reelbruce

You've come up trumps again DAD

That's exactly what the problem is - another crucial step to remember!

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Regards
Becalmed Bruce

Many thanks RB, that seems to have done the trick!

(and why didn't I think of that?)

Regards
Bruce

I hope I am not speaking out of turn, but would just like to add a tuppenyworth...

I have built and run a number of forum based websites and it is sometimes difficult for me to bear in mind that new members can feel either intimidated, over-awed or simply don't grasp the accepted concepts and conventions that have been built up over time (in my case 5 years)

I also have to remember that I and the 'old timers' on the respective boards have become so used to the layout of the sites and where everything is that to a first arrival it can be overwhelming (even though they are as simplisticly and logically designed as possible). I can lose the rag (behind the screen) when someone doesn't even bother to search, and my search function is ridiculously easy, but then remember that sometimes people don't really always know how to phrase a search, or indeed, if it would be worth their while.

So that's the negatives, the positive side to the same questions being asked is that other 'newbies' get to know of issues that otherwise they would be ignorant of and perhaps would have put their foot in it as well!

I have learned a lot on here about this site's protocols through reading responses to posts that have generated this type of discussion. Being a newbie I rather feel for the ones who might ask a question that has been answered (I am sure I have!) but a little hand holding goes a long long way and encourages the newbie to contribute positively.

I now really enjoy this scene, and have to admit to have been a lurker for a while (and a greedy downloader) but woke up recently to the fact that these layouts we love so much are built by people, so I decided that I had to learn how it was done so I could contribute as well. It took me some time to launch myself because, to be very, very honest, I was a bit scared, especially after reading some posts in the past that just terrified me of some people on the site. I now understand where people are coming from, and I know that tempers flare because people can get very irritated indeed.

But there comes a point where you say do I send a post now, or do I wait ten minutes or so. I have had plenty cause on my sites in the past to rue the lack of a little bit of self checking before sending a torrential outburst at people on my sites. And I have had to do a lot of diplomacy between posters - some got so bad a few years ago that two people were actually going to meet up and physically tear each other to pieces. What I am saying is, we cannot see the smile, or the tone, or the person behind the posts. Words on a screen can look different than how you would hear them from someone's lips whilst in physical conversation - the words are all important, for depending on how used they can look biting, searing and angry, when in fact, the poster might just be a little annoyed and is trying to get a point across.

And to a newbie those words can look very threatening and intimidating.

Anyway, I am rambling again...

Just to say, I am now off and running (well, trotting warily!) after DAD supplied me with invaluable help and advice.

Thanks DAD, and I'll let you all know how I get on!

(Although, I'll probably disappear for a few days as I 'get tore in')


Regards
Bruce

Thanks to all who responded!

Very pleased this one has awoken some memories. My mate has never seen this one before and only started playing fruit machines a couple of years ago - he's hooked on it and says if only we could get a £25 pub machine remake!

(Think that would be a bad idea on reflection, I'd never be out the pub and would be totally skint!)