by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: June 04, 2009   Last Updated: December 18, 2010

Helium provides discussion boards for members to voice concerns and questions. The boards are meant as an aid to the entire community. The discussion boards are an important part of the Helium experience. There are rules that accompany participation in the Helium discussion boards that every user should make him/herself aware of before posting any comments. Knowing what should and shouldn't be done in the Helium boards will help make it a better experience for everyone.

Tips for posting to Helium's community forums:

Read the Rules- At the top of the discussion boards are a link for the rules. Read the rules and keep them in mind before making any posts. It is better to know the rules and follow them before posting as to avoid misunderstandings and being banned from the boards. Not paying attention to the rules could ultimately get a writer banned from the site as well.

Be Respectful- There may be times that the boards get on a topic of discussion that can result in hot headedness among members. These are the times that people begin to throw insults at one another and their work. The discussion boards are not a place to throw insults around about other members. It is a place to discuss concerns and to ask questions. Above all else, be respectful to other members and the staff who are posting on the boards. If it is impossible to post without insulting or flaming another member, leave the post out of the boards. It will be far better for everyone if the person inflamed doesn't post to the boards until he/she has calmed down. Take a breather and come back when common courtesy reigns.

Search the Boards- There is a possibility that the question or concern has already been addressed in the discussion board. Search around to make sure that there hasn't already been an answer to the questions or concerns about to be posted. This will save time and effort on behalf of the writer seeking the answer and for the members and staff of Helium that answer them.

Information about self and others- It is extremely important to keep in mind that posting links to other writers articles, mentioning their names or posting links that would be considered self promotion are against the rules of the discussion boards. Self-promotion is not allowed within the articles written or the discussion boards (unless specifically stated). If there is a problem with someone else's article, send it to help@helium.com for them to take a look at or contact a staff member to find out how to best approach it. Posting negative information about other writers on the site to the discussion boards will only result in the thread being removed from the boards.

The most important thing to remember when posting to the discussion boards on Helium is to be respectful of self and others. It is important that the discussion boards remain civil so that every writer on the Helium website can benefit from them. Treating others with respect on the boards will make the community a nicer place for everyone to be.

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