Message Boards - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I register for the AARP.org Message Boards?
A: Once you get to a specific message board topic, such as Computers & Technology, you will see this message:

If you have not registered before, click on Register Now. A form will appear asking for specific information including a membername and password. Once you complete this form, you will have a new login. Be sure to keep this information handy, as you will need it to log into future message board visits. If you are a member already, click on Log In and type in your membername and password.

Q: What if I forget my membername and password?
A: Send an email to community@aarp.org and they will send you your login information.

Q: How do I see a list of all the available message board topics?
A: Visit the Message Boards home page at www.aarp.org/boards, which lists all topics on the left hand side of the page. If you are already in the message board area, go to the Explore Other Topics box – click on the arrow to open the drop down menu for a complete list of message board topics.

Q: How do I see all of the messages posted to a message board topic?
A: Click into any message board folder. On the left hand side of the page you will see a Show: [drop down menu]. Click on the arrow and select All from the drop down menu. Then click the Go button.

Q: How do I reply to a post?
A: You must be logged into your Member Account in order to reply to a post. Once you are logged in, you will notice a Reply button within each post. Simply click on the Reply button and a new window will appear for you to type your post. When you are finished, click the Post button.

Q: Can I change my registration information on the Web site?
A: Under the Welcome message, you will find a link for Preferences. This area lets you change your name, email address, password, nickname, and personal homepage. There's also a check box for canceling your account. (But why would you want to do that?!)

Other options let you customize how you use the message boards. You can check a box to receive email when anyone posts something addressed to you. You can add a personal signature that appears at the bottom of every message you post (but don't run wild – elaborate signatures can get tiresome when repeated). You can specify the time zone you're in and whether the clock setting used to timestamp your posts should adjust for daylight savings. You can even mark discussions as "high interest" for easy reference.

Another important option is how many messages you'd like to see per page. The higher you set this number, the more messages within a discussion you'll see on a given Web page. Higher numbers give you longer but fewer Web pages to read, letting you simply scroll rather than clicking and waiting for pages to load. You can choose between simple and advanced views of posts; the "advanced" view may sound confusing, but it simply offers more options such as font (type) size and interest level. If you get tired of reading other people's personal signatures, you can check a box to not display them. You can also opt to use a message formatting editor that allows special fonts, colors, and links. Finally, you can indicate whether or not you'd like other members to be able to send you email through the Web board (they won't see your real email address unless you reply to them).

Q: How do I start my own discussion?
A: On each subject level there is a button labeled New Discussion. Simply click on this button and a window will appear for you to type a new discussion topic. Be sure to choose a Subject line that states clearly what you'd like to discuss.

Q: How do I use the Search feature to find posts?
A: We use an Advanced Search for all searching within the message boards. Simply click on the Search All Message Boards button and select from the many options of searching, such as by keyword or posts by a specific member.

Q: How do I email a particular post to a friend?
A: Click on the Email button at the bottom of the post you'd like to send. Then complete the form that pops up and click Send.

Q: How do I report a message board Terms of Service violation?
A: We value all of the input we receive from members concerning those who use the message boards for inappropriate purposes and behavior. We have included a Report Violation option within each message board post.

Q: How do I subscribe to or unsubscribe from a message board discussion?
A: When you are in any of the message board topics, you will see your community tools once you are logged in. To unsubscribe from a message board discussion, click on My Subscriptions; you can edit and remove any current subscriptions or the frequency with which you receive them.

To subscribe to a message board discussion, click on the Subscribe to Discussion button that appears at the top of a message board thread. It will take you to Discussion Subscriptions page.

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