This article discusses how users can create and manage their discussion forum posts in chapters and events.

Creating and Managing Discussion Posts

Creating a Discussion

To initiate a discussion, follow these steps:

1. Either:
   • Access an Event or Chapter page relevant to your interests or
   • Navigate to a specific Category on the Discussions page relevant to your interests
2. Click on the "New Discussion" button to start your own post.
3. Provide a descriptive title and elaborate on your topic Key Concepts in the description field.
4. Once you're satisfied with your post, click "Save" to publish it for others to engage with.

Permissions you need before you can post

Event-related categories:

• You must either be an attendee of the Event to post in its category or,
• You need to be a Chapter Member to post.

Chapter-related categories:

• You must be a Member of the Chapter to post.
• If you're on the Chapter Team, you automatically get permission to post in the Chapter and any related Event categories.
• Chapter Team members not only get posting rights, but also get special roles (like moderator or volunteer) based on their Chapter role. These apply to the Chapter category and its related Event categories, too.

Discussion Tools (User's Own post)

Account owners and chapter members have the ability to: 

• turn off notifications
• edit
• report
• delete

Editing Your Discussion

If you need to make changes to a post you've created, follow these steps:

1. Locate the discussion you wish to edit.
2. Access the 3 dot menu at the bottom of the post and click the Edit button.
3. Make the necessary modifications to the title or content of your post.
4. After completing your edits, save the changes to update your post accordingly.

Reporting a Discussion or Comment

Maintaining a healthy and respectful community environment is crucial. If you encounter inappropriate content or behavior, you can report it by:

1. Clicking on the "Report" button located in the menu of the offending discussion or comment.
2. Selecting the appropriate reason for the report from the provided options, and clicking "Report" to submit.
3. Your report will be reviewed by moderators to ensure the forum remains a safe and welcoming space for all users.

Deleting Your Discussion

In certain circumstances, you may need to remove a discussion entirely. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the discussion you want to delete.
2. Access the 3 dot menu that's below the discussion description, and click the Delete button.
3. Confirm your decision to delete the post when prompted.
4. Exercise caution when deleting a discussion, as this action is irreversible and will remove all associated comments and replies.

Engaging with Community Discussions

Adding a Comment

Engaging with existing discussions is as simple as:

1. Access the discussion you're interested in by clicking on its title.
2. You'll be directed to the discussion page, where you can read existing comments.
3. To add your own comment, scroll to the comment section found under the original post
4. Type your comment in the provided text box and click "Comment" to share it with the community.
5. You can also reply to other users' comments by clicking the "Reply" button.
6. HOT TIP: Use the "@" sign to mention someone and get them involved in the conversation

Discussion Tools (Other users' posts)

Account owners and chapter members have the following options when engaging with other user's discussion posts:

• Turn on notifications
  • Be able to receive updates to the post to both their website notifications or their emails, depending on their personal preferences
• Report
  • Be able to report a discussion for an admin to review