HOW TO: Change My Settings to ABC or Sky Pace

[D-Roc]

These instructions are in relation to this post, which in a nutshell outlines our additional forum for ABC Paced viewers.

The forum will have TWO viewing paces - ABC Pace and Sky One Pace. Each viewing pace shouldn't conflict with the other, indeed discussion threads and forums for each 'pace' will have their own set of permissions so that if you're a ABC paced viewer, then you'll see ALL forums (ABC and Sky), and if you're watching at Sky pace then you will not see the ABC paced forum, so you don't get spoiled. The same goes for the 'sidebar' modules (the sidebar is the strip to the left of the forum which houses details and site features).

You can change your usergroup to either ABC Viewer or the default Sky One viewer at any time. This will also benefit you if you're generally at ABC pace, but haven't yet managed to watch an episode and so wish to keep ABC threads out of view until you do (etc).

Changing your usergroup is easy and quick:

1. Log in
2. Go to your User CP, under 'Networking' on the left strip, you'll find an option called "Group Memberships":

Click on it.

• In the page that opens up, you'll see you now have the option to join the ABC Viewer Group. To do so select the little circle option called 'Join Group' and then scroll down and click the 'JOIN GROUP' button.

You're now in the ABC Viewer group and you'll be able to see and particpate in ABC paced forum/s. You'll also be able to see any ABC paced modules in the sidebar. Your username may also change colour (to be confirmed). All other settings will remain the same -the only change is that you'll be able to see and partake in ABC forums/threads/features.

You can toggle between ABC pace and normal Sky pace settings at 'any' time. So if you haven't yet seen the ABC episode then you simply log on and opt out of the ABC group, like so:

• Click on User CP and go to 'Group Memberships'.
• This time you want to go back to the normal Sky settings, so you simply select 'Leave Group' on the ABC Viewer option. Then confirm by clicking the 'LEAVE GROUP' button. Eg:

Refresh the page and you'll now be under the default Sky Viewer settings aagain, and you'll ONLY see all forums EXCEPT the ABC forums and modules. You're membername may also change colour (tbc).

Remember you can toggle between these groups as often as you need to. This is in place to benefit you, and to protect you from getting spoiled if you either haven't seen the latest ABC episode or if you choose to view at UK (Sky One) pace.

Important: Please note that if you're not logged in then the ABC forums and modules WILL be visible, this is so guests can view the ABC forums and SKy paced forums.

If you want to view the boards as a guest (i.e not logged in), butr don't wish to see the ABC forums/modules, then I have created a work-around:

• Log in
• If you do not want to be seen on the forum (i.e. you like browsing as a guest) then go to User CP and select 'OPTIONS'. Then click the 'invisible' option, and you're name will not appear as online - you'll effectivelty still be a guest, but with the option to post if you wish.
• You will now see the forum as your chosen usergroup dictates. So if you want to browse the forum but not see the ABC forum/s then you wont, if you have opted out (as described above).

Obviously this method requires logging in, however you're still effectively a guest as your name will not appear online (etc). This is the best workaround so far.

Discussion for Episode 4.09 will be opened at somepoint this afternoon (Sunday 27th) and future ABC paced episodes will open on the Thursday of that episode airing - so 4.10 discussion will open this coming Thursday). UK Paced forums (e.g Sky One's May 4th showing of 4.09) will open, as normal, on that day.

To clarify, both ABC and SKy sections are 'independant' - there are no thread duplication rules in that respect, because they are their own seperate forums, catering to the needs of different sections of the Lost fanbase.

If you have any questions, concerns of difficulties please post in the helpdesk, and myself or a member of staff will happily help assist you asap.

Hopefully this new system will make MUCH more sense once it is operational - that is, once the ABC forum/s are live later on today.

Again, please take note of the part in red above - as I would hate for any of you to get spoiled whilst browsing the forum as a 'guest'. Instructions on how to work around Sky One guest browsing is mentioned above.

Also, unless you have changed your 'membership', you're still under the default 'Sky Viewer' setting and will remain so until you decide/need to change it to 'ABC Viewer'. However, this doesn't apply if you re a 'guest' (guests CAN view ABC forums/threads), unless you use the instructions above.

Roco

[D-Roc]

I should also add that those who choose to be in the ABC group can discuss in the Sky One forums, HOWEVER, you MUST NOT allude, hint, spoil in ANY way concerning information from unaired Sky one episodes whilst inside those forums or any forums outside of the ABC Lost forums.

If you're in doubt as to whether something you're gonna say might be construed as being a spoiler for UK viewers, then ask a member of staff (will confirm which ones are ABC paced soon) or defer from saying it.

Remember, UK viewers are watching at UK pace for a reason - please keep all hints/information regarding unaired Sky One episodes out of the SKy paced forums. All forums will be clearly re-marked over the course of today, so that there is no excuse for confusion.

This may sound like an after thought, but we (the staff) will protect Sky Viewers from Spoilers. I, myself will be watching pretty close to ABC pace and will ensure that hints etc are kept out.

A decision on how the General Lost and Lost Theories and Speculation forums will work will be announced later today. Until then continue to use them at Sky Pace (UK Pace).

[D-Roc]

Signature/Avatar Rules:

Please keep ALL 'Lost' signatures and avatars at SkyOne (UK) pace, even if you're watching at ABC pace. There is currently no way to work around this, so sigs/avis will have to be kept within UK pace transmission. This means that no imagery (etc) from episodes which are ahead of UK transmission.

You can still post your ABC paced Lost artwork/sigs/avis in the ABC forum - if needed there will be a dedicated Lost 'art' thread per each episode, or you can create one if one has not yet been made once that episode airs.

If you're unsure when the next Sky One episode is, you can check on your sidebar - there will be a Sky One Module (block) which houses details of the current and next UK episode, as well as other info.

The above is to protect UK paced viewers from spoilers.

[D-Roc]

If you wish to identify yourself as an ABC viewer (darker blue username), then after you have opted in to the ABC Viewer Group, select the: 'Identify me as a member of this group' option.

Your username will now appear slightly darker than the default Sky Viewer blue.

[D-Roc]

Just a reminder guys as some of you haven't read this notification and are running into problems with thread titles etc:

As I said yesterday in this news post, guests/not logged in will be able to see ALL forums - including the new ABC forum and threads. There are no plans to change this for various technical reasons.

As I also mentioned, if you simply want to browse the forum (like a guest) but not appear as 'online' then you can simply set yourself to 'invisible' via your User CP > Options.

Once logged in you will only see the forums which pertain to the Member Group that you have chosen - that is Sky (UK Pace) or ABC (All). Again, you can log in as 'invisible', if you wish. It's the same as being a guest, except you have the option to post if you want, and you will only see the forums that relate to your Member Group.

Also, if you don't like having to physically log in each time you visit to forum, then select the 'REMEMBER ME' option when you log in and when you're done, don't log out, simply navigate away from the site to another site (or whathaveyou), and the next time you navigate to lostcommunity.co.uk, you'll automatically be online under the settings that you previously had (i.e. if you were invisible last time, you'll still be invisible until you change that setting in your user cp).