Select one of two options: Live Debate or Online Forum To take part in the live debate Click on Live Debate. You will be presented with a small window. Click on "Nickname" and enter the name you wish to be known by in the debate. Other fields in this window should be ignored. Click on Connect. (Note: Unix users only should click on "Unix"). Once connected, a blue window will open automatically, followed by a green window. The blue window is essential; it may be minimised but not closed. The green window is your debate window. If it doesn't appear, exit by closing the blue window and repeat the above. The green window's main area displays the debate in progress. On the right hand side will be the name of participants - including yours. How to ask a question In the right hand column of the green window you will find a participant named QUESTIONS. Any question for the celebrity guest must go via this participant. Click on QUESTIONS and a yellow window will appear. Within this window, select the button marked PrivMsg (ignore the others) and a red window will appear. Type your question in the bottom field and hit the return key. Your question will be sent to the celebrity guest and then posted with any response for all participants to see. You may also communicate privately with other participants in the debate who may have raised a particular issue that interests you. To do this simply click on that participant's name in the right hand column of the green window and repeat the procedure as for QUESTIONS above. This communication will not appear on the debate. Be patient - it may take a while for your question to be answered, and it may not get answered at all if the chat is very busy. Tips Arrive early to gain access - you have more chance of getting a question asked. Know your stuff - knowledgeable questions are more likely to be noticed. To take part in the online forum You can gain access to the Forum by following the same links to the Online Debate page and clicking the FORUM link. The forum is an Internet discussion group in which you can discuss a wide range of subjects with other users. They work through people posting messages, which are organised into discussion topics (known as 'threads'). A message can be a reply within an existing topic, or the start of a new one. Creating a new message To post a new message, click on NEW MESSAGE. A window will appear in which which you should enter your name, the subject of your message and the message itself. This will soon appear on the Forum Index. Reading and responding to existing messages By default, the forum threads are listed by subject. To read any of the messages just click on one. Once you have clicked through to message you have the following options: Reply to the current message Post a new message Read the Previous and Next Message Jump to the Previous and Next Thread Return to Forum Index
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