Frequently Asked Questions -

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additions or suggestions for this FAQ, please send and email to community@americanmensa.org. Please do not post issues concerning this FAQ as forum posts.

Community Abuse Issues

There are topics that I’m not comfortable with in Firehouse. Can someone please delete those?
Actually, that’s the purpose of the Firehouse — to absorb the hot topics and heated discussions. The area is adults-only. If you’re not comfortable with a topic there, don’t open the topic or don’t visit the Firehouse. If the topic is in another part of the Community, feel free to use the “report abuse” function.
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What do I do if I feel that a post isn’t appropriate for the Community?
Below each post is a “report abuse” link. Click the link and enter the nature of your concern into the subsequent form. The reporting process will combine your concerns and the content of the post into a new post queued for moderator review. A moderator will then follow up with you or the poster regarding the content.
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Navigation

Are there any areas of the forums that aren’t open to all members?
Yes, Firehouse is adults-only due to its intent – flames, adult conversations, etc. The Community moderators also have access to administrative areas not available to all members.
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Can I personalize which discussions I see?
On the main forums page, you should have a "personalize" link that should allow you to personalize your view of the sections. To the right of the sections, you'll see a "yes/no" to display or not display that section.
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Can I sort threads when viewing a forum?
Yes, you can sort threads when viewing a forum by Author, Replies, Views, and Last Post. The default sort for a forum is to display the newest threads first (Last Post descending). To sort, simply click on the “More Options” button at the bottom of the screen and select your desired sort order. Then, click 'Apply'.
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How do I filter the number of messages I can see?
At the bottom of each discussion section, there is a "More Options" button, which allows you to temporarily or permanently set the number of days/months to display. Please note that everyone setting this to a high value may impact server performance.
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How do I get to the Local Group and SIG forums?
For the short term, there is a link in the upper right of the community home page (where the Welcome! is). You can also navigate to www.us.mensa.org/community/forum.
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I can’t access a forum I know exists. What’s wrong?
If you are attempting to access a forum that you have visited before, but now receive an ‘unknown forum’ error there are two likely causes. The first cause is that the forum you are attempting to access is private and you are not signed in. The second cause is that the forum has been removed.
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I have seen a wrong thread listed as most recent post a few times. Is this a problem with the software?
Portions of the software run at scheduled intervals. This is to conserve server load during high usage. The scheduled process that updates most recent post for forums and threads hadn’t run at the time you viewed the section.
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I just posted a message, how come I don’t see it?
A forum may or may not be moderated depending upon how the forum has been configured. As a user, you may also be individually moderated for violations of the Terms of Service. After posting a message, you may receive a message stating that the post is awaiting moderation. Once the moderator(s) approves your post, it will become visible. The moderators may choose to move, edit, or delete your post to ensure that the post is topical to the current forum.
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I set my visible posts filter. Why isn’t it filtering to my settings?
The filter settings feature, located with the “More Options” button at the bottom of forums is cookie-based. If you’ve cleared/deleted your cookies, it reset your filter.
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What are the different icons next to threads?
The icons next to threads when viewing a forum indicate different status. You can move your mouse cursor over these icons to see what the different status / types of threads are.
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What do the thread icons mean?

	Topic with posts you have not read.
	Topic with posts you have read.
	Popular topic with posts you have not read. A topic becomes popular after a certain number of views and posts (administrator defined).
	Popular topic with posts you have read. A topic becomes popular after a certain number of views and posts (administrator defined).
	Announcement you have not read
	Announcement you have read
	A pinned topic with posts you have not read. Pinned topics are displayed before other topics until they become unpinned.
	A pinned topic with posts you have read. Pinned topics are displayed before other topics until they become unpinned.
	A pinned popular topic with posts you have not read. A pinned topic with enough views or replies to become popular.
	A pinned popular topic with posts you have read. A pinned topic with enough views or replies to become popular.
	A locked topic with posts you have not read. Locked topics do not allow replies.
	A locked topic with posts you have read. Locked topics do not allow replies.

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What is a forum group?
A forum group is a top level grouping of related forums. A forum group contains 1 or more forums. Administration and General Interest are two of our forum groups.
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What is a forum?
A forum is a grouping of related threads of discussion. A forum contains 0 or more threads and 0 or more sub-forums.
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What is a locked thread?
A locked thread is a special post that does not allow replies. Once a user locks a post or an administrator/moderator locks a thread no more posts are allowed.
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What is a sticky thread?
A sticky topic is a special post that causes a post to sort to the top of a forum for a specified amount of time. A sticky topic is similar to an announcement, whereas an announcement is displayed separate from other threads and usually does not allow replies.
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What is a thread?
A thread is a grouping of related posts. A thread contains 1 or more posts. The first post becomes the thread, and replies to the original post increment details on the thread, such as the reply count or last post.
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What is an announcement thread?
An announcement is a special post type that is always displayed at the top of a forum for a configured amount of time. The purpose of an announcement is to increase the visibility of certain topics or to convey information important to your participation in the Community or a specific forum.
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What is the small icon next to a username when viewing a post?
This icon indicates the user’s online status. If visible, the user is online or has been online within the last 15 minutes.
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When I view a forum I don’t see any threads/posts?
A forum may not display any threads if there are no threads in the forum or if filters on the forums have been applied and no threads match the filter. An example of a filter is filtering to display threads newer than a certain date, such as threads new in the past 2 weeks. Below each forum, you should see a “More Options” button that allows you to set your visible posts filter.
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Where's the ignore feature?
We had to make some sacrifices in our decision and the ignore feature was one of them.
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Other support issues

What browsers are supported in the Community?
Currently, Internet Explorer 6 and above and also Firefox 2 and above are supported. Other browsers that handle style sheets at or about the level of IE6 are also supported. Safari can be used to view posts, but the WYSIWYG post editor does not currently function in Safari. If you’re a Mac user, we encourage you to use Firefox for the Mac instead.
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Posting

Can I add attachments to my posts?
No. We currently do not allow file attachments.
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Can I use HTML?
Yes, and no. Generally, you’ll be using the WYSIWYG interface, so formatting should be fairly easy without HTML. If you prefer HTML, then select the “HTML Source” button from the editing toolbar. If you’re using Safari or have HTML emails disabled in your profile, you’ll be able to use BBCode and or HTML to format your posts.
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Can we use other emoticons?
You can certainly use plain text emoticons. If there is a smilie you feel the Community should have, please send an email to community@americanmensa.org.
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How do I add a signature to my posts?
See “How do I add signature to my post?” in the User Profile & Settings section of this FAQ.
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How do I add an avatar to my posts?
See “What is an avatar?” and “How do I set my avatar” in the User Profile & Settings section of this FAQ.
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How do I delete my posts?
As a registered user, you do not have the option of deleting your posts. Think twice, post once. If you feel that you’ve made an error or have accidentally posted the same information twice, please contact a moderator for assistance.
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How do I edit my posts?
Within the first 72 hours of posting, you’ll see an “Edit” image button within the post you made. Clicking on this image button will allow you to edit your post. When you edit your post, a time and date stamp will appear in your post, which reflects the last time and date you edited that post. When editing, you also have the option of explaining your edits during the process.
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How do I post a new message to a forum?
You can post a new message to a forum in several ways. When viewing a forum you should see an image button called “Write a New Topic.” Clicking on this image button will take you to a form for posting a message. If you do not see the New Topic image button you may not have permission – even after logging in – to post a message to the forum even though you are allowed to view the forum.
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How do I quote the post in my reply?
When you click reply, you’ll see a gray area containing the text of the post you’re replying to. Simply click “Quote” to quote the entire post in your reply, or highlight text in the gray area and click “Quote” to quote that specific text. You can highlight and quote specific text elements as often as necessary within your reply.
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How do I reply to an existing post?
You can reply to an existing post using the Reply buttons displayed within the post. If you do not see the Reply image button when viewing a post you do not have permission to reply or the post may not allow replies.
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Is there any way to delete trolls from my posts?
No. Currently, registered users do not have permissions to remove posts from their threads.
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What are emoticons?
Emoticons are graphical elements that can be added within the body of a post to add emotions to the post. Common examples are the use of smilies within the contents of a post. Please see our Emoticon Dictionary for a list of our current emoticons.
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What are post points and how are they determined?
At one time, post points were visible to registered users. There were points attributed to posts, based on number of replies, posts marked as favorites, etc. They don't affect the member experience in the Community.
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What is BBCode?
BBCode is a special syntax for formatting plain text posts.
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Why can’t I edit my posts after 72 hours?
The administrators of our Community feel that 72 hours is an appropriate time for someone to update/correct information in a post. After 72 hours, the poster could effectively change the history of his or her postings in the Community.
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Privacy & Security

How did I get my username?
Usernames are based on your membership information as on file with American Mensa’s National Office. They are comprised of your primary salutation, last name and most often the last two digits of your membership number. These are generated automatically nightly for new members.
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How do I change my email address?
Visit your profile page on the main American Mensa Web site at www.us.mensa.org/profile. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for your email to replicate to the Community.
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How do I change my password?
Visit your profile page on the main American Mensa Web site at www.us.mensa.org/profile. Please note that it may take up to 24 hours for your password to replicate to the Community.
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How do I change my username?
If you’d like to update your primary salutation or your name has changed, please contact Member Processing at the National Office. Note that your membership record is tied directly to your testing history, so we require court documentation, driver’s license with your new name, marriage license, or divorce decree for all name changes. Obviously, primary salutation changes (e.g., a change from James to Jim) do not require documentation. Please allow 24-48 hours for these changes to reflect online.
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I changed my username, but others can’t click through to my profile using my old username. Why?
The old username corresponds to your older posts. Because it was changed, the tie between that username and your posts or profile no longer exists.
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I’ve gotten emails from private messages on the forums. Does this mean that other members have my private email address?
No, the Community does not disclose your private email address when sending private messages or via the “email this member” link under a profile.
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What are the last two digits appended to my username? Does that mean I’m the nth variation of my name?
Usernames are based on your membership information as on file with American Mensa’s National Office. They are comprised of your primary salutation, last name and most often the last two digits of your membership number. These are generated automatically nightly for new members.
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What if I don’t want my name displayed in the member lists?
You can set the option in your profile, and your name will not appear in any member listings, including the listing of who is online. Please note that, per the Constitution of Mensa, all members must list name, city and state in member listings, and so, on the American Mensa Web site, your name, city and state may appear in the Member Director on that site. You can update your privacy settings for that directory via your member profile at www.us.mensa.org/profile.
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What profile settings are required?
The only profile setting that is required is your private email address. This is the email address that is used when you subscribe to the forums, when a forgotten username/password is emailed. It is tied directly to your membership record. Your private email address is never shared or displayed publicly with the Community. If you wish to share an email address publicly, use the public email address field. The remainder of the profile settings are optional.
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Private Messages

I received a private message in email. Can I reply back via email?
No. Currently, the email reply feature is limited to forum sections and threads.
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Is there a limit to the number of PMs I can have?
No. Currently, there is no limit. Please note that we may in the future, and with warning, cull private messages older than a certain date.
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What is a private message?
A private message is like email within our Community. You can send a private message to another user within the Community that is visible only to them and you. No private information, such as the user's email address, is ever disclosed.
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Registration & Login

Do I need to Register?
Current members of American Mensa are already registered. They simply need to click on "Online Community" in the members menu of the AML Web site to access the Community. Members of Mensa International may also participate in our Community. Information for International member access can be found on this page.
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Do non members have access to these discussions?
No. Currently, all members of American Mensa and verified current members of other national Mensas have access. Prospective members and members who’ve lapsed their memberships do not have access. In the latter case, lapsed memberships will occur on 4/1 of each year, and your membership renewal may take 24-48 hours to reinitialize your access. A good reason to renew your membership early.
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I already logged in. Why do I get logged off from time to time?
There may be a few reasons for losing access to the Community.

The cookie that tracks your login is currently set to a 72-hour window. If you’ve not logged in within the last 72 hours, you’ll need to log in again.
If it’s April 1 and you’ve not yet paid your dues, your account will be deactivated until you renew your membership. Please note that there’s a 24-48 hour window to process and reactivate your account.
If you violated the Terms of Service, your account may have been suspended for a period of time.

What if I’ve registered but still cannot login?
If you’ve registered and can’t login, check to ensure you have a valid username and password. Also make sure that your browser and or security software aren’t preventing cookies from our site from being written. If you are sure the username and password are valid and cookies are enabled but still can’t login, you may either require account activation or your account may be on hold. In this case, please contact Web Services.
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I forgot my username and/or password.
Your Community login information is the same login for the American Mensa Web site. Your login information was distributed on your latest membership card letter. We realize that you may not have kept the letter, may have misplaced it, or may be on a multi-year or life membership. In the case of new members, you may not have received the letter yet. Please visit our login page and select "Forgot Password?" in order to have your login information emailed to you. If you have not provided an email address to American Mensa, please contact Web Services or call 817/607-0060 ext. 5005, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday, to obtain your login information.
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I have my username and password. How do I log in?
Visit our login page, enter your information and click "Login." Then select Online Community from the left menu. You can also bookmark www.community.us.mensa.org and click "Sign In" at the top of the page, log in, then selection "Click here to continue."
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I’ve logged in before, but now can’t login?
If you’ve registered and can’t login, check to ensure you have a valid username and password. Also make sure that your browser and security software aren’t preventing cookies from our site from being written. If you are sure the username and password are valid and cookies are enabled, but still can’t login you may either require account activation or your account may be on hold. In this case, please contact Web Services.
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What if I’ve registered but still cannot login?
If you’ve registered and can’t login, check to ensure you have a valid username and password. Also make sure that your browser and or security software aren’t preventing cookies from our site from being written. If you are sure the username and password are valid and cookies are enabled but still can’t login, you may either require account activation or your account may be on hold. In this case, please contact Web Services.
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User Groups & Permissions

How do I join a role or user group?
Users are assigned to user groups automatically or by an administrator. If there is a particular group you wish to join, please contact community@americanmensa.org for more information.
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What are permissions?
Permissions control what you are or are not allowed to do while browsing the site. The permissions you are granted control all aspects of your view within our Community.
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What is a moderator?
Moderators are members appointed by the Communications Officer. By default, a moderator can perform any number of tasks within a particular forum or set of forums. This includes approving posts, moving posts, deleting posts, or editing posts. If you have a problem what’s being said on the forums, the best place to start is with a moderator.
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What is a role or user group?
A user group, also known as a role, is grouping of common users for the purpose of assigning permissions. In addition to common permission assignment a role can also be used to display an image for a user in that role. Roles make the job of administering and moderating the site easier since users can be assigned to roles and then permission applied based on those roles. All members are a part of Registered Users and Everyone by default.
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What is an administrator?
An administrator is the highest permission level within our Community, generally held by American Mensa staff to handle the day-to-day functionality of this service. By default, an administrator has full permissions to perform any action, e.g. moderating posts, approving users, and so on. If you have a problem with functionality, the best place to start is Forum Support and or an Administrator.
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What’s the current reporting structure for the forum administrator and moderators?
Admininistration of American Mensa’s Forums is organized in a tiered structure as follows:

The Communications Officer and the staff Internet Services Manager are responsible for ensuring that the Forums fulfill the purposes they were created for.
The Communications Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing the guidelines and policies for AML’s Internet Services. ComComm members are appointed by the ComOfficer with the consent of the AMC Chair.
The Communications subcommittee on community issues (Com3) acts as the evaluative body for issues arising on AML’s Forums. Appointed by the Communications Officer, Com3 is responsible for maintaining the sense of camaraderie, moderating or facilitating other appointed moderators, and advising the Communications Officer and the Internet Services Manager. Essentially, this small committee acts as a jury when there are serious problems that need to be addressed. Com3 will review complaints and may recommend corrective action for violations of the Forum Guidelines. Some, but not all of the Com3 folks are also on ComComm and/or act as moderators.

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User Profile & Settings

Can I change my avatar?
Yes, as often as you like. Please note, though, that your avatar will be queued for review with each upload.
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How do I add a signature to my post?
A signature is a message that is appended to the end of any posts you make in the forums. You can edit your signature from the profile page. This signature will then appear at the bottom of any messages posted by you.
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How do I set my avatar?
Visit your Community profile and select the “Avatar” tab. From there, you can upload the avatar you wish to use. You will also need to enable your avatar for it to be displayed with your posts. Please note that avatars will not appear immediately. Your avatar will be queued for review. Once your avatar has been approved, it will appear next to your posts and in your public profile. If your avatar has not been approved, please check your Inbox at the upper right of the screen for a private message from a Community administrator.
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How do I set the date format?
The date format used to display any date information can be configured from your Community profile.
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How do I turn off email-tracking?
Email tracking is a feature which will send emails to you when messages that you are subscribed to change. You can turn off all email tracking globally from your Community profile.
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I set my avatar, but it’s not displaying on my profile.
Please note that avatars will not appear immediately. Your avatar will be queued for review. Once your avatar has been approved, it will appear next to your posts and in your public profile. If your avatar has not been approved, please check your Inbox at the upper right of the screen for a private message from a Community administrator.
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I'm not getting emails from my subscriptions. What's wrong?
There are five things that may influence your subscriptions:

Make sure you have an email address on file by checking your Community profile. Your Community email address can be updated on your member profile on the AML main site. Please allow 24 hours for changes to replicate to the Community.
Make sure that you've subscribed to the thread or topic. Select Forum Subscriptions from the "Shortcuts" menu.
Make sure that "Receive Emails" on the Email tab in your Community profile is set to yes.
Make sure that "Enable Email Notifications" on the Email tab in your Community profile is set to yes.
Check your spam filter to ensure our emails are not being marked as spam.

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What are the other icons/avatars that show up next to users?
There are many different icons that can show up next to usernames in the forums. Common examples are administrators, moderators or top posters. Other images may be displayed based on groups the user belongs to. Specifically, you’ll see a series of green bars; these track who are the top contributors by level to the Community. You’ll also see “Team Mod” under some pictures; these are members of the moderation team for the Community.
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What if I don’t want to see avatars?
Visit your Community profile and check the “Display user signatures” option on the “Site Options” tab.
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What if I don’t want to see others’ signatures?
A signature is a message that is appended to the end of any posts you make in the forums. You can edit your signature from the profile page. This signature will then appear at the bottom of any messages posted by you.
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What if I don’t want to see others’ signatures?
An avatar is a feature of the forums which allows for an image to be displayed along with your posts. In order to enhance the member-to-member value of the Community, we’re currently requiring that all avatars meet the following requirements:

Avatars must be up to 100 by 100 pixels.
Avatars must be in .jpg or .gif format.
Avatars must be an appropriate head shot of you.
Avatars must clearly show your face. Avatars where your face is obstructed, turned away, or where your picture is too small to clearly see your face will not be approved.
Cartoons, pets, anime, animated .gifs, text commentary, etc., will not be approved.

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What is a profile?
A profile is information about your account that controls how you view information within our Community. This includes details about posts you’ve contributed to, personal information you wish to share such as your Web address or blog address, as well as setting that control how you interact with the Community such as: themes, time zone, and other settings.
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Who’s a moderator and who isn’t?
There are many different icons that can show up next to usernames in the forums. You’ll also see “Team Mod” under some pictures; these are members of the moderation team for the Community. If you’d like to see the full list of moderators, simply click on the “Team Mod” logo anywhere in the site.
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Why am I required to login to post, view members, or email other users?
American Mensa’s online Community is a members-only area, restricted to current members of American Mensa and other national Mensas.
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Why do I want to set my time zone?
Setting your time zone will enable the Community to display all dates and time relative to your time zone.
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