U3A Brisbane now provides a Discussion Forum for use by members. In order to access the Forum you must have registered a username and password on the website using Website Registration (linked from the secondary grey menu on the Home page). Tutors and Office Volunteers who have previously registered in order to access Tutor and Administration functions are already registered and can use the forum without further action.

The forum is not visible to the general public and provides a closed, private and safe space to discuss topics of interest to U3A members.

For full details on using the forum see: How to Use the Forum.  
 

Accessing the Forum

After you have registered, login to the website and choose Discussion Forum in the Member or Tutor menu.

You will see a list of Forum Sections: Welcome, Announcements, Suggestion Box, Arts and Crafts, History, Languages etc. Select a section of interest and you will see Categories within that section, e.g. a particular class. You can then select a class and see the topics being discussed. You can add a new topic or reply to an existing thread.

If you have any general questions, consult the Help button at the top right of the forum page, or ask a question in the Suggestions Box. You may also email questions to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Each forum category has a Moderator who is typically a class tutor or class member delegated by the tutor. Tutors wishing to host a new forum Category should email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Forum Rules

The following rules apply in order to ensure an orderly discussion. Members who flout the rules will be warned and may have forum participation privileges restricted.
 

1. No Spam, Advertising or self-promotion in the forums.
These forums define spam as unsolicited advertisements for goods, services and/or other web sites, or posts with little or no relevance to the forum topic. Do not spam the forums with links to a website or product, or try to promote a business. Spamming also includes sending private messages to a large number of different users. 

2. Do not Ask for or Post email addresses or phone numbers.
U3A's Privacy Policy protects members' private information from disclosure. Forum messages are visible to all members so you should not post contact information (except for publicly available tutor contacts). Members are identified on the forum only by login username.

3. Do not post copyright-infringing material.
Providing or asking for information on how to illegally obtain copyrighted materials is not permitted.

4. Do not post offensive posts, links or images.
Any material which constitutes defamation, harassment, or abuse is strictly prohibited. Material that is obscene, racist, or discriminatory is not permitted on these forums. Use common sense while posting.

5. Remain respectful of other members at all times.
All posts should be professional and courteous. You have every right to disagree with your fellow community members and explain your perspective, but do so in a polite fashion.
You are NOT free to attack, degrade, insult, bully or otherwise belittle other members of this community.  In general you must abide by the U3A Code of Conduct when using the forum, just as you are expected to do in face-to-face situations.


 

General Posting Guidelines

Be descriptive and don’t use inappropriate topic names such as "Help". Please post a descriptive topic name! Give a short summary of your problem in the Subject line. Don’t use attention getting subjects - they don’t get attention and only annoy people.

U3A members are able to read posts in all sections of the forum. This is to allow members to investigate other classes that may be of future interest. Most categories are devoted to particular classes or subjects and posts on those topics should therefore only be made by those who are current or potential future class members.
 

General Forum Questions

What happens if I break a rule?
If you break a rule, then you will either be warned or restricted from posting. The administrators and moderators also have the right to edit, delete, move or close any thread or post they deem inappropriate.

What happens if I see a thread/post which has broken a rule?
Please report the thread/post to the moderators or forum administrator using the Report button. 

How do I become a Moderator or establish a new Forum Category?
In general a moderator must be a class tutor or a class member recommended by the tutor to assist. You must also maintain a working knowledge of the subject matter. For general topics moderators other than tutors may be appointed by the forum administrator. Tutors wishing to host a new forum Section or Category should email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Moderator Duties.
Moderators must:
- be knowledgeable in the Categories they moderate.
- be polite and helpful towards other members and give advice whenever needed and whenever possible.
- visit the forum regularly, actively take part in discussions as often as possible, setting a good example to the other members.
- help to keep unsuitable content out of the forums as much as possible by removing posts.