10 Basics

10 basics you need to know to use ARRSE

Preface - Specific Problems

Looking for the cure to a specific problem rather than general guidance? These are the answers to the most common support request emails received by us:

ARRSE Common Problems and Answers

Back to the main content:

Lurking

Probably best to spend a few days just reading the different forums, so that you can get a flavour of each and see what gets asked where. Take time to read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page, which is posted at the top of many of the forums. It may be new to you, but when the same question gets asked again and again and again, it gets tedious for the regular users.

Registering on the site

There are two parts of the site which involve separate registration - this is one, the ARRSEPEDIA: When you are ready to add your contribution, create an account and join in. For the 'main' site; the forums, gallery and so forth, go here. In both cases registration is easy, almost no information is needed (just a valid email address) and allows you to contribute rather than just be a passive user of the site. No catches really.

Posting

Do join in and contribute, but try not to wade in with righteous indigation in your first post. Before posting a funny, cut and paste or link, use the search function to check that it hasn't been done before. Jokes and anything E-Bay related have dedicated threads, so please do not start new ones. Also, please don't post the same story on more than one board.

Flaming

Essentially it is an online argument brought on by one or more of the following:

• The poster is an idiot.
• The poster is a Troll.
• The poster just hates you.
• The poster claim to be a "Squaddie Humour guru" but is in fact a feckwit of giant proportions.
• The poster thinks he/she is completely anonymous because they are hidden behind a computer screen.

For all of the above: delete, "The poster" insert, "The reader" for an indication of what the poster thinks about you. Also consider that someone you consider to be a Flame Warrior &/or a Troll may not be and - in fact - may think exactly the same about you. Isn't t'internet fun?

Remember that discussion forums are argumentative in nature, kind of an online Houses of Parliament at PM's Question Time. If you find yourself in an online argument you have probably lost already - quit the argument as early as you can with as much dignity as you can salvage and before the rampaging packs of online dogs smell blood and mass ranks behind the perceived upperdog thereby assuring their place in the hard-man/hard-woman pecking order.

Flame wars continue because we all imagine we can deliver the killer blow and get the last word in: not on a website with 15,000+ members you can't.

From the Dept of Not Reinventing a perfectly good wheel: click here for even more detail from the other Wiki about Flaming.

Chat

Depending on who is in the Chatroom, you'll either find discussions on the latest cross-stitch or depraved filth of the worst kind. Your best bet is to introduce yourself and watch how the 'chat' unfolds. Take everything with a 'pinch of salt' and don't get offended if you get harrassed with probing questions of a deviant or sexual nature.

Other bits

• ARRSEPedia. Where you are now...
• Quotes. Add your favourite military quote and it will appear on the front page of ARRSE
• Chat (see above)
• Jobs. Post your vacancies here. Jobseekers - check out the vacancies
• Blogs. Your thoughts etched in electrons.
• Gallery. Upload your pictures here, just make sure you have the permission of those in the picture beforehand and that you put your picture in the correct section.
• FAQs. Frequently asked Questions.
• ARRSE Shop. For all your ARRSE and military merchandise
• Links. Place you related links in this section.

Moderators (MODs)

Moderators are fine upstanding members of the ARRSE community, selected from their peers by the Almighty Admins, Good CO and Bad CO. They are responsible to the Admins for ensuring that their boards are well run, and kept clean of anything that might lead to a lawsuit or (more likely) outraged Private Messages from the lunatic fringe on ARRSE (see Blondebint, Lawstudent, Pentwyn, and so on and on and on...)

It goes without saying that all the Moderators are brave, resolute under fire, dashingly handsome (in the case of the men) or breath-stoppingly gorgeous (in the case of the ladies). In fact, some are so good looking, they can only be looked at through smoked glass, even when they are twisting their hands into 'spacker claws.'

Some Moderators have alter-egos which they use to spread discord and mirth. Some are very serious, and some not so serious. Some moderate vast swathes of real estate, and some are highly specialised. However, all Moderators are part of one team and will close ranks swiftly in the face of a perceived threat or dullardy.

If you have a serious question, gripe, moan or simply want to get something off your chest, send one of these complicated Private Messages to your friendly Moderator.

The Moderators page contains full details of individual mods and their boards.

Other helpful members

• For questions on Computer Geekery - BFG 9000, Ghost-Rider.
• For help on the Wiki - Ghost-Rider, msr
• For help on writing Blogs - Polar69, Lucky_Jim
• For tips on how to abuse people - Geordie_Blerk, Biscuits_AB
• For bizarre doctrinal information (and guidance on how to sleep in lectures) - Darth_Doctrinus^{Talk & Contribs}
• For tips on meeting fellow Arrsers - Blessed Baby Cakes, Dale the Snail, Rincewind
• For tips on attracting Mongs - The Lord Flasheart
• For finance related questions - Forces_Sweetheart

Final thoughts

Leading an insurrection?

• Contrary to popular belief, the Army Rumour Service is not promoting the armed overthrow of HMG by the British Military, but simply aims to provide a useful, informative and amusing resource to all. Although all are pretty well behind the idea that Tony Bliar is a cnut.

A pinch of salt is useful!

• Although there are many knowledgeable people on ARRSE, any advice you receive from the site should not be treated as 'gospel'.