• Do I need to register to be able to use the forum ?
• What is forum registration validation ?
• I haven't received the validation e-mail, what can I do ?
• I receive an error when trying to log in, what can I do ?
• I've forgotten my password - help!

• I am not sure how to use the forum, is there a help guide ?
• Where can I read the forum rules ?
• Is the forum moderated ?
• Can I register more than one username ?
• Can I change my username ?
• Can I delete or close my account and/or all of my posts ?
• Someone is breaking the rules, how do I report them ?
• I want to appeal a moderator's decision, how do I go about it ?
• How do I become a moderator ?

• What are the current 'post count' rank titles ?
• How do I stop my username from appearing on the users online list ?
• How do I edit my profile details ?
• How do I add an 'avatar' image to my profile ?
• How do I add 'quote' text underneath my avatar ?
• I can't get an image to upload - help!

• Are there any restrictions on what I put in my forum signature ?
• Why are these restrictions necessary ?
• My signature has been removed, why ?
• What are the current signature size and content restrictions ?
• My signature is only slightly over the limit, can you let me off ?
• Can HTML code be used in signatures ?

No, however you will need to register in order to post replies, start new topics, vote in polls, upload images, use the private messenger and access the full range of other features that the forum has to offer. Once you register, you will also have full access to the features of our site gallery as well. Registration takes under a minute, and requires only your e-mail address and your preferred choice of username and password.

Yes, we have a team of moderators present on the board who's job it is to make sure the discussion stays civil and that troublesome members are prevented from disrupting the forum. The moderators actively enforce the forum rules and may restrict forum access to those who persistently break them. Our aim is to provide a friendly and trouble free discussion environment for our visitors.

We ask that members register only one account. Multiple accounts belonging to the same person get confusing, especially if you post under them all. Don't be tempted to register another account if you've forgotten your password or login details, if you are completely unable to get logged in again please e-mail us and we can help you out.

You can change your  display name once in a six month period, so make sure you really want to change it before doing so. To change your display name go in to "My Controls" and select "Change Display Name" from the list.

As a general rule we don't delete member accounts, however we can 'close' an account if requested. If your account is closed then you will no longer be able to post or contribute to the forum, your profile will be wiped of all information and any subscriptions to e-mail notifications of new topics/updates will be cancelled. If you simply no longer wish to participate on the forum account closure is usually unnecessary as your account will be completely secure in your absence, however for those who would like the added peace of mind of having their account closed for this or other reasons then the option is available.

To bring a post which is breaking the rules to the attention of the moderators, click the 'Report' button which is located at the bottom left hand corner of every post on the forum. Please include a brief description of what the troublesome user is doing when submitting a report.

If a moderator has taken action that you strongly disagree with, please contact either an administrator or the moderator in question via the forum's private messenger. Please do not start a public debate on the matter, as it will likely end up being removed. Remember though, all moderator actions are aimed at benefiting the forum as a whole, and we appreciate it when members respect those decisions even if you happen to disagree with them. If a topic or post has been closed or deleted then there is always a very good reason for it.

If we are in need of new forum moderators and we believe that you are a good candidate for the job then we will get in touch with you - please do not send e-mails or messages to staff members asking them if you can be a moderator. Don't call us - we'll call you!

Like most forums, we maintain a system of member 'rank', which changes your forum title depending on the number of posts that you've made. The posts required for each rank title are as follows :

• 0 : Alien Embryo - 1 star
• 125 : Ectoplasmic Residue - 1 star
• 250 : Apparition - 2 stars
• 375 : Extraterrestrial Entity - 3 stars
• 500 : Remote Viewer - 4 stars
• 625 : Astral Projection - 5 stars
• 750 : Paranormal Investigator - 6 stars
• 875 : Conspiracy Theorist - 7 stars
• 1000 : Psychic spy - 8 stars
• 2125 : Poltergeist - 1 blue star
• 3250 : Government agent - 2 blue stars
• 4375 : Alien abductor - 3 blue stars
• 5500 : Majestic 12 Operative - 4 blue stars
• 6625 : Telekinetic - 5 blue stars
• 7750 : Non-corporeal being - 6 blue stars
• 8875 : Omnipotent Entity - 7 blue stars
• 10000 : Forum divinity - 8 blue stars
• 10000+ : TBA

To amend your profile information, click on the 'My Controls' option in the top forum menu. All profile options and preferences can be accessed via the links down the left hand side of the 'Control Panel'.

You can use any image you like for your profile avatar, as well as the selection provided in the Avatar Galleries. To change your avatar, click the 'Edit Avatar Settings' option in the Control Panel left hand menu. To use an image that is located on your own computer, click the 'browse' button. An explorer window will pop up allowing you to select the image you'd like to use. Once your happy with the image you've chosen, click 'Update Avatar' in the Control Panel and your avatar will be updated in your profile. Please note that the image you wish to upload to use as your avatar can be no larger than 20k in file size, and no bigger than 115x115 in pixels. Also ensure that the image is either a GIF, JPG or JPEG.

First, click on 'my controls' from the top menu, and then select 'edit profile info' under the 'personal profile' subheading. To add text beneath your avatar, simply enter the text into the 'profile quote' box and click 'amend my profile'.

This is usually down to one of two things - either the image you are trying to upload is too large, or it is the wrong file format. The best way to fix either of these problems, is to use a paint application such as Jasc Paint Shop Pro or Adobe Photoshop to resize or convert the image as needed. Remember, a forum attachment image can be no larger than 250kb in size, and avatars can be no larger than 115x115 in pixels width/height or 20k in size. The image must also be either a JPG, JPEG or GIF to work. If you don't know how to resize the image or don't have access to a program that can do that, your best option is to either ask a member of site staff for assistance, or simply select an avatar from the ones available on the forum.

A signature is intended as a short end piece for your posts, it will appear underneath every post you make on the forum and should be as minimal as possible. Large signatures or lengthy passages of text are unnecessary, distracting and take ages to load for users on dial-up.

If your signature violates the below signature guidelines then it will be removed. These limits are here to make the forum as easy to browse as possible, massive signatures do nothing but hinder other users.

The signature graphic should be no larger than 50k in size. To see how large your signature graphic is, right click on it and select 'Properties'. If you're signature is within the 500x150 limit but is larger than 50k then you should convert it into a .jpg in order to reduce its file size. In any case as small a signature as possible is preferred.

• is larger than the abovementioned size limits
• contains several 'stacked' images which when combined exceed this limit
• contains spam or links to commercial products or services
• is overly distracting; i.e. bright, flashing GIFs etc.
• contains too much text; usually over 500 characters
• contains illegal, adult or other unsuitable content