How to DU

[EarlG]

This discussion thread is pinned.

Last edited Tue Nov 7, 2023, 04:26 PM - Edit history (2)

I thought this might be useful for folks who still have questions about getting around DU4, but also for new members who are just finding DU for the first time.

For a full list of posting and post formatting tips, see this thread. For a full list of DU4 features, see this thread.

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A list of common shortcuts, tips, and tricks for making DU your own.

Change the flashing "My Stuff" button
1) Go to My Stuff > Account Settings.
2) Scroll down to the "My Stuff" notifications section.
3) Use the drop-down menu to select one of six different styles.

Change the look of the site
1) Go to My Stuff > Account Settings.
2) Scroll down to the Visual appearance section.
3) Select "Default Mode", "Night Mode", or "Skinner Mode" (Star Members only).

Increase text size
1) Go to My Stuff > Account Settings.
2) Scroll down to the Visual appearance section.
3) Set "Use large fonts" to "Yes" (cannot be used in combination with Skinner Mode).

Create a navigation list of favorite forums
1) Find a forum you like.
2) Click Subscribe at the top of the forum.
3) The forum will appear in your left sidebar navigation list (not applicable on mobile).

Choose which types of "My Stuff" button notifications to receive
1) Go to My Stuff > Account Settings.
2) Scroll down to the "My Stuff" notifications section for options.
3) Choose whether to receive subscription, reply, or mail notifications.

Choose which types of left sidebar notifications to receive (not applicable on mobile)
1) Go to My Stuff > Feed.
2) Look for the Feed Sidebar Settings section.
3) Choose which types of notification you prefer to receive.

Subscribe to another member
1) Go to My Stuff > Member Lookup to find a member, or click on a member's username anywhere on DU to go to their Profile.
2) Click Subscribe at the top of the Profile.
3) The member's new discussions will now appear at My Stuff > Subscriptions.

Ignore another member
1) Go to My Stuff > Member Lookup to find a member, or click on a member's username anywhere on DU to go to their Profile.
2) Click Ignore at the top of the Profile.
3) You can reverse this by going to My Stuff > Ignore List.

Send DU Mail to another member
1) Go to My Stuff > Member Lookup to find a member, or click on a member's username anywhere on DU to go to their Profile.
2) Click Send DU Mail at the top of the Profile.
3) Tip: You can send DU Mail to yourself by clicking the Send DU Mail button at the top of your own Profile.

Self-delete a post
1) Find the post you want to self-delete.
2) Click the Powers button at the bottom of the post.
3) Click the Self-delete this post link.

Add a post to or remove a post from your Journal
1) Find the post you want to add or remove.
2) Click the Powers button at the bottom of the post.
3) Click the Add this post to your Journal or Remove this post from your Journal link.

Upload a custom avatar
1) Go to My Stuff > Profile.
2) Scroll down to the Avatar image section and click the Edit Avatar Image button.
3) Click the "upload your own image" link and follow the instructions. (Star Members only).

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This is by no means a complete list. If you have a suggestion for a tip, trick, or shortcut that you think might be useful to include, feel free to reply below.

If you need to report a bug or other usability issue with DU4, please don't post in this thread -- just start a new discussion in this forum to report the problem. Thanks!

[Nittersing]

1. I didn't know we could follow a particular poster!

That's kinda cool.

[Oopsie Daisy]

6. Kinda creepy! It makes stalking and harassment much easier

... so that's my fear.

[twodogsbarking]

2. Thanks for the post. It takes a community.

[PatrickforB]

3. Hi Earl! I have noticed the bug is still there for jury duty when you are on night mode.

It was no worries, though, because I knew about it and last time I was selected, I merely changed to day mode temporarily.

The night mode is great for people like me whose eyes get easily strained, and I love the larger font size.

The other thing I like about this is the DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND link right in the center top of the screen. That is a really excellent view when you go in there.

DU4 is just fine so far!

[Paper Roses]

4. Great information but I still don't like the format. Went back to DU3.

I find myself going to the Large Democratic Underground logo on the top left and follow that way. I find all the buttons annoying and liked the old(original) format better. I'm not sure what I miss or see on this manner but I dislike all the buttons. My opinion only.
I appreciate the hard work given to the new DU4 and the option of switching back but I feel it is not great for me. This old timer is too used to the old way.

[Hope22]

5. Thank you! 😁👍

[Permanut]

7. Great info..

And just my two cents, DU4 works great on my Android.

[littlemissmartypants]

8. ❤️

[Fla Dem]

9. Is there no longer a restriction on the number of paragraphs that can be copied from an online article/opinion piece?

I've notice recently, well actually since the new DU was released, that there have been a number of posts that pretty much copy a full article/ opinion piece. In some cases, sentences and paragraphs will be reformatted to create one paragraph in the post thereby, posting the entire article.

I tried to find the rules governing what, and how much of an article can reposted on DU, but couldn't find the rules.

Just wondering if the rules changed and we can now post an entire article/ opinion piece.

Thanks guys, I truly appreciate the work and effort you put into DU. 23 years, who would have thought it.

[CoopersDad]

10. EarlG, not sure where to post a request/suggestion for a new DU group: BlueSky Users

I think it would be a welcome place for people leaving X to regroup and find one another.
Please let me know how to go about proposing a new group.

To DUers: would this seem like something you would use?

TIA