Frequently Asked Questions

Login and Registration Issues

What’s the deal with registration?
Any visitor wishing to participate in the forums must register themselves as a user. Registration is free and easy...despite an ugly page of terms presented by the forum software. The purpose of registration is in part to prevent inappropriate contributions from anonymous users, but mainly it's to offer visitors a personalised experience with access to additional features.

I can't seem to log in..?
The most common reason for login failures is a mis-typed username or password. If you can’t log in you should first ensure that you are entering your login details correctly. If you are certain they are correct but you still cannot log in, contact one of the Island Keepers.

Why do I get logged out automatically?
If you do not select the option to 'Log me in automatically' when you log in then you may find yourself logged out after one hour. This is by design and helps to prevent misuse of your account by anyone else. If you would rather remain logged in, simply select the option at login.

How do I prevent my username appearing in the online user listings?
By default your online status is visible to other users when you are logged in so they can see you are awake. To prevent this for your current session you can choose to hide your online status when you log in. If you wish to make this setting persistent you can do so via your User Control Panel, under “Board preferences”. Note that whatever you choose, your online status will always be visible to the Island Keepers, the Island Rangers and yourself. You will be counted as a hidden user.

I’ve lost my password!
No worries. Your password cannot be retrieved but it can be reset easily. Visit the login page and click I’ve forgotten my password. Follow the instructions and you should be able to log in again shortly.

I've just registered but I can't login..?
Have you received your registration email? If not, please check to see if it may have been picked up by a spam filter before you contact us.

I registered in the past but cannot login any more..?
Attempt to locate the email sent to you when you first registered, check your username and password and try again. If you are still having trouble, contact one of the Island Keepers for assistance.

Why can’t I register?
In rare circumstances we may disable registration to prevent new visitors from signing up. If you are caught in this predicament please come back and try again later. Otherwise, unless you are trying to register with details that have been banned previously, you should be ok - contact one of the Island Keepers if you are still having trouble.

What happens if I click “Delete all board cookies”?
The site utilises cookies to authenticate your login and to help you keep track of which forums and topics you have read. You may wish to delete these cookies if you are having trouble logging in or you would like to reset your record of which forums and topics you have read.

User Preferences and settings

How do I change my settings?
Registered users can change their settings via the User Control Panel, a link to which can be found in the user menu at the top of all pages once you have logged in.

The times are not correct..?
This is normally a timezone issue. Registered users may change their timezone settings (including Daylight Saving Time, if applicable) via their User Control Panel. For guests and registered users not logged in, the board will show standard UK time.

I changed the timezone and the time is still wrong!
If you are sure that you have set your timezone and Daylight Saving Time correctly but the time is still incorrect, you should contact one of the Island Keepers.

Language..?
We do our best to support languages other than English. Most pages contain the facility to 'Select Language' by way of a menu near the top. Guests and registered users should use this menu when they would like to see pages translated into another language. Registered users (only) may set a language preference via their User Control Panel, but should note that this setting is not connected to the page translation facility. The two may be connected in the future but for now this setting in your User Control Panel will only affect the language used in common elements such as forms and buttons. For those elements, this setting is likely to offer a better translation than Google. In summary: set your native language in the User Control Panel and forget it. When you want to translate forum content, use the page translation facility.

How do I show an image alongside my username?
Registered users can choose to upload an image (commonly known as an avatar) to show alongside their name in forum listings. The settings for this can be found within your profile preferences, found via the User Control Panel.

When I click the email link for a user it asks me to login..?
You must be logged in as a registered user to send messages via the built-in email system. This restriction exists to prevent malicious use of the system by anonymous users.

Posting Issues

How do I post a topic in a forum?
To post a new topic in a forum, you should click the relevant link on either the forum or topic screens. You will (in most cases) need to register before you can post a message. A list of your permissions in each forum is available at the bottom of the forum and topic screens. For example: You can post new topics, You can vote in polls, etc.

How do I edit or delete a post?
You can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post by clicking the edit button for the relevant post, sometimes for only a limited time after the post was made. If someone has already replied to the post, you will find a small piece of text output below the post when you return to the topic which lists the number of times you edited it along with the date and time. This will only appear if someone has made a reply; it will not appear if one of the Island’s Keepers of Rangers edited the post, though they may leave a note as to why they’ve edited the post at their own discretion. Note that you cannot delete a post once someone has replied. If you find yourself desperate to delete a post in such a case you should contact one of Island Rangers for assistance.

How do I add a signature to my post?
Some forums offer their users an option to add preset signature text to the end of their posts. In the interests of keeping the site’s content as compact and relevant as possible, Snooker Island does not offer this option.

How do I create a poll?
When posting a new topic or editing the first post of a topic, click the “Poll creation” tab below the main posting form; if you cannot see this, you do not have appropriate permissions to create polls. Enter a title and at least two options in the appropriate fields, making sure each option is on a separate line in the textarea. You can also set the number of options users may select during voting under “Options per user”, a time limit in days for the poll (0 for infinite duration) and lastly the option to allow users to amend their votes.

Why can’t I add more poll options?
The limit for poll options is pre-determined by the Island Keepers, so if you feel you need to add more options to your poll than the allowed amount, contact one of the Island Keepers.

How do I edit or delete a poll?
As with posts, polls can only be edited by the original poster or one of the Island Keepers/Rangers. To edit a poll, click to edit the first post in the topic; this always has the poll associated with it. If no one has cast a vote, users can delete the poll or edit any poll option. However, if members have already placed votes, only Island Keepers/Rangers can edit or delete it. This prevents the poll’s options from being changed mid-way through a poll.

Why can’t I access a forum?
Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post or perform another action you may need special permissions. You may request access by contacting one of the Island’s Keepers or Rangers.

Why can’t I add attachments?
In general you will not have the facility to add attachments to your posts. We do not have the resources to moderate attachments for inappropriate content so this restriction exists to prevent the publication of files that may compromise the Island or its users in any way. If you have files that you believe would be of legitimate interest to other users then please contact one of the Island Keepers.

Why did I receive a warning?
The forum operates by rules which are marked (or linked) at the top of every relevant page. If you receive a warning, it is most likely that you have fallen foul of these rules in some way. If you unsure of the cause, contact one of the Island Keepers.

How can I report posts to an Island Ranger?
You should see a button for reporting posts next to the post you wish to report. Clicking this will walk you through the steps necessary to report the post.

What is the “Save” button for in topic posting?
Available to registered users only, this allows you to save passages to be completed and submitted at a later date. To reload a saved passage, visit your User Control Panel.

Why does my post need to be approved?
In special circumstances the Island’s Keepers or Rangers may decide that posts to a particular forum, or posts from a particular user/group, should be reviewed before they are published. If you are in doubt, please contact one of the Island Keepers.

Why/how would I bump my topic?
Bumping a topic moves it to the top of the forum on the first page so that it regains its greatest visibility. You may want to do this on occasion when nobody has answered your post for some time. Note that you can get the same effect by replying to the post, and this is certainly what you should do if you wish to add a comment to your ’bump’. Otherwise, to simply bump a topic you should hit the “Bump topic” button at the top of the topic’s page. If you do not see this button, it could be that bumping has been disabled or that the time allowance between bumps has not yet been reached.

Formatting and Topic Types

What is BBCode?
BBCodes are simple ’magic’ tags which you can use in your posts to render various formatting and content. For example there are BBCodes for simple text formatting (such as bold and italic), and others for inserting richer content such as YouTube videos. All BBCodes are handled by the buttons along the top edge of your message editor; the best way to understand them is to play around in the editor and hit the ’Preview’ button to see what they do.

Can I use HTML?
No. Most formatting which can be carried out using HTML can be applied using BBCode instead.

What are Smilies?
Smilies are small images which can be used to express a feeling using a short code, e.g. :) denotes happy, while :( denotes sad. The Island's full list of smilies can be seen in the posting form.. We have a formidable collection.. Please try not to overuse smilies as they can quickly render a post unreadable and degrade the performance of an entire page. Thanks! ;) :O ;p

Can I post images?
Yes but you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server such as at Flickr or PhotoBucket. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor images stored behind authentication mechanisms, eg. hotmail or yahoo mailboxes, password protected sites, etc. To display the image use the BBCode [img] tag.

What are global announcements?
Global announcements contain information concerning the whole site or forum. They will appear at the top of every forum and within your User Control Panel. All announcements carry a megaphone icon.

What are announcements?
Similar to global announcements but more specific to the forum they appear within. Users are encouraged to read them when possible because they normally contain information of common interest. If you have some information to share which you think would befit an announcement, please contact one of the Island Keepers.

What are sticky topics?
Sticky topics are indicated by a yellow sticky-note icon. They appear below announcements and only on the first page of the forum they are posted to. Island Rangers will make a topic sticky if it contains especially useful or important information. Users are encouraged to read them when possible.

What are locked topics?
Locked topics are frozen, read-only, closed to any further contributions. It is up to the overseeing forum Ranger to decide if/when a topic needs locking. The icons of locked topics display a padlock to indicate their status.

User Levels and Groups

Who or what are the Island Keepers?
The Island is kept as nature may have intended, by a team of indigenous creatures genetically obliged to undertake the labour of love required to keep a low-profit island afloat in a high-bastard ocean. If that's not the answer you were seeking then you are welcome to look at the Island Keepers alternatively as forum administrators.

Who or what are the Island Rangers?
The Island Rangers are a small group of dedicated volunteers who look after the forums from day to day. A few of them are insane without doubt but their love of snooker somehow compensates. Either way they have the authority to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum(s) they moderate. In general they are present to ensure that the forums remain vibrant with positive and interesting discussion... Please respect the Rangers' work, if possible.

What are usergroups?
Usergroups provide a way for registered users to partake in specialised discussions and activities that may not be of interest to the greater majority. The Island does not have any such usergroups at present...

Where are the usergroups and how do I join one?
You can view all usergroups via the “Usergroups” link within your User Control Panel. If you would like to join one, proceed by clicking the appropriate button. Not all groups have open access, however. Some may require approval to join, some may be closed and some may even have hidden memberships. If the group is open, you can join it by clicking the appropriate button. If a group requires approval to join you may request to join by clicking the appropriate button. The usergroup leader will need to approve your request and may ask why you want to join the group.

How do I become a usergroup leader?
If you are interested in creating a usergroup, please contact one of the Island Keepers.

Why do some usergroups appear in a different colour?
Usergroups appear in different colours to make it easy to identify the members of a particular group.

What is a “Default usergroup”?
If you are a member of more than one usergroup, your default is used to determine which group colour and group rank should be shown for you by default. Under certain circumstances you may be granted permission to change your default usergroup via your User Control Panel.

What is “The Island Team” link?
This page provides you with a list of the Island members who work to keep the forums in check. Other details (such as which forums they moderate) are also shown so that you can identify the most appropriate member to contact in case you have a query.

Private Messaging

I cannot send private messages!
There are two possible reasons for this; either you are not registered and/or not logged on, or the Island Keepers have prevented you from sending messages. If in doubt, contact one of the Island Keepers.

I keep getting unwanted private messages!
You can block a user from sending you private messages by using message rules within your User Control Panel. If you are receiving abusive private messages from a particular user, inform a one of the Island Keepers; if necessary they can prevent a user from sending private messages.

I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!
The email form feature of this board includes safeguards to try and track users who send such posts, so please email one of the Island Keepers with a full copy of the email you received. It is very important that this includes the headers that contain the details of the user that sent the email. The Island Keepers can then take appropriate action.

Friends and Foes

What are my Friends and Foes lists?
You can use these lists to affect the way certain other members of the board appear to you. Adding members to your 'friends' list will make them more visible, for example on the main forum home page so you can readily see when they are online. Adding members to your 'foes' list will make them less visible, for example any posts they make will be hidden from you automatically. The 'friends' list does not offer much functionality at present, however the 'foes' list is encouraged as the most effective way to deal with other members you may find objectionable. Just remember that the friend/foe lists boil down to a show/hide preference; they are not social networking features - the members that you add to your lists are not notified of your action in any way, your preferences remain private. Members do not have the facility to find out whether they have been added to another member's friend/foe list.

How can I add / remove users to my Friends or Foes list?
You can add users to your list in two ways. Within each user’s profile, there is a link to add them to either your Friend or Foe list. Alternatively, from your User Control Panel, you can directly add users by entering their member name. You may also remove users from your list using the same page.

Searching the Forums

How can I search a forum or forums?
Enter a search term in the search box located on the index, forum or topic pages. Advanced search can be accessed by clicking the “Search” link on the forum’s navigation bar (available on all pages on the forum).

Why does my search return no results?
Your search was probably too vague and included many common terms which are not indexed. Be more specific and use the options available within Advanced Search.

Why does my search return a blank page!?
Your search produced enough results for the server to go swimming. Use the advanced search to be more specific in the terms used and the forums that are to be searched.

How do I search for Islanders?
Follow the “Islanders” link at the bottom of any page and then “Find a member”...

How can I find my own posts and topics?
Your own posts and topics can be found easily via your user menu.

Topic Subscriptions

What is a topic subscription?
Subscriptions enable you to receive notifications when there is an update to a particular topic or forum.

How do I subscribe to specific forums or topics?
Click the “Subscribe” button at the top of the forum or topic page you are interested in. Alternatively subscribe to a topic by posting a reply with the 'subscribe' checkbox checked.

How do I remove my subscriptions?
Subscriptions are managed via your User Control Panel; a convenient link is provided in your user menu.

Cookies


What are cookies again?
A cookie is a small piece of text generated by a website, designed to be stored in your web browser's 'memory' for future reference by that website. Cookies play a vital role in most website applications, helping to improve security, functionality, speed and efficiency.

Why would I want to know about cookies?
Cookies are harmless by themselves but a question of consent arises where cookies are used for 'extra' purposes such as to help gather web usage statistics.

How does Snooker Island use cookies?
Snooker Island uses cookies for several key purposes such as user authentication and preference storage. It also uses cookies to help gather traffic statistics by way of Google's 'Analytics' service.

What happens when I click yes/no to cookies?
If you're happy to accept cookies and so click 'yes', your choice will be saved to a cookie and the alert won't appear to you again so long as you have that cookie. If you click 'no' you'll be redirected to a page which offers independent advice, your snookerisland.com cookies will remain on your device but so long as you don't use this site they'll be irrelevant. Finally if you don't click either yes or no but continue using the site as normal, cookies will continue to be used, and the alert will keep appearing to you until you click yes.

Is there any reason to say no?
This question boils down to how you feel about the standard practice of websites using cookies to help gather traffic statistics. Visitors with a preference to avoid these cookies can say no here on Snooker Island but they'll be certain to walk into the same predicament at other websites. Ultimately the only reasonable way to enforce one's own cookie preferences across the whole web is to use a browser that offers a good level of cookie control. For those particular about cookies linked to Google Analytics, Google offers the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On.