Ask an expert, share information, meet others with similar interests - you can do all this in a forum.

Forums or message boards are where people gather together
on the web to ask questions, answer questions, discuss
problems, exchange information, and chat. Unlike chat
rooms, forums have moderators, who check that posts are
relevant, suitable, and polite. Offenders will be warned,
and persistent offenders blocked from using the board.

Most forums require you to register, and to log-in. Choose
a nick-name if you don't want to use your real name, choose
a password (something you'll remember!), fill in as much of
the information as is required, add as many extra details
as you feel comfortable with, and get ready to be
enlightened.

You may prefer to "lurk" (a techie term meaning to read
messages rather than to post them) until you've become
familiar with the board. When you do post, you need to
choose the right section of the board, and to include only
one topic in each post. If you have three questions, you
make three posts.

Make sure your subject heading describes your question -
don't use headings like "Please help" or "I'm confused!"
Other users scanning the headers won't have any idea what
your question is going to be about - they may not take the
time to open and read your post. You may miss advice from
busy experts.

So here are some of my favourite boards - hope to see you
around soon!

Help with web building
Site Owners http://www.siteownersforums.com
From beginners to experts.
Site Point http://www.sitepointforums.com
One of the most well-known sites, for all levels.
Web Developer http://www.webdevforums.com
Webmaster http://www.webmaster-forums.net

Help with your PC
The Newbie Club http://newbieclub.com/?pramclub
Beginners welcome, no tech-speak. You'll need to join, but
it's free, and gives full access to the tutorials as well as
the forum.
PC911 http://www.pcnineoneone.com/index.html
Also includes very useful *How to* section.

Help with your e-mail
Tek-tips http://www.tek-tips.com/
Not just e-mail, and all levels.

Help creating e-books
Ebook Friends http://www.ebookfriends.com/
Help on all ebook programs, all levels.
eBook Forum http://www.ebookforum.com/
Help on reading devices, creating and promoting ebooks.

Help creating an e-zine
EP Digest http://www.epdigest.com/
Small but helpful.


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Dianne Reuby is co-author of the e-book "First Website
Builder". Dianne created and runs the First Web Builder
site, dedicated to providing ebooks and tips for new
webmasters.
Visit FWB at http://firstwebbuilder.co.uk/
AOL

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