Avatars are small pictures, appearing next to the posts.
By using different avatars for each user, discussions can be followed more quickly as you fastly recognize a known picture when scrolling down a page.
Additionally, there will be a recognition effect for users while browsing posts.
 

Maybe. One condition is that the administrator generally allows the upload of avatars.
Another one might be, that though upload is generally allowed, a minimum number of posts is required to do so.
If you find the link "upload own image" under "edit profile", uploading an avatar is allowed for you.
Maximum measurements and file size will be displayed next to the link.
 

Beside the (more or less) public posts into forums, you have the option to write a private message to a specific user.
There are three places where you can get in touch with someone:

1. At the end of every post is a link for a private message to the author.
2. In a user's profile you'll find a link for writing a private message to that user.
3. On receiving a private message, you get a "reply"-button to directly reply per private message.

 

Yes, you can. In your "preferences" you'll find an option "Show your email address?".
If you set this to "no", insted of your email adress some asterisks will be shown.
In addition to that, the email-links at the bottom of your posts will disappear.
 

Yes, this is possible.
However, after changing your email adress, you'll need to reactivate your board account.
This way you prove the validity of the new email address.
 

The comment field is for you to leave a message to those visiting your profile page. It is not used at any other place.
The signature will be added to each of your posts, like it is found in emails. Use something general, not relevant only to a specific post, some last words, conluding every message.
Example for the user Cato: "Ceterum censo Carthaginam esse delendam" - but this comes a bit late...
 

The ability to post into a forum is attached to the following conditions:

• You are registered and logged in.
• You have activated your account. The activation code has been sent to you by mail.
• You don't try to post into a forum where you have no write access.

It shows the number of minutes since the user logged in.
It may be that a user has left the board (i.e. closed the browser) and is still being displayed.
10 minutes after his last move, he'll be purged from the list.

 

These are the "user ranks"
It is a simple principle: Who posts messages, will advance in rank. Whenever a certain number of posts is reached, the user is assigned a new rank and the corresponding symbol (the row of stars).
The ranks are given as follows:

• vBB-Newbie (1 posts)
• vBB-User Aspirant (7 posts)
• vBB-User (32 posts)
• vBB-Adept (86 posts)
• vBB-Expert (183 posts)
• vBB-Senior (333 posts)
• vBB-Elder (550 posts)
• vBB-Methusalem (844 posts)