The following is a list of frequently asked questions received by our helpdesk. We will add to this list as the need arises.

What is For-The-People all about?

For-The-People was founded by our site director Jennifer Thomas and went live in August 2000. Since then we have put together a talented management team and we have welcomed thousands of new members.

People live much more successfully when they draw on the strength and support of their fellow human beings. The internet has allowed human kind to cooperate and collaborate in ways never conceived of before. In that tradition, For-The-People brings people together from all walks of life and from all over the world. At For-The-People, we believe that bringing large numbers of people together in the ways we do improves life for all of us as individuals.

As a For-The-People member one of the first things you will notice is the community atmosphere and the sense of caring and sharing among your fellow members. Whether you are learning in one of our classes, being entertained in one of our events or just socializing in one of our many voice enabled chat rooms, we trust that For-The-People is a place you will want to return to often.

What is a voice enabled chat room?

A chat room is a virtual meeting place on the internet where two or more people can communicate in real time. Most chat rooms only allow the room occupants to communicate by sending text messages to each other. Voice enabled chat rooms allow the room occupants to speak to each other using a microphone plugged into their sound cards. Many voice enabled chatrooms include soffisticated add-ons such as integrated web browsing, application sharing and white boards.

Do I need to become a member of For-The-People to participate in one of its chat rooms?

The use of our chat rooms is restricted to members only. Becoming a member is easy. Just fill out our join form and within 72 hours (usually much sooner) you will recieve confirmation of your membership by email. Click on the link below if you wish to join.

For-The-People Join Form

What is a chat client?

A chat client is a small program that when installed allows you to enter a chat room and converse with the other chat room occupants.

Which chat client is used by For-The-People?

For-The-People uses a program called Chatterbox from Simple Software.

I don't have a microphone. Where can I get one and how much do they cost?

Microphones can be purchased at most any store where computers or stereo equipment is sold. If you don't already have a microphone you should be able to purchase one for between $10 and $20.

I can enter the chat rooms but when I attempt to speak noone can hear me. What can I do about this?

First, make sure your microphone is plugged into the right jack on your sound card. Most sound cards have line in, microphone and speaker jacks. If you are totally blind you may need sighted assistance to locate the proper jack. Secondly, make sure your microphone volume control is properly set. You can get help setting your microphone volume control by clicking the link below:

Setting Your Microphone Volume Control

Are there any special rules of conduct at For-The-People?

All For-The-People members should make themselves familiar with our policy guide. You can view our policy guide by clicking on the link below:

Policy Guide

What classes and events are held on For-The-People and where can I find out about them?

We publish a schedule of events each week. You can get the event start times in either eastern time or your local time. Note that in order for the schedule to work correctly, the time zone on your computer must be set correctly. You can view the schedule of events by clicking on the link below:

View Schedule Of Events

Does For-The-People have any mailing lists I can join?

We have quite a number of mailing lists covering a wide variety of topics. You can learn more about our mailing lists by clicking on the link below:

For-The-People Mailing Lists