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Want to talk Cross Stitch? A Look into Boards

© Peggy Pechacek

On the Internet, you can find information on just about anything. You can also find people who share the same interests as you. A popular way to interact is through discussion groups, also known as newsgroups, message boards, bulletin boards, and forums. These are places where messages on a topic of common interest (in our case, cross stitch) are posted and stored for anyone to read.

There are hundreds of cross stitch bulletin boards. Some of the things you will find are:

• tips on the craft
• announcements
• items for sale or trade (check the board rules before posting anything for sale/trade - some do not allow it!)
• links to cross stitch related sites
• pictures of stitchery
• good friends!

Some forums require you to register before posting. You are allowed to read the listings, but can not post until you register (usually for free). My discussion board at Suite101.com requires you to be a member before posting.

Netiquette

Network etiquette or "netiquette" is having good manners on the Internet. Most boards have rules of posting. Make sure you check them out and follow them. You may want to "lurk" at a board for awhile before posting. This basically means to visit the board and read posts to get an idea of what is acceptable and what isn't. Once you are comfortable, then start with an introduction post and go from there.

The book Netiquette by Virginia Shea is published online. This is a great resource for brushing up on those manners! Chapter 6 deals specifically with discussion boards.

Abbreviations

Have you ever looked at some bulletin board messages and wondered what language are they speaking? Help can be found at Netiquette list of abbreviations and Netiquette list of emoticons

For a more cross stitch related list, check the newsgroup Rec.Crafts.Textiles.Needlwork (RCTN) list of abbreviations and list of emoticons.

Emoticons are those symbols you see online to replace facial expressions that you can't see. I can smile   :-)     be sad   :-(     or give a hug {   }.

Going back to netiquette for a moment, here are a couple of tips using abbreviations.

OT = Off Topic - this should be used in the subject header if your post is off topic.

NM = No More - this also is used in the subject header when you did not enter any message other than the subject line. This saves people time from entering your message just to find there is nothing posted there.

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