How to register | Flat Chat Forum

To be able to use this forum, we have to know that you are a real person and not just a computer about to flood us with stupid offers of non-existent jobs, millions of dollars from Nigerian princesses and potions to make bits of you bigger than nature intended. We also need to know you aren't trying to hack into the website and do nasty stuff.
If you're not terribly computer savvy, the first thing you might want to do is copy all the text on this page, paste it into a page in your word processor and then print it. That will save you from hours of flicking back and forth on screen when you aren't sure what you are doing.
Registering is a bit of a process but it's actually quite simple if you take care at every stage.
Ready?
OK the first thing is to click on the word "register" which is just under the main Forum headline on the right and could be roughly in the middle of your screen.
First it's going to ask you for a "Username". This is a nickname you give yourself - one that you like but probably isn't easily connected to your real name. For instance, among our regulars on this site we have "The Whale", "Struggler", "Winston Smith" and the excellently named "Snidely Whiplash". Think of something you've always wanted to be called (preferably not obscene or I'll just have to change it). Also, don't run all the letters of a long name together as that really messes up the layout (yes, I'm talking to you, "experiencedstratachairman"!)
PLEASE DON'T put your real name as your Username - the one that appears on screen when you post. Your neighbours, strata managers, developers or landlords can not only identify you, but can be identified by association. And, hey, keeping your identity secret from other readers allows you to let rip without having your neighbours chase you down the fire stairs.
OK, got your Username chosen. Then you'll be asked for your email address. This is so we can contact you to check who you are. This this DOES NOT appear on screen so use your real email address. If you use a fake email address you won't get the confirmation email that allows you to start posting.
You can also put your real name in the appropriate boxes of the registration panel if you wish. This will not be seen by anyone but me.
Then you will be asked to complete a simple sum (1+9, for instance) to show that you are a real person and not a computer. Just do the math, as they say, and type the figure in the little box.
Then it will ask you for a password and will suggest that it's seven letters long and has numbers and symbols. Don't worry too much but if you want to make it complicated and therefore more safe, be sure to write it down (although we do have a password retrieval system if you forget it). It will ask you to enter the password a second time, to be sure, to be sure.
Then you will be asked to do another test -either another sum or typing in the numbers that appear in a graphic display or type a certain letter from a word displayed on screen (again to make sure you're not an "alien"). Then click "register" and you're in.
Next you should click "Login". The first time you do this it will present you with a profile page. You can include as much or as little as you like about yourself but don't worry, your information will go no further than this website and will not be visible to other casual readers. Click on "Update profile", then "join the forum discussion ..." on the bottom left of that window and you're in. You can now reply to posts, start new topics or edit your own entries as you please.
You will get an email asking you to click on a link to confirm your membership. If you don't respond the Forum software will assume your email address is fake and bump you out of the system. So do use a real email address and do reply to that email - chances are you will want to come back and progress through the rankings from "Newbie" to FlatChatter and eventually, who knows, to StrataGuru. Trust me, once you start, it's addictive.
Happy posting! NB: If you are still having trouble with this, send an email explaining your problem logging in (not the strata issue) to mail@flat-chat.com.au and we'll get you on board.