WSJ.com Forums

FAQ/Help
Login and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?

User Preferences and settings
How do I change my settings?
How do I show an image below my username?
How do I change my rank?
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Posting Issues
How do I edit or delete a post?
How do I add a signature to my post?
Why can't I access a forum?
I submitted a post but it didn't show up. Why?

Formatting and Topic Types
Can I use HTML?
Can I post Images?
What are Announcements? Why are Announcements posted?
What are Sticky topics?
What are Locked topics?

User Levels and Groups
What are Administrators?
What are Moderators?

Private Messaging
I cannot send private messages!
I keep getting unwanted private messages!
I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!

 

Login and Registration Issues
Why can't I log in?
You must be a paid subscriber in order to log in. However, guests can read and comment throughout the forums. Only paid Online Journal subscribers can register to create user profile, send and receive private messages. For subscribers, the login for the forums is the same User Name and password that you use to log into WSJ.com.
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User Preferences and settings
How do I change my settings?
To update settings, click on the Profile link found on top of most forum pages. Changes made on the forums profile will not impact your WSJ.com billing/My Account information .
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How do I show an image below my username?
This feature is available exclusively to subscribers. There may be two images below a UserName when viewing posts. The first is an image associated with your rank; generally these take the form of starts or blocks indicating how many posts you have made or your status on the forums. Below this may be a larger image known as an avatar; this is generally unique or personal to each user. You can add avatar on the user profile page. Note: there is a restriction on the image size
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How do I change my rank?
This feature is available exclusively to subscribers. In general you cannot directly change the wording of any rank (ranks appear below your username in topics and on your profile depending on the style used). Most boards use ranks to indicate the number of posts you have made and to identify certain users. For example, moderators and administrators may have a special rank -- you will probably find the moderator or administrator will simply lower your post count.
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Watch this topic
All users can watch a topic in one of two ways. 1) Watch the topic by adding an RSS feed of the topic to a newsreader. For instructions on how to use RSS, go to WSJ.com's RSS page: http://online.wsj.com/page/0_0813.html 2) Watch this topic via email alerts: Enter an email address in order to receive updates when a new comment has been posted to particular topic. When you no longer want to receive emails, click on the "stop Watching this topic" link located the top left of the forums page.
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Posting Issues
How do I edit or delete a post?
Unless you are the board admin or forum moderator you can only edit or delete your own posts. You can edit a post (sometimes for only a limited time after it was made) by clicking the edit button for the relevant post. 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 that lists the number of times you edited it. This will only appear if no one has replied; it also will not appear if moderators or administrators edit the post. Please note that guests cannot edit posts once they have been submitted.
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How do I add a signature to my post?
This feature is available exclusively to subscribers. To add a signature to a post you must first create one through your profile. Once created you can check the Add Signature box on the posting form to add your signature. You can choose to add a signature by default to all your posts by checking the appropriate radio box in your profile. To prevent a signature from being added to individual posts, simply uncheck the add signature box on the posting form.
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Why can't I access a forum?
Some forums may be limited to certain users or groups. To view, read, post, etc. you may need special authorization which only the Forum Moderator and Board Administrator can grant, so you should contact them at newseditors@wsj.com.
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I submitted a post but it didn't show up. Why?
WSJ.com moderates posts. For a list of reasons posts may not be approved, please see our forum guidelines.
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Formatting and Topic Types
Can I use HTML?
Yes, you are allowed to use HTML though you may find that only certain tags work. This is a safety feature to prevent people from abusing the board by using tags which may destroy the layout or cause other problems. If HTML is enabled you can disable it on a per post basis from the posting form.
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Can I post Images?
Yes, Images can indeed be shown in your posts. However, there is no facility at present for uploading images directly to this board. Therefore you must link to an image stored on a publicly accessible web server, e.g. http://www.some-unknown-place.net/my-picture.gif. You cannot link to pictures stored on your own PC (unless it is a publicly accessible server) nor to images stored behind authentication mechanisms such as Hotmail or Yahoo mailboxes, password-protected sites, etc. To display the image use appropriate HTML
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What are Announcements? Why are Announcements posted?
Announcements often contain important information and you should read them as soon as possible. Announcements appear at the top of every page in the forum to which they are posted. Only WSJ.com editors can post announcements
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What are Sticky topics?
Sticky topics or editorial recommended topics appear below any announcements in view forum and only on the first page. They are often quite important so you should read them where possible. As with announcements only WSJ.com editors post sticky topics.
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What are Locked topics?
Locked topics are set this way by either the forum moderator or board administrator. You cannot reply to locked topics and any poll contained inside is automatically ended. Topics matically ended. Topics are locked because the discussion has ended or a poll is closed.
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User Levels and Groups
What are Administrators?
Administrators are assigned the highest level of control over the entire board. These people can control all facets of board operation which include setting permissions, banning users, creating User Groups or moderators, etc. They also have full moderator capabilities in all the forums.
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What are Moderators?
Moderators are individuals (or groups of individuals) oversee forums from day to day. They have the power to edit or delete posts and lock, unlock, move, delete and split topics in the forum they moderate. Generally moderators are there to prevent people going off-topic or posting abusive or offensive material.
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Private Messaging
I cannot send private messages!
This feature is available exclusively to subscribers. If you are a subscriber and cannot send a private message, please make sure you are logged in
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I keep getting unwanted private messages!
In the future we will be adding an ignore list to the private messaging system. Until then, if you receive unwanted private messages from someone, inform the board administrator -- they have the power to prevent a user from sending private messages at all. Contact the Board Adminstrator at newseditors@wsj.com
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I have received a spamming or abusive email from someone on this board!
We are sorry to hear that. The board's email form feature includes safeguards to try to track users who send such posts. You should email the board administrator with a full copy of the email you received. It is very important to include the email headers which include details of the sending party. The board administrator can then take action. You also can remove your email address from your user profile to avoid receiving any messages.
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