Blurtit Etiquette

Welcome to Blurtit our interactive online Question and Answer community. Here at Blurtit we have a certain net-iquette designed to keep Blurtit a friendly environment for all our members and visitors.

Good etiquette makes the site a pleasant and safe place to spend your time online.

In joining Blurtit, you have agreed to adhere to our Code of Conduct. To view this, please click here.

• Writing a good question is simple but you need to follow some essential guidelines when asking a question on Blurtit. A question usually begins with a question word such as, Who, What, Where, When, Why, or How. Not all questions begin like this but it creates a better question if it does. A question should always end in a '?'; punctuation used to tell other people that you've asked a question rather than just making a statement.
• Rhetorical questions can be asked, however these need to be done through the which can be found via the Entertainment/Amusement & Humour category.
• Make sure that you choose an appropriate category for your question before submitting it.
• We will spell and grammar check your question before it goes live but careful spelling and good grammar is greatly appreciated.
• Ask your question once, leave it some time and then check back to see if anyone has answered it.
• Take care not to repeat your question. Please search first to see if anyone else has already asked your question (or something very similar). There may already be an answer to your question on Blurtit. Posting the same question several times is likely to result in your question being merged with another very similar question, or it could be deleted for being repetitive.
• Always try to answer the question directly using the 3000 character limit.
• Use a combination of fact and your opinion in your answers. Answers must be relevant and not offensive. And written in a polite and sincere manner.
• When you are writing your answers please use fact or at least opinion that is based on fact. Always remember that someone may act on your advice.
• Images may be added to answers but must be relevant and non-offensive.
• Try to organise your thoughts into small blocks of text by the use of paragraphs. This makes the answer easier to read and it looks better.
• The site will automatically spell check your writing for you, however, check any unusual words and try to take care with grammar maintaining a high standard of English.
• Do not swear in your answers. You might feel that you need to use a word that could be deemed offensive by Blurtit, but people around the world are sensitive to different uses of language. Our main objective in this matter is to maintain a friendly, non-offensive and non-threatening community.
• We would appreciate it if you didn't use 'text' language or shortcut 'text speak'. For example: 'Ur gr8'.
• We don't expect you to know everything and we know that you will need to research some answers in books or by using the internet. That's absolutely fine, but collect your information from many sources and write it in your own words. If you fail to respect copyright you are stealing knowledge from others. This is intellectual copyright theft (known plagiarism) which, in some cases, can be a a crime. The answer must be your own words; copying your answer from anywhere else will not be tolerated.
• We are all here to share knowledge and help each other learn great new things at Blurtit; however there are some types of questions and answers that we just won't accept. Don't ask any questions that could be considered illegal or have illegal consequences. Likewise, violent or adult themed questions and answers will be deleted.
• You may not use Blurtit to buy or sell products or services, so please don't ask questions such as, 'Would anyone like to buy a computer from me?'
• Don't try to obtain other Blurter's personal details in a question.
• Questions or answers that contain discriminatory or offensive comments about someone's nationality, religion, ethics, gender, intelligence, etc, will not be tolerated at Blurtit.
• If you have very strong opinions that you wish to express you need to consider your tone to ensure other Blurters will not be offended.
• Remember that Blurtit is a family friendly international community with thousands of members varying in age, ethnic groups, backgrounds and gender. Your perspective on a subject might be based on a stereotype that could be hurtful to one of our Blurters even if you don't mean it personally.

How Blurtit Works

As soon as you answer a question, you become a writer. We want you to think of your answers as articles and other Blurters as your readers (remember, that's potentially a huge audience). Whether you're helping with maths puzzles, sharing a recipe or advising someone on a personal problem, you're offering something unique, so your writing style should do it justice.

You'll soon know what your audience think of your writing thanks to the rating system. Why not take a look at some of the top Blurters' work on 'Todays Leaderboard' and see if you can do better?

Blurtit is available to members and non-members, but as a member, you earn points every time you contribute to Blurtit. These points show how active and helpful you've been. So sign up now and don't forget to visit regularly.

1. Ask questions
2. Watch a question
3. How do I edit my question?
4. Answer questions
5. How do I edit my answer?
6. Rating answers
7. How to comment
8. Share a group
9. What is a Blurtit group?
10. Setting Up A Blurtit group
11. Re-categorising questions
12. Add related Links to your answers
13. Add pictures to answers
14. Upload pictures to your Profile
15. Inviting a friend to BlurtIt
16. Adding a BlurtIt friend
17. Removing a friend from your profile
18. Editing your privacy settings
19. Your email notification settings

1. Ask Questions

   To ask a question, please go to the Blurtit.com home page and follow these easy steps:

   
   • Write your question in 250 characters or less.
   • You may be given an alternative question that has already been asked. Choose the existing question or 'Ask Question'.
   • Select a category. When you click on a major category, a list of sub-categories appear.

   Choose the most appropriate one. Remember - the more carefully you select your category, the more likely it is that your question will find its way to someone who can answer it.

   Once you've done that, your question will immediately be visible for all the world to see. Hopefully, someone out there will know the answer and respond to you!

2. How do I Watch a Question

   

   This is the little eye icon which can now be seen below each question (its on the same line as the Email, Report and Cancel buttons). If you see a question that you are interested in and want to see any answers/comments that it gets, you can click the Watch icon and then you will get an update whenever the question gets a response.

   If you answer or comment on a question yourself, the ‘watch’ function is preselected – so you will get an update if there are any more answers or comments on that question. If you don’t want to be updated, before you submit your answer or comment, un-check the 'watch this page' check box.

3. How do I Edit My Question on Blurtit?

   

   Questions can be edited up to 5 minutes after posting. This may be necessary for clarity, relevance, fixing bad spelling, grammar, removing slang and vulgarity, or altered to be more generic and helpful for many people instead of just one person. Here's how:

   • After submitting your question, 4 icons will appear beneath it: Share, Email, Report and Edit.
   • Click on Edit.
   • A new box will open below with your question in it giving you the opportunity to make changes.
   • When you have finished altering, click on 'submit' to update your question.

4. Answer Questions

   Answering questions that users have asked at Blurtit is a simple process. As soon as you answer a question, you become a writer, and other Blurters are your readers.

   
   • Click the 'Answer a Question' button and select a question from the list to answer. These are filtered by 'latest' and 'suggestions' (if you are logged in). Or you can 'search your topic' if you are looking for particular categories.
   • Find a question you know the answer to by clicking on it until it displays at the top of the page.
   • Select 'Answer Question'.
   • Type your answer into the box provided and click 'Submit Answer'.

5. How do I Edit My Answer on Blurtit?

   Answers can be edited exactly the same way as questions. After submitting your answer, 4 icons will appear beneath it: Share, Email, Report and Edit. You have 5 minutes from posting the answer to edit it.

   
   • Click on Edit.
   • A new box will open below with your answer in it giving you the opportunity to make changes.
   • When you have finished altering, click on Submit to update your answer.
   • You have 5 minutes to edit your answer.

6. Rating Answers

   

   A user can rate an answer by simply selecting the green or red thumb icons at the bottom left corner of each answer. A green 'Thumbs up' icon for a good answer, a red 'Thumbs up' icon for a bad answer.

7. How to Comment

   

   Your comments are always welcome as they generate discussion and encourage further contributions.

   When you have read an answer you can easily leave a comment (500 characters maximum) by clicking the 'Add Comment' link under the answer itself.

   If you disagree with the answer, want to leave a quick message for the person who answered the question, or even make a tiny correction to their answer, you can do this too.

8. Share a Group

   Once logged in as a member you can share 'groups' with your friends. Simply go to your 'Profile', then to 'Groups' and select 'Share with a friend' from the right hand side, choosing the friends you wish to share it with.

   You can also invite friends to join this group via the 'Invite friends to this group'.

9. What is a Blurtit Group?

   A Blurtit Group is a dedicated group on the site for people to confluence and discuss what ever topic is designated by that group.

   It's a great place to get to know someone and make new friends with similar interests and questions

10. Setting Up A Blurtit Group

    Just search for whatever group (by category or simply by group) via the 'Blurtit Groups' page. Find and click on 'join group' on the upper right side of the page.

    Or to set up your own new group, you need to be registered as a member and then:

    
    • Go to the Blurtit Groups page and select 'Start your own group'.
    • Choose the category for your group.
    • Give it a title.
    • Describe your group.
    
    • Select 'Build My Group Now' or fullow steps 2 – 4.
    • Invite people to join your group

11. Re-categorising questions

    

    If you find a question that is categorised wrongly, feel free to place it in the correct one. This could help other Blurters who are looking for something specific.

    To do this, you will need to be logged in. You will see a blue link to 're-categorise' a question above the question box. Simply select this link and place in the right category.

12. Add related Links to your answers

    You can back up your answers by adding helpful links to them. Linking a site page to your answer could boost your Blurtit ratings!

    
    • Log in
    • Highlight the 'http://' reference name and numbers found at the top of the page (left-clicking, hulding down while dragging the cursor across from the end to the beginning).
    • Right click on the highlight to 'Copy.'
    • On your Blurtit answer page highlight the keyword you want to link to.
    • Find the link icon on the touls bar of the text box.
    • Right-click and 'Paste' the 'http' reference in the box that appears and click OK.
    • Your keyword will now appear in a different culour and underlined.

13. Add pictures to answers

    You can easily 'Add/Upload' photos to you answers. Make sure the images you upload are relevant to the question and not offensive in any way, or you answer could be removed from our system.

    
    • On the touls bar of the text box, find the icon of a tree, 'Upload a picture.'
    • Through the 'Flickr' tab enter the a keyword, or name.
    • Select an image offered and click 'Insert Image.'

    Alternatively!

    

    Through the 'Upload a picture' icon, you can 'Browse,' your own files, or the Internet for the picture you want!

14. Upload pictures to your Profile

    Adding a picture/avatar to your profile is a great way to add personality to your account. To do this:

    • Go to 'Profile.'
    
    • Select 'Edit Avatar'.
    • Enter your picture file name in the text box provided
    Or
    • 'Browse', and 'Desktop' you can search the Internet for more pictures.
    • Double click on the picture you want and this will insert the file name in the box.
    • Then 'Submit.'
    Or
    • Choose one of the pre-created profile pictures

15. How can I invite a friend to BlurtIt?

    Invite your friends to join BlurtIt.com too. Simply go to 'connect via facebook' icon at the top right hand side of the page.

    Or:

    • Log in and go to 'Your Profile'.
    • 'Edit Profile'
    • Go to the 'Friends' tab
    • Select 'Invite a friend' link
    • Enter their email address and click 'Send Invitation'.

16. How can I add a BlurtIt friend?

    To make friends with current BlurtIt members, simply click on their profile picture or name and select 'Add as a friend' link at the right hand top corner of the page.

17. How do I remove a friend?

    

    To remove friends from your Blurtit account:

    • Log into your account
    • Go to 'Profile'
    • Go to 'Edit Profile'
    • Go to 'Friends'
    • Select the friend you wish to remove from the list and click the 'remove' button

18. How do I change my Privacy Settings?

    

    To edit what personal details can be viewed by others on Blurtit.

    • Log into your account
    • Go to 'Profile'
    • Go to 'Edit Profile'
    • Select the 'Privacy' tab
    • Choose which of the options you want to be displayed using the 'Yes' and 'No' options
    • Select 'save'.

19. How do I change my email notification settings?

    

    To amend the email notifications, log into your account,

    • Go to 'Profile'
    • Go to 'Edit Profile'
    • Go to the 'Notifications' tab
    • 'Select how frequently you wish to receive email updates'
    • Choose 'Save Changes'.

Points and Levels Explained!

On Blurtit you gain points for everything you do!

The number of points you get depends on the specific tasks you complete. The points table below summarises the point values for the different tasks. These points allow everyone to recognise how active and helpful you've been. As you gain more points you will soon move up the ranks!

Summary of Points

Blurtit recognises your level achievements with our special Blurter ranks. You'll soon have more rights, responsibilities and rewards on Blurtit!

Today's Leaderboard & Most Active Users

The calculation of the most active users are based on the following:

1. The number of questions you answered.
2. The rating score each answer got.
3. The number of ratings you give to other users.

To prevent misuse and encourage users who only rate to contribute in other ways, there is a daily limit on the amount of points you can acquire via rating. Each user can receive a maximum of 200 points a day from rating.

The sum of the points from the factors listed above will decide who is the 'Most Active User' and determines the order of names appearing on the 'Todays Leadership Board' list.

Safety Tips

• Anyone in the world can read your answers so be careful
• Do not put anything onto Blurtit that might endanger or humiliate yourself or anyone else
• Please report to Blurtit if you think something isn't right
• Contact Blurtit if you are worried about illegal activities
• If you feel that someone is behaving inappropriately please contact Blurtit immediately

People aren't always who they say they are on the Internet

It's amazing to be able communicate with people from all over the world on a huge range of issues via the internet but because the meeting isn't face to face we can never be sure of a person's identity.

Always remember that some people tell lies on the internet. Don't give any personal details to anyone.

Always report anyone conducting illegal or suspicious activities via the contact page. Blurtit has a zero tolerance child protection policy and will delete accounts of those people who attempt to contact under-18s by any means.

Blurtit is Public!

Please remember that everything you publish on Blurtit is always available for the world to see. For this reason you must never post your personal details (or anyone else's) on the site. Think very carefully before posting anything about someone else. Humiliating yourself or others (friends, teachers, colleagues, employers or even celebrities) is not a good idea. Insulting someone on the internet can still have ramifications in the real world.

Also remember that sometimes people use the internet to make money illegally. Be aware that people might purport to be from Blurtit or other companies trying to obtain your personal information for their financial gain. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Blurtit is Tolerant

At Blurtit we are very tolerant of peoples' opinions but we are also very mindful that we do not want contributors' entries to cause offense to anyone. For this reason we take harassment of our members and/or staff very seriously. Hate messages, intimidation or harassment will not be tolerated.