Boards

Message boards are just electronic versions of real life notice boards where you can leave and reply to a whole range of notices, messages and comments.

On the internet - as in real life - there are lots of different message boards on a range of different topics.

You put a message on a board so that other people can see it and respond.

However, you should only place a message on the same subject that the message board deals with - you wouldn't put a message about holidays on a car repair message board, now would you?

Replying to messages

If you put up a message and someone finds it interesting, they can reply to that message.

They might do this to add some information to what you've said, ask a question about your message, or simply answer the question you asked.

Other people can then reply to that reply. In this way, the different messages that are posted can turn into a longer conversation which everyone can see.

Stick to the subject

For a message board to work properly it is important that everyone sticks to the subject that the board is for.

If a message board is about travel then someone posting a message about mortgages or football would seem strange and probably not get much response.

On top of that, the message board's owner may well take down that message to avoid further confusion.

Rude and offensive messages

Messages may also get removed from a board if they are rude or offensive.

Along with off-topic messages, this type of message can ruin a message board.

The message board owner will quite often check all the posts and remove those rude, offensive or off-topic messages that might cause problems.

How online message boards work

Online message boards run in exactly the same way as real ones do.

They are usually made up of a list of different topics which you can post messages about. For example, the BBC EastEnders message board has topics for current and past EastEnders and even for fans from abroad.

On each topic page is a list of messages or discussions which you can join in.

Each message will have a title and it usually shows you the start of each message to give you an idea of what is in each one.

Most message boards will also show the name of the person who posted the message - most people use nicknames for security - and also the number of people who have replied.

This means you can look out for messages from posters you find interesting, or just look for a message conversation that has had a lot of replies.

Protecting yourself

Most people use nicknames rather than real names on a message board.

You should also never give out your e-mail address or any personal details on a board. If you do, junk mail companies will send you lots of spam mail, or you could get unwanted attention.

Remember, everything you post on a message board can be seen by anyone because most boards are public. However, good message boards should not display your real name or e-mail address.

Opening a message

When you've found a message that interests you in the list, just click on it to read the full version and any replies.

Each reply will be displayed with the name of the poster and the time it was posted.

The chain of replies is often called a discussion or a thread.

The messages are often shifted to the right of the screen to show you which reply goes with which message.

Writing a message

When you want to write on a message board you can do two things.

The first is to reply to the message, using the 'Reply' link that can be found under each message.

The other way to write on a message board is to start a discussion of your own using the 'Start New Discussion' or 'New Topic' link that should be at the top of most message board pages.

Typing your message

When you begin a new discussion it is totally up to you what you write about - as long as its on the right topic.

You simply type in your title and message text and click the button to 'Post' or 'Send' it to the message board.

Your title should give people a good idea of what your message is about.

Your message should not include your phone number or e-mail address.