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Forum & Site FAQ

Here's the place to learn about the site and its workings. Click on the links in the table of contents below to learn more, or just scroll down. Any further questions can be taken to the Site Discussion forum. Make sure to read the rules also, they'll give you an inkling as to how to behave. Enjoy your time on MT! =)

  1. Staff
  2. Users
  3. Punishment System
  4. Forums
  5. The Site and Contributions
  6. Chat

1. Staff

What do the different color names mean?

The names that are not colored orange signify staff positions. Here's a breakdown of the staff positions, their colors, and their duties and powers:

Administrators
Admin pip
Have complete control over the forums. There is no higher power. Your admins are rockon1824 and username.

Super Moderators/Moderators
/
Can moderate in every forum, and have all moderation abilities and just about complete control over members. Your "smod" is ana and your mods are R0CKER1220 and metalology.

Be sure to respect our entire staff, or you're gonna find your stay here very short and not so sweet.


How can I become a mod?

By following the rules, making intelligent posts, submitting contributions and being all around helpful to the site and forums. Also, asking or begging to become a mod is a big no-no. When it comes time for us to add a staff member, we know who the good guys are. ;)


2. Users

What about regular users?

Regular users are orange and can browse and post in all normal forums. Their rank by post count is represented by pictures under their user title.


What are the different ranks a normal user can have?

Ranks are determined by post count as follows:

0-24 posts: Newbie
*
25-99 posts: Member
**
100-249 posts: Regular
***
250-499 posts: Senior Member
****
500-749 posts: Sir Postsalot
*****
750 - 999 posts: Obsessive
******
over 1000 posts: Aristocrat
*******


Why do some users have a purple diamond () in front of their usernames?

Users that are part of the Aristocrat group (have over 1000 posts) have this purple diamond.


How about the users who are banned?

Banned users have pips like this:
banned
They are not allowed to see the forums. Plus they're pink, and who wants to be pink? Exactly, nobody. So don't screw up.


What about these "Joinable Groups"?

A feature of the ZetaBoards software is the ability to create exclusive groups that other members can join. If you would like to start a group or join a group, please click here.


3. Punishment System

What happens if you break the rules?

If you're a naughty boy or girl by breaking the rules, then you will receive a warning. However, some offenses cause an instant ban with no warnings (these are noted in the rules). After three warnings, you will be banned. (For more info about banned users, scroll up a little.)


How long does a ban last?

Ban durations depend on how many times you have been banned before. They work as follows:

1st ban = 15 days
2nd ban = 30 days
3rd ban = forever


4. Forums

What are the different forums for?

Here's a quick breakdown of all the forums:

  • News & Announcements - Check here to learn what's going on around the site and forums. You'll even see a little present in here on your birthday. ;)
  • New User Introductions - For new users to introduce themselves. Go ahead, create an introduction thread and let us know a bit about you. You'll receive a warm welcome. :)
  • Site Discussion - Have a question about the site? Not sure how to do something on the forums? Ask here! Also, any comments or suggestions regarding the site go here. Help us help you!
  • Site Contributions - Post any articles or reviews for the Music-Talk website here. Your article or review will be moved to the applicable sub-forum ("Accepted Articles" or "Accepted Reviews") when it is added to the site. Make sure to read the Contributions FAQ before submitting.
  • Archive - Where popular threads go to retire. When a thread gets too big or somehow expires time-wise, you can find it here.
    • AotM Archive - Check here to read past Artist of the Month's biographies.
  • Artist & Genre Discussion - Put things that have to do with music in general here in the main forum. Band threads do not go here; they go in their applicable sub-forum.
    • Classic Rock - For discussion of any older classic bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, or The Beatles.
    • Modern, Alternative, & Indie Rock - For discussion about newer bands, alternative radio-rock, and lesser known independent bands. Everything from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Death Cab for Cutie to grunge goes here.
    • Metal & Shred - For anything harder than hard rock: thrash, death metal, black metal, nu-metal, metalcore, shred, hair metal, progressive metal, etc. If it's hard and heavy, it's here. (Note: please do not suggest that nu-metal and metalcore are not true metal and shouldn't be there. They don't get enough activity to have their own forum and they both have "metal" in their names anyway.)
    • Punk & Pop-Punk - To discuss anything from The Clash to Green Day to My Chemical Romance. Hardcore and anything else that's punk-influenced goes here also.
    • Everything Else - If it doesn't fit into the other genres, put it here. Anyone from B.B. King to 50 Cent to Britney Spears. It's a shame, I know.
  • Your Music - Seek advice and share tips on any type of writing, recording or song arrangement.
    • Tablature & Recordings - This is where you may post original songs you have composed in tablature (text, PowerTab or GuitarPro) or recordings you have made of your own songs or covers.
    • Writer's Corner - Post anything you've written for critique by other users. Any songs or poems will be eligible for our Song of the Month (SotM) competition.
    • SotM (Song of the Month) - This is where all threads related to our SotM competition will be stored. Check here to nominate or vote in the latest competition, view the overall standings, or view old nomination and voting threads.
  • Music & Instruments - For discussion about any instruments not related to guitar and bass. Questions about music theory go here too.
    • Guitar & Bass - To talk about anything related to guitar or bass guitar, including accessories and styles of playing.
  • The Inferno - General discussion forum for anything not music-related.
  • The Icebox - Chill out and relax here. For polls, surveys, games and anything that doesn't promote real discussion.

5. The Site and Contributions

What is this "site" you keep talking about?

In case you haven't noticed, the forums are part of the Music-Talk.org website. In addition to the forums, the website has cool features such as user-submitted articles and reviews, upcoming CD releases, a chat room, and other things that you can check out by using the navigation bar at the top of your screen or checking out the Site Map.


How can I submit something to the site?

Take a trip over to the Site Contributions forum and check out the stickied Contributions FAQ to see how to submit articles and reviews.


What about Song of the Month? How can I get entered in that?

To participate in our SotM competition, all you have to do is post an original song or poem in the Original Works forum in the Writer's Corner. Your piece will automatically be entered into the SotM competition and have a chance to be featured on the site.


What are MT Points?

For submitting articles, reviews, and songs, users can earn "MT Points." These are not only a sign of how important you are to MT, but may also help in upcoming competitions and such. MT points are updated when you submit something and are shown in your profile. They may even be awarded in contests. They are given as following:

Article = 5 points
AotM = 4 points
Review = 3 point
Referral = 2 points
SoTM first place = 3 points, second place = 2 points, third place = 1 point


Wait, AotM? What's that?

"AotM" stands for "Artist of the Month." This is a cool thing we have in the Artist & Genre Discussion forum that details one artist every month. For more about them and how to submit one, see the stickied thread in that forum.


6. Chat

Another feature of the MusicTalk site is our private chat room for MTers only. Make sure you have Java enabled in your browser and click "Chat" at the top of your screen. It may take a couple minutes to load but once it does it will bring you to a sign in screen. From here, enter a nickname and no password, and then click connect. Once you're in it'll show you as "Guest#####." To change this type the following: "/nick newname" without quotes and substitute your desired name for "newname."

If you don't feel like going through this whole song and dance everytime you enter chat, there are a couple easy steps you can take to permanently register your chat nickname. First, click this link and enter your desired nickname in the first box, a password in the next 2 boxes, and a valid e-mail address in the third box; then click "Finish." Now you can enter the name and password you just indicated in the log in screen when you click "Chat."

Now, when you go to enter chat, a good thing to do is to post in this thread saying you're there. This way other MTers have an incentive to enter chat also. As common courtesy so you don't lead others on, make sure to delete this post once you exit chat. If you have any trouble with the chat room, you may either post in that thread or PM rockon1824.

Here is a list of common chat commands to make it easier for you. You must enter the command exactly as it appears here; only substitute the indicated words in italics:

/nick newname - changes your nickname
/me action - puts something in third person (ex. /me yawns = Morgan yawns)
/topic newtopic - changes the subject that appears next to the room name
/avatar picturename - changes the picture that appears next to your name
/quit reason - use this to exit from the channel
/set oldpassword newpassword - use to change your password

The chat leaders are shown on the left side of the chat page. The operators can "op" (make an operator) and "deop" (retire an operator) as well as kick or ban misbehaving users from the channel. They can also give or take away "voice" (voiced users can always talk in the channel no matter what mode it's in). Be sure to follow all applicable forum rules in order to not be kicked or banned from chat. Depending on the severity of your actions in chat, you may or may not recieve a warning or even a ban on the forums.