I've just joined, so why can't I see my posts? - Powered By Kayako SupportSuite

09 Sep 2010

Support Center » Knowledgebase » FAQ`s » Forum FAQ`s » I've just joined, so why can't I see my posts?

	I've just joined, so why can't I see my posts?

Solution Don't worry...your posts are there. They are just "hidden" or invisible. For a very short time (around 5 posts), your posts will be "invisible" until a member of the staff can manually check them and make them visible. This is called the "validation process."

Below are some of the most common questions associated with getting a new account through the validation process:

-- I've registered but I can't post anything. Why is this?
When you register, you will receive an automatic email from this site. It is VERY important that you click on the link in that email, then come back to the site and log-in. At the upper right section of the screen (below the larger header that says "HarryPotterFanFiction Forums"), you should see a row of selections (like My Controls, View New Posts, etc.). The first words should read My Controls; if they do, you can now post. If it still reads Resend Validation, please click on this to resend the email message from us. Check your email again and follow the instructions as before. Be sure to check your email account's junk folder; sometimes our email to you gets put there.

-- I've made my 5 posts and I still can't go anywhere/see my posts. Why?
First of all, did you make the 1, 2, 3 posts in the proper places? You will HAVE to make at least one post in EACH of the following 3 threads:
Thread #1
Thread #2 (while posting here, it is suggested you follow the link in the first post and READ THE RULES!!)
Thread #3

After you've made those posts plus 2 others in this forum (your choice.... you could post in the sorting area, or in the 'how you got your name' thread), you must be patient!! A staff member must manually validate all of them. No matter how many posts you make, if your account is still in validation (meaning you still have invisible posts) it will not proceed to the next user group. If, and ONLY IF you believe you have all of your posts visible and it has been 2 days and you still don't seem to be in the next user group (Members), PM a staff member.

It would also be best if, once you make those posts, you WAIT at least 24 hours before making more posts. This will allow the staff time to validate/make visible those posts. If you continue to make 5, 10, 20 posts, it will only push back the time it takes to validate your account. It's best to practice a little patience when your account is new -- if you do this, your account will be at Members in no time and you will be free to post in many places on our forums.

-- How do I find out what user group I am in?
Look in your member "panel". This is on the left side of the page when you look at a post. It contains your account name, your avatar, and lots of other things. Below your avatar picture (or in the space where it will be once you load it), you will see the words "New Member" or possibly "Member". This is your USER GROUP. It's a way our system has of classifying your account. When you first register to our site, you will be in the New Member user group.

-- I can't seem to change anything in my profile page, or set up an avatar? Is there something wrong with my account?
Have you looked at your user group? Are you still classified as a New Member? If you are, then you will not be able to do much to your account until you become an official "Member". Have a little patience...once your account is fully validated through those 5 posts and your user group is "Member," you will be able to customize your account.

-- Why in the world do we have to go through this? I want to post NOW!
The staff of HPFF understands your frustration, but one of our chief goals is to protect our members from malicious and ugly material. Without this validation process, unscrupulous automatic spam generators out there could enter our site and begin posting highly questionable material, links or pictures. Through this "screening" process, the only ones to see those are the staff, and we can delete them. You may not be able to see these from your end, but a site as popular as ours is quite often inundated by questionable automatic spammers. The validation process helps to insure the integrity of HPFF.

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05 Jul 2008 05:25 PM