As part of the forum's anti-spam measures, new members are initially restricted to where and how they can post. This system is based on your post count, and consists of two stages.
Please note that IT CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR for the forum software to update your account when reaching Full Member status. This means that you may have to wait a short time after reaching 5 posts, before it becomes possible topost in other forums, use Private Messages or have a Signature.
0 to 5 posts:
New Member.
Cannot post live links.
Cannot use Private Messaging (PMs).
Cannot have a signature.
Cannot post images (photos) if linked to on another site.
After 5 posts:
Full member.
Members canpost in all open forums, use Private Messaging, and can have a signature.
Note that some forums are private: access is for special membership categories.
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Additional levels
20 posts or more
Able to apply for Verification to have access to the ECF Classifieds Forum.
Verification is a voluntary procedure, you only need it if you want to access the ECF Classifieds.
The process is manual and may take up to two weeks, depending on workload and the verification method you choose.
70 posts and above:
Members can no longer start new threads in the New Members Forum, but may post in threads started by others.
Please be aware that creating useless posts for the sole purpose of raising your post count is not allowed, and may result in your posts being deleted.
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Why New Members are restricted
Before we had this system, it was impossible to deal with the volume of spam, which appeared anywhere and everywhere among ECF's several million pages. The Moderators' job was, literally, impossible. Now spam and other issues are mostly kept in the New Members forum and more easily dealt with.
We understand that it can be frustrating to be restricted for up to an hour, but please understand that it had become impossible for the forum to continue without some form of containment of what had become a massive problem. This system has proven the least intrusive solution. It only takes a few minutes to achieve enough posts to leave the NM forum and move on.
However, even complex questions can be answered there - please give it a try
Please note that IT CAN TAKE UP TO AN HOUR for the forum software to update your account when reaching Full Member status. This means that you may have to wait a short time after reaching 5 posts, before it becomes possible to
0 to 5 posts:
New Member.
Cannot post live links.
Cannot use Private Messaging (PMs).
Cannot have a signature.
Cannot post images (photos) if linked to on another site.
After 5 posts:
Full member.
Members can
Note that some forums are private: access is for special membership categories.
------------------
Additional levels
Verification is a voluntary procedure, you only need it if you want to access the ECF Classifieds.
The process is manual and may take up to two weeks, depending on workload and the verification method you choose.
70 posts and above:
Members can no longer start new threads in the New Members Forum, but may post in threads started by others.
Please be aware that creating useless posts for the sole purpose of raising your post count is not allowed, and may result in your posts being deleted.
___________________________________
We understand that it can be frustrating to be restricted for up to an hour, but please understand that it had become impossible for the forum to continue without some form of containment of what had become a massive problem. This system has proven the least intrusive solution. It only takes a few minutes to achieve enough posts to leave the NM forum and move on.
However, even complex questions can be answered there - please give it a try
