why am I not allowed to paste articles in messages? Are forums moderated? Is there anything I am not allowed to say? Will the authors of articles read my posts?

How do I get started?
If you are unfamiliar with how discussion forums work and would like some tips on "netiquette", here are our suggestions about how to get involved.

• "Lurk" (read without posting) to find out whose company you are entering.


• Explore the site to find a discussion you feel at home in.


• Familiarise yourself with a discussion thread before making your post (threads can be long, and are navigated using a numbered page menu above the posts).


• Be aware that though discussions may read like private conversations, forums are public spaces, are read silently by many, and may even appear in Google searches.


• If linking to or quoting an article, give a sense of why you'd like to discuss it with other contributors (and keep quotes as brief as possible).


• Attribute quotes clearly to their sources.


• Take on the idea rather than the individual.


• Since discussions are like conversations, others may expect you to return and reply. It can help to respond to what has been said in making your point and to clarify disagreements before making challenges.

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How do I find the discussion forums?

Discussion forums can be located by clicking on "forums" at the top of the screen. You can start posting after having logged in to the site.

How is forum content organized?

Forums contain a list of discussion topics related to the debate you are in. You can see the title of the debate up top.

Topics (also known as "threads") are discussions that consist of one or more messages displayed as a list. Anyone can start a new topic.

Messages are the individual discussion posts made by openDemocracy members. You need to be signed in to post a message.

Replies are messages posted in response to other messages, and can be seen by clicking on a topic and scrolling down.

Do I have to be registered to use the forums?
Yes. It is free to be a member of openDemocracy, and it only takes seconds to register. Just enter your email address and a password at the top of your screen, where it says "sign up to receive openDemocracy emails".

If you are already a member and receive openDemocracy's weekly email, all you need to do to use the forums is sign in.

How do I create a new topic?
To start a new topic, click on "Post New Forum Topic" in the forum's main page. You need to be at the 'entrance' of the discussion forum to create a new topic.

Type your topic header in the subject line and type your message or question in the message box. This should be as easy as writing an email. Just click "Post Message" when you are ready.

How do I reply to someone else's post?
If you see a post you would like to respond to, click on "Reply" in the upper right hand corner of the post.

Type your topic header in the subject line and type your message or question in the message box. This should be as easy as writing an email. Just click "Post Message" when you are ready.

How do I format my message?
When you are writing a message you can use bold, italics and underline to emphasise your points, or just make it look prettier.

Highlight the word (or words) you would like to format, and click on either of the three square buttons above the message field. This will insert html code that looks like this: <b>/<b> around your word. Once you publish the text, this code is invisible. The word will simply be formatted as you have chosen (in this case bold).

On some computers the code gets inserted at the bottom of the text, rather than around the selected word. If this happens you will need to cut and paste the code around the word (or words) yourself: <b>like this</b>

The forums will automatically make any web addresses in your text click-able when you publish a post.

You can quote the full text of the post you are replying to by clicking "Quote" above the text field. This is only practical if the original post was quite short, or if the current topic/thread you are in is extremely long. Otherwise it is best to copy and paste the passages you would like to respond to from the handy copy directly under your message field. Remember to indicate when it is you writing or when you are quoting another member.

How do I preview my message before posting?
To preview a message before it is posted, click on "Preview" under the message field, and you will be shown a copy of your text, as it will look when it is published - including any formatting.

Can I edit my messages after they have been posted?
Yes. Even after a message has been posted you can click "edit", and then change the text. You need to be signed in to do this. You can only edit your own posts.

Your profile

In the Control Panel your "Profile" contains your personal information - only visible to you.

Under "Watches" you can see a list of the topics and forums you are watching. This is also where you delete any watches you would like to stop receiving.

Why am I not allowed to paste articles in messages?
Members will love to get links or references to articles you've enjoyed on the Web. Please share recommendations. However: please do not post the full text of articles from other sites in openDemocracy's discussion forums. This infringes the copyright of the author and/or of the publication where it originated. It is illegal.

If you would like to quote an article or encourage other members to read it, please post extracts followed by the web address (link) where it can be found. Otherwise the forum moderator may delete or edit your post.

On that note, please avoid posting the full text of openDemocracy articles on other sites, too. We'd like them to visit us. Please link to us generously.

Are forums moderated? Is there anything I am not allowed to say?
All posts in the discussion forum are read by the moderator shortly after they have been posted. openDemocracy operates on openness and trust, and intervention will always be kept to a minimum. Discussion forums belong to the members.

However, it is expected that members abide by the terms and conditions of the site. Please do not use profane or offensive language, and be respectful to the views of others - even if they are profoundly unlike your own. You will meet many different kinds of people in the forums.

If you are offended by a post, you can ask to have it removed. The moderator, jessica.reed@opendemocracy.net will consider your request, and either ask the offender to rephrase, or remove the message entirely.

If a message has been edited by the moderator, it will say so at the bottom of the text.

Will the authors of articles read my posts?
If you ask specific questions of authors or make comments about their articles, sometimes you will be lucky to get a direct response. Please always indicate which article or which author you are referring to.