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Questions:

1. This message board software is very different from most message boards I've used. Why do you use it? Does it have any special features that make it worth learning to use?
   
   
2. Whenever I try to do something on the board (e.g. post a message), I get an error message saying some .php file cannot be found. What can I do?
   
   
3. I have a message board account, but automatically logs me in as "Guest" (or it keeps taking me back to the login page even though I have cookies turned on). It refuses to log me out or let me log in with my account. What can I do?
   
   
4. How do people get pictures in their signatures?
   
   
5. Why is such a fuss made about writing messages in short paragraphs with a blank line between each paragraph when it is so much easier just to type a single long paragraph?
   
   
6. What's up with the password recovery feature? It doesn't seem to work.
   
   
7. I just voted in a poll, but instead of seeing the results as usual I'm just being asked to vote again. Was my vote recorded?
   
   
8. Why are people being so mean to me / arguing with me?
   
   
9. What should I do if I see the message board rules being violated?
   
   
10. Why are the moderators being so hard on Poster A but going so easy on Poster B?
    
    
11. I have an issue with the way I am (or another member is) being moderated. What should I do?
    
    
12. I want to post an advertisement for my discussion group, store, Web page, etc. Can I?
    
    
13. What's with the spam recipes and the weird SPAM subject lines?
    
    
14. Why are you mocking my ad? It wasn't spam, I was just trying to share something I thought you guys would like!
    
    
15. Why did a staff member edit my post?
    
    
16. I phrased my post badly, or posted something I didn't intend to, or realized I was wrong. What should I do?
    
    
17. Someone posted a link to news article that is requiring free registration to read. Is there any way to read it if I'm not registered at the site it's on? I don't like to give out personal information just to read a news article.
    
    
18. I've got a long link to post and don't want to cause side scrolling. What's that site people use to shorten URLs?
    
    
19. I've got a really nifty idea for a feature, could you add it I to the board? Conversely, what about removing a board feature that never gets used to make things less confusing?
    
    
20. I created an account long ago (before mid-February 2006), but now the board will not let me log on. What happened to my account? What should I do?
    
    

Answers:

Question 5: This message board software is very different from most message boards I've used. Why do you use it? Does it have any special features that make it worth learning to use?

To be honest, we use Beehive Forums software because it is the only open source mssage board that has the one feature needed to keep the hosts happy. It remembers what messages each member has read in each and every thread -- and only displays new messages in each thread when you return to the board. You don't have to find where you left off to start reading again, you just click on the thread name in the thread pane and your next unread message in that thread appears. This is a feature that few message boards have and on an active board like this one, it makes the board so much more enjoyable (especially for those who have to read every new message on the board). You will, however, find as you use this board that Beehive Forums has many other nice features.

Question 2: Whenever I try to do something on the board like post a message, I get an error message saying some .php file cannot be found. What can I do?

This problem happens when your browser and the web site somehow get out of sync. For example, I get something like this once in a great while when I hit a new thread or (worse the Post button in a reply) -- a message that "somefile".php cannot be found. When I look at the location the browser is display, I always discover that the server and the browser have somehow gotten out of sync. Instead of looking for "http://www.ecauldron.net/mb/somefile.php" (which the browser can find), the browser is just looking for "somefile.php" which the browser will not be able to find as it has no idea what server it is on.

When I use Firefox, Opera or Mozilla and this happens, I just shut down all copies of the browser, restart it, return to the forum, and it works again. With IE, however, it can be more annoying.

If simply shutting down all copies of the IE browser does not work, usually shutting down and restarting the computer will make it work (by forcing any hidden copies of IE code that other programs might be using to shut down). However, in extreme cases even that will not clear up the problem -- you have to clear IE's cache, empty the trash, then shut down first IE and then the computer, reboot, and return to the web site and then it should finally work.

Question 3: I have an account, but automatically logs me in as "Guest" (or it keeps taking me back to the login page even though I have cookies turned on). It refuses to log me out or let me log in with my account. What can I do?

This is a browser problem: usually corrupted cookies or a corrupted cache. In the best case, it can be very easy to clear. In the worst case, it can be very hard to clear.

(Before you start, however, be sure you have cookies turned on. If they are off for some reason or your browser is not set the accept cookies from www.ecauldron.net and ecauldron.net, you will never be able to log in.) Also, if you are switching between the old Archive board and the new board, you must either completely log out of the lst board you used or shut down all copies of your browser before you can log into the other board without getting weird errors like "session timed out."

Let's try the best case first. Try clicking on this link: Clear Cauldron Login Cookie (assuming you are trying to log into the new, active board). Clicking on the link will try to delete our message board's login cookie (it is what stores your user name and password for you). After doing so then try to go to the login page -- if it lets you log in, your problem is solved.

If this does not work, try the following: Clear the browser cache. Restart the browser (shutting down ALL browser windows, not just the window with the forum in it. Start your browser and see if you can log into the message board.

If this does not work, then try this more time-consuming method: Clear the browser cache. Shut down the computer completely and then restart it. Start your browser and see if you can log into the message board.

If this does not work, there is one more thing you can try: manually deleting cookies. (Note, if you have reached this far without solving the problem, it's very likely that it is corrupt cookies and you will have to find some way to delete them to log in.) Depending on what browser you use, there are two possible ways to do this: a fairly safe way and a "something you might not really want to do" way.

• Fairly Safe Way: If your browser allows you to view cookies and delete individuals cookies, go through and delete every cookie from www.ecauldron.net or ecauldron.net. Then try logging in.
  
  
• "Something You Might Really Not Want To Do" Way: If your browser will not let you delete individual cookies and you know how to delete all cookies from your browser (Important Warning: you want to do this will loose automatic logins and the like on other sites if you clear all cookies -- do you remember your user name and password for every site you've ever visited?), try deleting all cookies. Then try logging in.

If none of the above solutions work, it is possible that your computer is behind a firewall or using filtering software that somehow interferes with logging into The Cauldron's message board. This is unlikely if you are home user, but it has happened with a few severely locked down work computers.

Question 4: How do people get pictures in their signatures?

Designing signatures is a complex subject requiring more space than we have here. Fortunately, there are some threads on our message board that provide information and a place to ask questions of our "Signature Experts."

• General Signature Help Thread
  
  
• Signature Test Thread
  
  
• Signature Rules and Guidelines Thread
  
  

If you need space to store signature images, check in the Extras menu for links to free sites that host images and allow linking to them from third party sites.

Question 5: Why is such a fuss made about writing messages in short paragraphs with a blank line between each paragraph when it is so much easier just to type a single long paragraph?

Studies have shown that most people have a very hard time reading massive blocks of text on a monitor. These studies also show that writing in short paragraphs and putting blank lines between each paragraph (by pressing return twice at the end of each paragraph) greatly increases the readability of text on a monitor.

Even if you do not have trouble reading large, unbroken masses of text on a monitor, we must insist that you consider the needs of the many who do and write in short paragraphs with blank lines between them. Remember, people will not read your messages if they are too hard for them to read -- no matter how easy they are for you to read.

Note, however, that The Cauldron is not an English class. If writing in logical paragraphs is too hard to do when you are writing live online, just press return twice after every three or four sentences and don't worry about what an English professor would think of the resulting paragraphs. The white space will greatly improve the readability even if the English professor is moaning about the less than perfect paragraph division.

Question 6: What's up with the password recovery feature? It gives me some type of php or mysql error.

This feature broke on some servers in the current (0.5) version of Beehive. It works fine on the servers the Beehive Forums programmers use so they yet have no idea what is wrong or how to fix it. Unfortunately, ours is one of the servers where it does not always work. If you forget your password and the password recovery feature does not work for you (because it gives you a php or mysql error), email Randall or Bob from the email account that you have listed for your board account and they can go into the database and assign your message board account a new password -- be sure to mention your board username. Note: be sure you have an account on the new board (created after mid-February 2006) before emailing, see Question 20 below for more information!

Question 7: I just voted in a poll, but instead of seeing the results as usual I'm just being asked to vote again. Was my vote recorded?

Yes. The poll you voted in is probably set up to allow multiple votes per person. Click on the View Results button to see the results.

Question 8: Why are people being so mean to me / arguing with me?

Chances are that they don't believe they are being mean. Personal attacks are of course against the rules here. However, doubting information or even beliefs, asking for sources to support the same, and outright saying, "I think that is wrong," are not considered mean or attacking behavior here. Our posters are not required to agree with each other. We have many different points of view represented on our forum, and we value that. However, we do recognize that this is somewhat different from other Pagan groups, and that The Cauldron's style is not for everyone. If the discussion style here seems overly aggressive to you, you may want to seek out one of those other groups.

If you are new to Pagan religions, you might consider posting your messages in our "S: New To Pagan Religions?" folder as our members know to be more "polite" about incorrect facts and similar newbie confusion there. Similarly, if you are a teen and are finding our general folders a bit less understanding than you would like, you might want to post in our "S: Pagan Teens" folder. Note, errors will still be pointed out in these folders, but people will try to be more gentle about it than they often are in other folders. Note the "S:" means the folder has special rules.

Question 9: What should I do if I see the message board rules being violated?

Generally, nothing, unless you're a staff member. As stated in the rules, moderation is to be left to the staff -- members are not allowed to moderate each other. If you are extremely concerned about a situation and feel it needs to be reported, you can send a private message or e-mail to one of the moderators, the Assistant Message Board Coordinator, or the Message Board Coordinator. (Please do not contact the hosts directly about rules problems -- unless you have already contacted the staff members mentioned above and are still not happy with the situation.)

Question 10: Why are the moderators being so hard on Poster A but going so easy on Poster B?

There can be several reasons for this:

• Because Poster A is actually violating the rules and Poster B is not. For example, if Poster A says "Member X is stupid for believing idea Y" and Poster B says "I think idea Y is the dumbest thing I've ever heard of" both are probably being impolite, but only Poster A has actually violated a forum rule.
• Because the long-term good of the board requires it.
• Because one of the people is a staff member. Staff members generally are not moderated in public (only the hosts have the authority to do so and they seldom exercise that power), but in private staff only areas.
• Because The Cauldron's hosts and staff are human and therefore fallible. Cauldron staff make every effort to moderate consistently, but being human, slip up sometimes.

Question 11: I have an issue with the way I am (or another member is) being moderated. What should I do?

If you have an issue with the way moderation is being used in a particular situation, the appropriate course of action is to contact the Assistant Message Board Coordinator or the Message Board Coordinator with your concern. (Again, please do not contact the hosts directly unless you have already talked to these people and are still not satisfied.) What you should not do, under any circumstances, is post criticism of the moderation to the board. This is against the rules. You're free to disagree with the moderation and to make that disagreement known, but we ask that it be handled in private so that we don't sidetrack the whole board dealing with it.

Question 12: I want to post an advertisement for my discussion group, store, web page, etc. Can I?

If what you're advertising will be of interest to our members, we might allow you to post an ad. However, you do need to get permission first by e-mailing the Message Board Coordinator. If you do not do this, chances are very high that your message will be considered spam, and as such will be removed. If it is about a commercial site or is not even Pagan related, you may be gagged or banned for posting it. (This is particularly true if the advertisement is your first post at our forum. When a brand-new poster posts an advertisement, it looks a lot like they joined just to post the ad and have no interest in our board beyond ad space. We consider this to be pretty rude behavior.)

Note that you can get a link for your Pagan-related web site placed in the Web Resources section of our web site for the "cost" of a link back to our site from your site. See our Get Listed! page.

Question 13: What's with the spam recipes and the weird SPAM subject lines?

When someone spams our message board (generally by advertising without permission) we traditionally remove the spam message (so they do not get the free advertising they want), change the subject line of the message to replace one of it's words with "SPAM" (in a way that sounds humorous, if possible), and post a really terrible-sounding SPAM recipe in the thread. Members often comment on the awfulness of the recipe. It's just a weird tradition we have. If this happens to one of your messages, do not complain about it. Your message broke the rules and is being treated in accordance with our rules. Deal with it -- as the Hosts have no tolerance for or patience with militant spammers.

Question 14: Why are you mocking my ad? It wasn't spam, I was just trying to share something I thought you guys would like!

Unsolicited and unapproved advertisements are considered spam here, period. Occasionally we might make an exception for something that is relatively on topic and non-commercial, but please don't count on this to keep your post from being treated as spam (see question 13 above for how we treat spam). If you want your ad to be taken seriously and left up, we suggest you follow the rules and ask permission before posting it. Non-commercial advertising that the senior staff considers of real interest to our members is generally approved. Commercial advertising is less likely to be approved, but sometimes is. For example, many regular participants have standing permission to post when they release a new book, t-shirt, CD or whatever. If you believe your message was removed in error, please see the question above about issues with moderation for the proper appeal procedure.

Question 15: Why did a staff member edit my post?

Most likely reasons are to fix some broken HTML, to make a link clickable, to insert white space (blank lines between paragraphs), to make light-colored text black, or to shorten a long link that was causing side-scrolling. Generally, your actual wording is not changed. There are two exceptions: spam messages are removed by editing out the entire message and excessive quoting of what appears to be copyrighted material is cut to something that can be considered "fair use". If the actual text of your post is changed, there will be a small note added at the bottom of your post (before your sig, if any) saying exactly what was done. If your message is the first message in a thread and there is no such note, chances are your message was not edited at all but that the thread was renamed or moved to a different folder: the current version of Beehive Forums markes the first message as "edited" if the thread is renamed or moved to a different folder even though no actual change was made to the message content.

Question 16: I phrased my post badly, or posted something I didn't intend to, or realized I was wrong. What should I do?

If you've realized this within a couple of minutes of posting and no one has replied to it yet, you may simply edit the post to remove all the content. (We prefer that you do not simply delete the post, as it may cause navigational problems for some people.) However, if enough time has passed that people have probably read it, or especially if anyone has replied, editing it to make any changes in meaning will very likely violate our rules. If you want to correct yourself, do it in a new post. (You can edit your old post to ADD something at the beginning or end to say that you misstated or were wrong yourself and refer to the later post where you corrected yourself -- the main thing is to not invalidate later posts that might have commented on what you originally said.)

Question 17: Someone posted a link to news article that is requiring free registration to read. Is there any way to read it if I'm not registered at the site it's on? I don't like to give out personal information just to read a news article.

Try http://www.bugmenot.com/ to get user names and passwords for most of the major newspapers requiring free registration. Note that they do not provide this information for sites that require paying memberships.

Question 18: I've got a long link to post and don't want to cause side scrolling. What's that site people use to shorten URLs?

Try http://www.shorl.com/ or http://www.tinyurl.com/.

Question 19: I've got a really nifty idea for a feature, could you add it to the board? Conversely, what about removing a board feature that never gets used to make things less confusing?

As Beehive is open source software, we could modify the board's code to suit our wishes. However, it would take an awful lot of time and effort for a very small result. Also, these changes would have to be carefully rewritten every time a new official release of Beehive is made if we wanted to update the software to take advantage of new official features and not lose our modifications. All in all, the Hosts have decided it is not worth it, so we will not be customizing the code any more than they feel is absolutely necessary. If a future version of Beehive allows for plugins, we might change our mind. However, as far as I know, plugins are not even on the drawing board.

Question 20: I created an account long ago (before mid-February 2006), but now the board will not let me log on. What happened to my account? What should I do?

In January 2006, Bob replaced his old dual processer server (where this message board lives on Bob's server) with a quad processor server. This should have made a noticable speed improvement -- and did for every otherc site on the server. Our message board slowed to a crawl. After testing, we discovered the current version of Beehive Forums software (0.6.x) was very inefficent in its database usage. Tests showed that the 0.5 branch that we used until September 2005 zipped right along -- taking 4-6 seconds to load compared to the 15 to 20 seconds the newer version was taking. Unfortunately, there is no way to move back to an older release of Beehive Forums, so we had to start a new board -- from scratch. If you have not logged into the board since the changeover in mid-February 2006, this means your account does not yet exist on the new board.

If you had an account on our old board, you will need to follow this procedure to successfully log in to our new board:

1. Go to the New Board. Note that your username and password will probably be in the logon box. If they are, ignore them as you are not really "there" until you register. Click on the Register link and register -- using the same username and password you use on this board if your old username is still available. (Or a completely different username, although this will confuse people -- just don't use the same username as the old board with a different password). Be sure to use a working email address that you get email from.
   
   
2. When you finish, you should be logged in (You'll see a top menu with "Logout" instead of "Login" if you are). Log out completely. Try to log back in. You should be able to. If you get some type of "Session" or other weird error, close your browser down, go directly to the new board and try again.
   
   
3. Important Info on the new board: The folders are split between two forums: the Main Forum and the Socuial Forum. It is easy to move between these two forums via the "Forums" menu in the board or via the link in the top (white) area of the message board. You will need to add your sig and fill out your profile on each forum as these are forum specific.