Forum basics for

SpaceBookers

Pic 1: The link to all your unread posts is in the top right hand corner of the main forum page.

Pic 2: Use 'Search Forums' to find existing threads on the topics you are interested in.

Pic 3: If you think social networks are addictive, wait till you get your teeth into posting on forums. It's infinitely more fun and rewarding.

So you've arrived at Brightcecilia Classical Music Forums from Myspace, Facebook, Twitter or some other social network, and things don't happen in quite the way you're used to. So what do you do next? Read on to get the most from Brightcecilia.

Brightcecilia gets much traffic from MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. There have been instances of people joining and, because they're unfamiliar with forum architecture, not knowing what to do next and becoming disheartened.

Internet forums baffle the Myspace generation, especially a forum like Brightcecilia where social networking and message board roles are combined. Here's how to make the transition and get the most from Brightcecilia. Any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

1. It’s no good opening a Brightcecilia account then sitting on your profile waiting for something to happen. A few people may drop by and say hullo but, on the whole, the action occurs elsewhere.

2. The 'Unread Posts' button on the front page of the site is your friend. Click it and you’ll find a list of threads containing posts made since your last visit (see pic 1).

3. “But what’s a post?” I hear you wail. “And a thread? Why should I care?”

4. Look at the front page again. It’s organised in categories: Baroque Music, Modern Music, Rock, pop, indie, blues, jazz.... etc. Each category contains ‘threads.’ A thread is a discussion someone’s started on a subject which interests them. People then add ‘posts’ to that thread. Or they start their own thread and others post on that. You can post in text, pictures, Youtube videos, wikipedia quotes, whatever. If you stick to the (minimal) forum rules you can post what and how you want.

5. So if you’ve something to say -- most people have -- start a thread about it. Or do a search, find an existing thread on that subject, and post there. If you do post a duplicate thread, don’t worry, the moderators can merge them - that’s their job.

6. Search by clicking ‘Search’ -- d’oh! -- on the front page (see pic 2).

7. That’s it. There are other features e.g. listening groups and photo albums, but engaging via the forums in threads and posts is the heart of Brightcecilia and what drives the site. Once you do that you’ll find your profile comes alive. People will visit it to say hi, give you rep, send you private messages, write on your wall, comment on your photos etc etc. That, in turn, draws you to their profiles and a virtuous circle is complete (see pic 3).

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