START HERE - Forum Guidelines and Rules

[Vaughn Paul]

Welcome to the LOVA Forum!
This board began on January 12th, 2006 and is one of the web's largest Jyotish forums. The intention has been to create a positive, supportive learning environment for both beginning and advanced students.

RULES AND GUIDELINES:

REGISTERING:
1. You need to register to post, otherwise you are free to read only.
2. REGISTER ONLY ONCE and use only one username. Multiple usernames are not allowed and will be deactivated!

RULES FOR POSTING:
1. Post only in English.
2. Don't use offensive language.
3. Report offensive behavior to a Moderator or Administrator.
4. Don't post off-topic comments, jokes, links to youtube videos, etc. that are unrelated to the discussion. Use the Chat Room or Personal Messages (PM) for this.
5. Don't advertise other products and services.
6. Post in the right section.
7. Don't post the same post multiple times in different sections.
8. Keep your post brief - ask only 1 or 2 questions - you'll get more responses.
9. Don't address your post to specific person(s). Instead say, "username or others, ..." - so anyone can respond.
10. Don't use abbreviations, for instance MD for mahadasa - so everyone can understand.
11. Don't send Private Messages or Emails asking for readings. Ask for readings on the forum itself - so everyone benefits by the discussion.

GUIDELINES:
1. Click on FAQ to get answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and learn how the forum works.
2. Use the search engine to search topics, or do an advanced search to look up a user and read all their posts.
3. Read the 'About the Discussion Board' section for topics like how to posts images, create an avatar, etc.
4. If you want to get notified by email when someone responds to your post then click on "Notify me when a reply is posted" in the Options tab below your post.
5. If you need technical help you can always email a moderator or administrator by clicking on their username, or post a question in the appropriate section, or send it directly to:
admin@lightonvedicastrology.com or
help@lightonvedicastrology.com

GROUPS AND PRIVILEGES:
1. Unregistered Users: Can read any post, except in Chat Room and Donor's Lounge. Can't post. Can't view profiles or member lists. Views ads until registered.
2. Newly Registered Users (Submitted 0-9 posts): Can read any post. Can post anywhere except in Chat Room or Donor's Lounge. Must have first 9 posts approved by a Moderator. Can't use Private Messages (PM), or view profiles or member lists.** Can't hide online status. Views no ads.
3. Registered Users (Submitted 10-24 posts): Can read any post. Can post in Chat Room and anywhere except the Donor's Lounge. Can't use Private Messages (PM).** Can view profiles and members lists and send email to members. Can't hide online status. Views no ads.
4. Contributors (Submitted 25-249 posts): Can read any post. Can post in Chat Room and anywhere except the Donor's Lounge. Can send and receive Private Messages (PM) and email with members. Can view profiles and members lists. Can't hide online status. Views no ads.
5. Frequent Contributors (Submitted 250 or more posts): Can read any post. Can post in Chat Room and anywhere except the Donor's Lounge. Can send and receive Private Messages (PM) and email with members. Can view profiles and members lists. Can hide online status. Views no ads.
6. Donors (Made a donation of $25 or more to help the Forum): Can read any post. Can post in Chat Room and anywhere including the Donor's Lounge. Can send and receive Private Messages (PM) and email between members. Can view profiles and members lists. Can hide online status. Views no ads.
7. Moderators (Invited to help moderate the Forum): All privileges except can't perform Administrator functions.
8. Administrators (Invited to help with technical functions and moderate the Forum): All privileges including performing Administrator functions.

**If you can't send or receive PM's and would like to have that enabled, or if you need help, please contact an Administrator at:
admin@lightonvedicastrology.com or
help@lightonvedicastrology.com

Thanks! I look forward to the forum continuing to be a dynamic and fun place for anyone to come to discuss jyotish.

Namaste,
Vaughn Paul Manley, Administrator