New to the Forums

[ColonelDan]

I'm new to the AACA Forums and don't have a lot of experience with forums in general.  Is there a tutorial explaining how to use it and what all the do-dads are about.  For instance, I don't understand the following:

 

The shaded in dot on the left side of a question/response vs. the non shaded star.

 

The members count below everyone's name.  Does one have to recruit new members to increment this counter?  And so what - what does it matter?

 

The grade of each member.  For instance I'm a Newbie.  This is understandable since I just got here.  But what does it take to go to the next level and how many levels are there?

 

When I'm satisfied with the responses I've received from everyone on a topic I've started, should I close it out somehow or just let it roll until everyone gets tired of contributing?

 

I probably have other questions but answers to these questions will satisfy me for the time being.

Thanks

Dan

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

Dan, since no one has answered your questions yet,

I'll do my best.  However, I don't know all of the answers.

 

Your question about a tutorial for using the forum is excellent!

However, I know of no tutorial.  Unfortunately, I think it's just trial and error.

 

The numeral below everyone's name is the number of "likes" his postings

have received.  It really doesn't mean much:  Someone may give "cute"

answers and get a lot of "likes";  I've seen people with great technical

knowledge give excellent answers, but end up with very few likings.

 

There is no way for a user to "close out" a topic.  Responses will wane

and the topic will essentially end itself--but remain open for anyone to

read and comment on in the future.  Sometimes, topics get no responses.

Other times, a topic may have run its course, but be reactivated by some

response a month later, or even a few years later!

 

I hope the moderators or some one else can tell you more.  

Welcome to the forum!

 

[John_S_in_Penna]

On 7/4/2016 at 4:54 PM, ColonelDan said:

The grade of each member.  For instance I'm a Newbie.  This is understandable since I just got here.  But what does it take to go to the next level and how many levels are there?

 

The title or "grade" of a member, which is the text

directly below your name on the left side of the screen,

is given by the software based on the number of your postings.

You may have been a "newbie" (a slang word I'm not fond of),

but now I see you are listed as a "member."  However, you can

change that text, and some people do.

 

To change the text, click on your name ColonelDan, which you can

see toward the left side of any of your postings.

You'll get a screen full of information.  On the dark gray box

near the top of the display, click on "Edit Profile."

Then, you can provide or change quite a bit of information,

including the "Member Title" which would otherwise be newbie, etc.

You might put "Studebaker Fan" or "Army Veteran" or anything else

you think describes you.

 

Use the forum often!  The AACA categories near the top get the

most responses, as you'll see.  The Buick categories are very active, too.

Some of the others don't get nearly the traffic, however.

But there are plenty of knowledgeable and helpful people here.

[ColonelDan]

Thanks John.  That was great.  I appreciate you taking the time to do that.  I understand better now.

Dan