| Forum Glossary |
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Internet forums have a vocabulary all of their own. If you're a newcomer, you may have noticed a few words used in unfamiliar contexts. In such instances, look no further than this handy definitions list to conquer your confusion. Shortcuts: Administrator/Admin A member with access to full technical control over the website, such as the ability to moderate posts in any folder, create new folders or ban individual members from posting. [Back to top] Avatar/Avy/Av Customizable image displayed next to all of an individual member's posts. Your own avatar can be changed via the 'Profile' menu. [Back to top] Ban If a member breaks the rules, they may be banned by a moderator or administrator. This renders the member's account useless, leaving them unable to post, send PMs, etc. [Back to top] BBCode A formatting code consisting of special mark-up 'tags' used on certain boards, such as this one. Similar to HTML, but uses 'square' brackets instead of 'pointy' brackets, and offers fewer features. BBCode is used in your posts to, for example, make text bold, or include an image or a link. Using the shortcut buttons while posting will automatically insert the correct BBCode into your post. (Incidentally, "BB" stands for "bulletin board", an interchangeable term for "board".) [Back to top] Board This word can have two meanings. "Board" may refer to the website at which we are posting - in this case, WX (eg, I've just registered at this board) - or it may refer to the entire collection of members (eg, The whole board loves wrestling). [Back to top] E-fed An e-fed is a game in which posters assume a fictitious personality and participate in an imaginary wrestling promotion. An assigned 'booker' decides which matches will take place, and writes the results. Who wins and who loses depends on the relative quality of 'roleplays' (in this case meaning promos) written by each player beforehand. [Back to top] Emoticon Same as "smiley". A small graphic that can be inserted in posts to add or emphasize meaning. Most emoticons represent faces expressing particular emotions. [Back to top] Flame Can be a verb (action) or a noun (object). The noun "flame" refers to an insulting post targetted at another member with intent to offend (eg, He replied with a nasty flame). The verb "to flame" refers to the act of submitting these posts (eg, Flaming is not nice). [Back to top] Folder An individual section, containing threads related to a specific subject (eg, All new games should be posted in the Fun & Games folder). [Back to top] Forum This word can have three meanings. "Forum" may refer to the website at which we are posting - in this case, WX (eg, I've just registered at this forum) - or it may refer to an individual folder such as Off Topic or No Holds Barred (eg, Make sure you post threads in the correct forum). It may also refer to the entire collection of members (eg, The whole forum loves wrestling). [Back to top] Forums Obviously the plural to "forum", but with a subtle difference. "Forums" may refer to the website at which we are posting - in this case, WX (eg, I've just registered at these forums) - just like "forum" singular. This is because, in this context, it acts as the plural to the second definition of "forum", meaning an individual folder such as Off Topic or No Holds Barred (eg, I think the Off Topic and No Holds Barred forums should be merged). Therefore, together these sections make up the website as a whole, allowing the site to be referred to as the forums. Hense the name "WX Forums". (Incidentally, the word "forums" does not actually exist - the correct plural form of "forum" is "fora" - but it is what people have come to know and use.) [Back to top] Guest A visitor to the website who has not yet registered as a member. May also refer to a member who has yet to log in during this particular visit. [Back to top] Locked Moderators and administrators can "lock" a thread to disallow further posts from being added to it. Entire folders can also be locked, but in such cases, the folder will also be placed out of view from regular members. [Back to top] Member Similar to "poster". Somebody who has registered, but not necessarily somebody who submits messages (eg, I'm a member of many different boards). You can be a member without being a poster - not that there's any point to registering if you don't intend to post! [Back to top] Moderator/Mod A member who has been granted moderating rights within certain folders by an administrator. Moderators are able to edit, delete and move anyone's posts if necessary - moved if a thread is posted in the wrong folder, for example, or edited/deleted if a post contains spam, advertisting, pornography or excessive abuse towards another member. [Back to top] Pinned Moderators and administrators can "pin" a thread if they deem it to be of particular importance or usefulness. Pinned threads remain at the top of the list in their folder, to prevent them from getting lost in the shuffle. Threads can also be unpinned, if and when they become less relevent. [Back to top] Post Can be a verb (action) or a noun (object). The noun "post" refers to an individual message submitted by a member (eg, Have you read my post about SummerSlam?). The verb "to post" refers to the act of submitting a message (eg, I've already posted my predictions for SummerSlam). [Back to top] Poster Similar to "member". Somebody who has registered and submits messages. Eg, You're my favorite poster. [Back to top] PM Private message. You can send individual members a private message via the 'Messages' menu - they (and only they) will receive it next time they open any page on the board. [Back to top] Roleplaying The act of playing along with a fictional scenario, either 'as' yourself or 'as' an assumed character. Mainly used in e-feds for writing promos, but also sometimes used by some in banter elsewhere. [Back to top] Signature/Sig Snippet of text and/or image(s) automatically added to the end of an individual member's posts. Your own signature can be edited via the 'Profile' menu. [Back to top] Smiley Same as "emoticon". A small graphic that can be inserted in posts to add or emphasize meaning. Most smilies represent faces expressing particular emotions. [Back to top] Spam Can be a verb (action) or a noun (object). The noun "spam" refers to an irrelevent post, or several of these, posted in a thread or threads intended for another subject (eg, Please stop filling this wrestling thread with spam about your dog!). The verb "to spam" refers to the act of submitting these posts (eg, Please stop spamming this wrestling thread with posts about your dog!). [Back to top] Spoiler Any information, such as results of a pre-taped wrestling show or news on upcoming storylines, which other members may not wish to know in advance of seeing it on TV. When posting, such information can be enclosed in 'spoiler tags' to allow each individual member to decide for themselves whether or not to view it. [Back to top] Tags Marking features of BBCode or HTML, enclosed in the relevent-shaped brackets. When formatting text, the text to be formatted is enclosed between 'opening' and 'closing' versions of the necessary tag. See definition of BBCode for more details. [Back to top] Thread Same as "topic". A collection of posts relating to the same subject, grouped by a unique title. Eg, I'll post my ideas in the 'Your SummerSlam Predictions' thread. [Back to top] Topic Same as "thread". A collection of posts relating to the same subject, grouped by a unique title. Eg, I'll post my ideas in the 'Your SummerSlam Predictions' topic. [Back to top] If you have any suggestions for additions to the list, please PM an administrator. |