Permissions

NL has a permission system that is used to maximize the usefulness of the site. Here are the basics.

Anonymous users (meaning anyone not logged in) can read any content but cannot see article read counts or author profiles. They also cannot post any information to the site.

Regular users (meaning anyone who has joined the site) can see article read counts and author profiles. Then can establish their own profile and read/write private messages. They can also post content to their personal blog. They can post comments but the comments will be held in an authorization queue for administrator approval.

Advanced users (through administrator approval) can get either or both of these additional permisions:

• Create new forum topics
• Post comments without moderation

Editors get additional permissions to edit existing posts.

The purpose of the permission system is to improve the "signal-to-noise" ratio of the site. New users are the most likely to post something asking a question that has already been addressed or something off-topic. The system may also be used to "demote" an advanced user who is not following site guidelines.

To get your permissions changed, first make sure your profile is "realistic". (I say that rather than correct as, for example, some people don't want to post their actual birthdate but if your profile indicates you are 1 year old, don't expect to get more permissions.) Then, PM admin asking for what you want.