Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up for a PoliticalFilter account?
It's easy, just head over to the registration page, read the note, select a username and password and click submit. You'll be sent a confirmation email and once you've responded to it, you'll be able to log into PoliticalFilter to make posts, add comments and fill out your profile.
What makes a good PoliticalFilter post?
There are plenty of political blogs on the web, so a good PoliticalFilter post would be uncommon and/or interesting or offer a different spin on a common story. A single link to a CNN story would not make a good post, but a variety of links that offer more details and background information about that CNN story would be great.
For example, let's say the Governor of South Dakota was found to be engaging in an extra-marital affair. A good PoliticalFilter post about this subject would have a link to a news outlet about the story, but would also include links to the Governor's political history, local or national Op-Ed pieces about the story, how it might impact South Dakota politics (such as the governor backed a certain issue heavily and how his loss would affect that issue) or or regional or national politics, any laws that might apply or South Dakota history on the subject.
In the end, having interesting content as opposed to a rote media story would make a good post.
What shouldn't I post?
Insults or attacks on another user's character
Posts about or links to other blogs that are about laughing at or insulting posts, users or actions on other blogs
You want us to laugh at someone you think is an idiot.
You feel you've been on the receiving end of some injustice on another blog. Issues about other blogs belong on other blogs and will be deleted here.
You want people to join you in joining another blog or survey.
You're asking for gifts or contributions.
Can I change my username?
No. Your username is is how people will know you on the site, so changing your name would be confusing. Your words mean things and define how people will view you, so post with care.
Why do I need to submit an email address during registration?
To help prevent spambots, we need an email account you can access to ensure that you're a real live person. We send the final registration instructions to that email, so it needs to be working address, in order to verify that you're, well, real.
Can I change my password?
Absolutely. Just login, go to your Control Panel and click in the left menu on "Username and Password. From there you can enter a new password on the Password Change Form. Please note that you must enter your current password in order to change to a different password
What if I forget my password?
No problem, you can have a new password sent to you. It's a two step process, composed of 1., verifying that you want to reset your password and then 2., instructions for resetting your password and being assigned a new one. After being assigned a new password, you can login and change it whatever you want.
To begin this process, navigate to the Forgotten Password page and enter your email address. From there you'll be sent an email that will walk you through how to reset your password.
Can I have more than one account?
Using more than one account could to be confusing for users, so it is not allowed.
How do I use HTML in my posts?
You can handcode the HTML yourself (bold, italics, underline, strike, blackquote, url or email) or you can use the button bar to insert the tags. The button bar has two modes, Guided and Normal. In Guided mode, you click one of the buttons, a dialog box pops up, you type the text you want styled, press enter and the codes are automatically inserted for you. In Normal mode, you select the text you want styled, click a button of the style you want, and tags will be added to text you have selected.
When are threads closed to new comments?
Threads are kept open for 30 days and then they automatically close.
How do I delete my own post?
You can not delete your posts, so think carefully before hitting the submit button! If you would like to have your post deleted, go to the contact page and send a request to the moderators to delete your post, realizing that the post may not be deleted, especially if it already has been commented on.
Are self-links ever okay on any part of the site?
Polticalfilter is all about interesting links, but if you or a friend or relative were involved in what you're linking to, then it may be hard for you to determine if it actually is interseting, so please, no self-links.
What does the Control Panel (CP) do?
The Control Panel allows you edit your profile, upload a photo to your profile, change your email address, change your password, edit site preferences, adjust your localization settings, manage your subscriptions, compose and reply to Private Messages and keep a private notepad
CP: Editing your profile
This where you can add person information about yourself and well as various Instant Messaging accounts. Please note that your exact account name is never actually given, it's hidden from the general public and other users. Direct link.
CP: Upload a photo
You can upload a photo of yourself as long as it's smaller than 200px x 200px and less than 100k. This photo will be seen on your profile, which is publicly available. Direct link.
CP: Email settings
Here is where you can change your email address and adjust settings for when and if the site sends emails to you. All of these settings are enabled by default. Direct link.
CP: Username and Password
View your username and change your password. Note that you must know your current password to change it to a new password.
CP: Edit Preferences
Choose whether you want to accept Private Messages from other members of the site. Direct link.
CP: Localization Settings
Choose your time zone, time formatting and language. Direct link.
CP: View Subscriptions
View and manage threads that you are subscribed to. Direct link.
CP: Private Message
View, compose and manage messages to other users of the site. Private Messages iare similar to being able to send another user an email, except you can only send them to other members of the site and they're accessible only on this site.
CP: Notepad
A way to store short notes on the site. Not recommended for long term storage.
What are some guidelines for tagging my posts?
Please try to be descriptive without being too specific. Generally including any proper names used, such as the name of a person, place or thing is good
Who runs PoliticalFilter
It's run by Brandon Blatcher, based on an idea from one of the Metafilter adminstrators, jessamyn. Please note that PoliticalFilter is not an official Metafilter site or subsite.
I need to get in touch with a site admin in a hurry. How do I do this?
Head over the contact page, and send a note to the site administrator or you can reach Brandon via AIM at "nomadicink."
Are posts or comments edited?
Posts and coments are not edited unless the original poster asks that they be edited.
Thanks to taz for suggesting some design tweaks, cortex for helping with a CSS problem and matt and jessamyn for allowing me to copy portions of the Metafilter FAQ
It's easy, just head over to the registration page, read the note, select a username and password and click submit. You'll be sent a confirmation email and once you've responded to it, you'll be able to log into PoliticalFilter to make posts, add comments and fill out your profile.
What makes a good PoliticalFilter post?
There are plenty of political blogs on the web, so a good PoliticalFilter post would be uncommon and/or interesting or offer a different spin on a common story. A single link to a CNN story would not make a good post, but a variety of links that offer more details and background information about that CNN story would be great.
For example, let's say the Governor of South Dakota was found to be engaging in an extra-marital affair. A good PoliticalFilter post about this subject would have a link to a news outlet about the story, but would also include links to the Governor's political history, local or national Op-Ed pieces about the story, how it might impact South Dakota politics (such as the governor backed a certain issue heavily and how his loss would affect that issue) or or regional or national politics, any laws that might apply or South Dakota history on the subject.
In the end, having interesting content as opposed to a rote media story would make a good post.
What shouldn't I post?
Insults or attacks on another user's character
Posts about or links to other blogs that are about laughing at or insulting posts, users or actions on other blogs
You want us to laugh at someone you think is an idiot.
You feel you've been on the receiving end of some injustice on another blog. Issues about other blogs belong on other blogs and will be deleted here.
You want people to join you in joining another blog or survey.
You're asking for gifts or contributions.
Can I change my username?
No. Your username is is how people will know you on the site, so changing your name would be confusing. Your words mean things and define how people will view you, so post with care.
Why do I need to submit an email address during registration?
To help prevent spambots, we need an email account you can access to ensure that you're a real live person. We send the final registration instructions to that email, so it needs to be working address, in order to verify that you're, well, real.
Can I change my password?
Absolutely. Just login, go to your Control Panel and click in the left menu on "Username and Password. From there you can enter a new password on the Password Change Form. Please note that you must enter your current password in order to change to a different password
What if I forget my password?
No problem, you can have a new password sent to you. It's a two step process, composed of 1., verifying that you want to reset your password and then 2., instructions for resetting your password and being assigned a new one. After being assigned a new password, you can login and change it whatever you want.
To begin this process, navigate to the Forgotten Password page and enter your email address. From there you'll be sent an email that will walk you through how to reset your password.
Can I have more than one account?
Using more than one account could to be confusing for users, so it is not allowed.
How do I use HTML in my posts?
You can handcode the HTML yourself (bold, italics, underline, strike, blackquote, url or email) or you can use the button bar to insert the tags. The button bar has two modes, Guided and Normal. In Guided mode, you click one of the buttons, a dialog box pops up, you type the text you want styled, press enter and the codes are automatically inserted for you. In Normal mode, you select the text you want styled, click a button of the style you want, and tags will be added to text you have selected.
When are threads closed to new comments?
Threads are kept open for 30 days and then they automatically close.
How do I delete my own post?
You can not delete your posts, so think carefully before hitting the submit button! If you would like to have your post deleted, go to the contact page and send a request to the moderators to delete your post, realizing that the post may not be deleted, especially if it already has been commented on.
Are self-links ever okay on any part of the site?
Polticalfilter is all about interesting links, but if you or a friend or relative were involved in what you're linking to, then it may be hard for you to determine if it actually is interseting, so please, no self-links.
What does the Control Panel (CP) do?
The Control Panel allows you edit your profile, upload a photo to your profile, change your email address, change your password, edit site preferences, adjust your localization settings, manage your subscriptions, compose and reply to Private Messages and keep a private notepad
CP: Editing your profile
This where you can add person information about yourself and well as various Instant Messaging accounts. Please note that your exact account name is never actually given, it's hidden from the general public and other users. Direct link.
CP: Upload a photo
You can upload a photo of yourself as long as it's smaller than 200px x 200px and less than 100k. This photo will be seen on your profile, which is publicly available. Direct link.
CP: Email settings
Here is where you can change your email address and adjust settings for when and if the site sends emails to you. All of these settings are enabled by default. Direct link.
- Accept email from site administrators - determines if you want to receive official emails from the site. Recommended that you leave this checked, as these emails will be direct communications from the site administrator. These emails will be rarely sent.
- Accept email from other members of this site - this allows you to decide whether you wish to accept email from other users of PoliticalFilter.
- Enable email notifications by default when you post messages - If checked, you'll be automatically subscribed to email updates of threads you post to.
- Notify me via email when someone sends me a private message- this will send you an email if you get an private message here.
- Enable Smart Notification - When enabled, you'll receive one notification when a subscribed topic has received new replies since you last visited the thread. Otherwise you'll receive a notification for every unread reply.
CP: Username and Password
View your username and change your password. Note that you must know your current password to change it to a new password.
CP: Edit Preferences
Choose whether you want to accept Private Messages from other members of the site. Direct link.
CP: Localization Settings
Choose your time zone, time formatting and language. Direct link.
CP: View Subscriptions
View and manage threads that you are subscribed to. Direct link.
CP: Private Message
View, compose and manage messages to other users of the site. Private Messages iare similar to being able to send another user an email, except you can only send them to other members of the site and they're accessible only on this site.
CP: Notepad
A way to store short notes on the site. Not recommended for long term storage.
What are some guidelines for tagging my posts?
Please try to be descriptive without being too specific. Generally including any proper names used, such as the name of a person, place or thing is good
Who runs PoliticalFilter
It's run by Brandon Blatcher, based on an idea from one of the Metafilter adminstrators, jessamyn. Please note that PoliticalFilter is not an official Metafilter site or subsite.
I need to get in touch with a site admin in a hurry. How do I do this?
Head over the contact page, and send a note to the site administrator or you can reach Brandon via AIM at "nomadicink."
Are posts or comments edited?
Posts and coments are not edited unless the original poster asks that they be edited.
Thanks to taz for suggesting some design tweaks, cortex for helping with a CSS problem and matt and jessamyn for allowing me to copy portions of the Metafilter FAQ