Because of horrific spam on this board, we had to reluctantly take the decision to make all new users Admin validation only.

Now this means, as Administrators we have to go in and look at all applicants to see who is acceptable and who looks like Spam.

What this does mean it is up to us to try and decide who is and isn't allowed to join the board.
Okay sometimes it is very obvious who is a spammer and who isn't. Who is a genuine person and who isn't.

But sometimes we have no real idea! And its complete guesswork on our part, even after searching known spammer's usernames online to see if there is any known link to a request to join.

So - here are some tips and advice on what to do when joining our board.

1) While we all have our favourite usernames - When you register, please use one that isn't going to raise flags. Just because you register with that name, doesn't mean you have to keep it. We can change a username on request once you are a member! So you can then revert back to your favoured name if you so wish! But if you register with a username that is just not obvious to us, we are going to find it hard to validate you.

2) Do you have an email address other than Yahoo, Hotmail and even now Gmail? Because the spammers also use these free sign up email addresses - it means we can't always tell who is genuine. If you can use an alternative, please do. Although again, if its really obscure it might mean we refuse the application.

3) If you are rejected on application - email us! You can do so using this account (you need to copy and paste it since I am not making it an active link).
webmistress@simonelahbib.net
Explain who you are, what account you tried to register with and even a little more detail about you - where you are from (Country will do). If your ISP (internet service provider) doesn't match countries we will not allow you in. Also if using a proxy ISP, you are likely to be refused membership.

4) Finally, we apologise for having to take these measures. Spam, whatever the situation, is a big problem. We can only do what is best for this board overall. And thats stopping some really nasty spam, which in turn is confusing members, even upsetting them at times, and causing us hassle tracking them down to then delete and ban the membership!
If we get it wrong and don't admit a genuine person, again we apologise and simply ask you contact us. It is merely a mistake and no reflection on you. Just us trying to do what we can.

Thank you.