How do I read the forums?
In English, from left to right. (Just kidding.) Everything is broken into categories, that is what comes up first when you access the forums.
Scroll down a bit and you'll see the most current posts from all of the forums. You can read anything that looks interesting by clicking on it.
You can also search the forums. There is a search box on the right-hand side of the window.
Why would I need an account?
You need an account if you want to create new posts or respond to existing posts.
But I just wanted to ask what kind of camcorder to get.
Please read 10 Points to Consider when Purchasing a New Camcorder first. It may answer all of your questions before you need to ask that question here.
How do I post?
To create a post, find the topic list. There will be an "Add New >>" button. Give your post a title and type the body of your post. You may also post images and add videos to your posts. Pick ONE section for the post to appear in, and then click Send Post. Be patient in waiting for a reply.
If you need some guidelines for posting questions, we recommend the document How to Ask Questions the Smart Way.
How do I reply to an existing post?
When you are reading an existing post, a reply box will appear under the last reply to the post (or the post itself, if it has no replies yet.) Type in your reply and click Send Post.
What are things that will not earn happy points with the moderators?
Everyone around here is generally pretty easygoing, and we'd prefer to keep it an easygoing place that is encouraging and helpful to all participants. And remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
If you've got an axe to grind with someone, take it somewhere else. No one else wants to hear it. If the only thing you intend to do here is cause grief, don't expect to be welcome here for long.
There is no need to cross-post. If you've got a question that could possibly be addressed in several forums, post it to the one that is most relevant in your opinion. The reason we don't like cross-posts is because responders to one thread may not see ideas posted in other threads (and it also buries other's posts unnecessarily.)
Do not type in ALL CAPS. Like most other places on the internet, it's interpreted as shouting and as such is considered rude.
As the forums are pretty easygoing (and because a sizeable portion of forum participants are probably writing, shooting, editing, authoring discs, setting up encoding jobs, taking care of kids, cooking, or sleeping at any given time that they're not on the forum), this has historically been considered a slow forum. So be patient. Don't come back in three hours to complain that no one loves you--it might make you seem like an ingrate. If you haven't seen an answer to your question in three days or so, try elaborating a bit on your question--that might give someone who might have the answer you need the missing piece of information they needed. If you're posting because you're having trouble with something, keep trying different things, and tell us what you've tried and what the results were. See the above-referenced How to Ask Questions the Smart Way document.
In general, we recommend sticking to the Netiquette guidelines as specified in RFC 1855. (This is an historically interesting document that is partially outdated. Chapter 3 is most relevant here, but do have a gander at the entire document.)
Generally speaking, if a thread has been inactive for longer than three months, adding a new post to the thread is frowned upon.
What will get me blocked outright?
We have no patience for spam or astroturf (i.e. product guides planted by product manufacturers or their affiliates). You will be blocked immediately upon discovery of such posts. We are accumulating IP addresses, and you may find yourself blocked as a result of participating in this type of activity.
What about contacting someone off the forums?
You can if you'd like; however, if you have a relevant question, it is best left to the forums, so everyone can benefit. Your problem may be the same problem someone else is having, so that discussion may help them as well.
