Weblogs and Web boards Help

What does this page cover?

This is about Informed Consent's weblogs and web boards, which allow people with profiles on the site (it's free to join) to write about their personal experiences of BDSM or to discuss BDSM with other people.

So what is a weblog?

A weblog is a bit like an online diary or noticeboard: the main page is a list of posts, organised by date, and there are links off to the full text of each post. You can also embed links to other websites in your text. This simple format can be used in several different ways: you can record your own feelings and experiences day by day; write about new websites that you've found; report on news events in your local BDSM community; or just use the weblog to publish essays and stories as if you had your own website. Have a look at some recent weblogs for examples.

How do web boards and weblogs differ?

Each weblog is attached to one profile, and is "about them" in some way. Only that person can post new topics to their weblog. Web boards are not owned by any one person, but are dedicated to one topic (it's given in the board description.)

What restrictions are there?

Please don't use your weblog to violate the laws of the United Kingdom (we reserve the right to take down material likely to cause us legal problems) or make personal attacks on other named individuals. Please do not use this service unless you are normally resident in the United Kingdom. We also ask that you only use the weblog feature if you are involved in BDSM, but that doesn't mean every post has to be about BDSM though... Also, you should not use the weblogs for blatant personal adverts, or advertising products or websites: please use the personals section or the UK Listings instead (or other countries.) If in doubt about what content you can put up, please ask first.

Aren't personal attacks ok then?

Using the weblogs and boards to attack another people you don't like, or to "name and shame" someone you feel has hurt you, isn't ok. Please do not use Informed Consent for this kind of thing.
Allowing these kinds of posts causes as much harm as good, since it allows stalkers and liars a free rein just as much as the innocent. We can't tell from this side of the glass screen which of you is telling the truth. Even milder personal vendettas degenerate into name calling and make many bystanders feel uncomfortable about posting in such a hostile environment.
If you feel someone has attacked you by name in a weblog post, please mail the date and the profile name of the poster to admin AT informedconsent.co.uk
If you choose to ignore the polite request above and use the weblogs for personal attacks, we may remove you from the listing of recent weblogs or block your profile completely.

Other than that, what kinds of thing are ok?

For your weblog, it's entirely up to you. Be as self indulgent as you like: the great thing about the weblog posts is that the title and the first paragraph is displayed in the day by day list, so if your readers don't feel like reading "My rant about nosey waiters!!!" today, they can skip it.
For web boards, please read the description of the board that appears on its list of threads and when you start a new thread.

How do I add weblog posts?

You need to have a profile on the website, to have signed-in (You can sign-in using this link) with your name and password, and then go to the page listing your weblog posts: there is a link to it from the Your Setting page. While you are signed-in, "Make new post" and "Start new topic" buttons appear to allow you to make new posts.

What does each post consist of?

Posts are made up of the date they were originally created, a title, the body of text (up to 40,000 characters per post) and an update time. In the listing of all your posts, the date, title and the first paragraph of the body are displayed. It helps your readers if that paragraph gives some indication of what the rest of the post is going to talk about.

How do I start a new paragraph?

Leave a blank line between your paragraphs. (Other than that, starting a new line has no effect on the way the text is displayed.)

How are posts formatted?

You can put links, smileys, quotations, bold text etc in your posts using ICcode.

What are write-ups and features?

Some weblog posts are marked with or . These are write-ups that contain an event report, description of a shopping trip or something similar (the write-ups page describes how to create your own write-ups and how IC marks some as featured.)

How can I get one of those little profile pictures on my posts?

If you have a picture on your profile, then a small thumbnail version of that will be displayed to the left of your posts, under your name and details. The Sign-up Help Page explains how to add a picture to your profile.

What about personal attacks or libellous remarks in the Weblogs?

This is a right royal pain frankly.
The weblogs are really intended to be about your own feelings, largely as they relate to your experience of BDSM. Sometimes people feel a need to make critical remarks of named individuals or businesses. We ask you to keep these to your own experiences if you must say something, without making general attacks: if you want to report a negative experience you had with a product, ok; but please don't have a rant accusing them of being liars, thieves etc. Let other readers decide that for themselves in light of your and other experiences.
Some people prefer to silence criticism via threats, including threats of legal action. This is a pain for Informed Consent to deal with. If you feel something on Informed Consent is libellous, please contact us first so we can attempt to reach a compromise between both sides which still reflects people's genuine experiences.
Since Informed Consent is provided as a free service funded by its owners, anyone who issues threats of any kind against the site or its owners will have their profile revoked.

Who owns the copyright to the weblogs?

You do. By submitting posts to the system, you are only granting Informed Consent a non-exclusive license to publish it on the website. You're welcome to republish your writings elsewhere. (If you're reading this and would like to republish something from a weblog, you need to contact them directly.)

Are there weblogs elsewhere on the Net?

Oh yes! Have a look at the Open Directory Project's Weblogs Section.