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There are a few changes that have been made this year that effects new members registering on the forums.

Members who've been registered for 30 days or less are considered "Brand New" members and have the following access restrictions:

• Cannot read or post in the Off Topic forum
• Upload space is limited to 1 megabyte
• Are required to wait 2 minutes between doing searches
• Amount of private message storage space is set at 25
• Are not allowed to edit custom profile or add URL's to signature
• Cannot upload custom avatars
• Cannot start or vote in polls
• Cannot edit own posts

Once you've been registered for at least 30 days, you'll automatically be upgraded to a "First Year" member and your access will be as follows:

• Upload space is limited to 2 megabytes
• Required to wait 90 seconds between doing searches
• Private message storage space is set at 50 PM's
• Can edit your post only during the first 24 hours after you make it
• Cannot start a poll

After you've been a member for a year, you'll be upgraded to member status and have the same access as regular members. Also note that at least one post needs to be made after the 30-day or 1 year time period since registering has passed before the account will be updated.

These changes were mainly made to help with server load issues and control some of the bogus accounts that are being created. I know it won't stop them all but it's at least a minor deterrent.

Anyone who joined prior to 2006 has the same access as before and won't experience any of these restrictions.

You may have noticed the new graphics below your avatar. The graphics are new but the way this has worked hasn't changed. The post above helps explains what they mean and here's some more info:

Brand new users who are registered less than 30 days will get this icon:

Members registered more than 30 days but less than a year will see this:

Members who've been on the site for over a year, get this:

Those who've been around since the early days (2001-2002) have this icon: