Frequently Asked Questions

What is AnybodyOutThere.com?

AnybodyOutThere is a chat platform which helps users find the right people to talk with about what interests them.
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How do I get started?

1. Once you have your 110 character thought, topic or question that best describes what's on your mind, click the Talk button.
2. Our algorithm will analyze your post and find you people interested in talking about something similar.
3. When you find someone on the list of users you'd like to talk with, click the "Let's Talk" button next to the user's username.
4. A chat request will then be sent to the user. And if s/he accepts, a chat window will open. Let the conversation begin.

What is a post?

A post is a 110 character message which you type into the post box.
This can be a thought, topic or question. This is the subject that you want to talk about. We use this post to find you the most suitable users to talk with.
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What happens when I click the Talk button??

Clicking the Talk button does the following:

1. Tells everyone: It tells us and the rest of the world what you want to talk about.
   This will be visible to everyone, giving people the chance to comment and send you chat requests.
2. Lets us find you the right people: Clicking the Talk button, lets us know what you want to talk about.
   We find you relevant people to talk with based on your thought, topic or question. So be sure to think it through before clicking the button.
3. Refreshes: To find other users who want to talk about something relevant , click the Talk button. This will refresh the set of results you get.

Are there character limitations on my post?

Posts currently have a character limit of 110 characters. This is to make it easier for you to find the right people to talk without having to wade through an overwhelming amount of text.
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What should I Talk about?

You can talk about whatever is on your mind. But before you click the Talk button, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Longer posts will give you more relevant results. Avoid one-word topics like Environment.
  Instead you might want to try: The 20th century's last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia.
• Open-ended questions are the best. For example: How are you reducing your carbon footprint?
• Share thoughts but try avoid venting. For example: I think global warming is a conspiracy perpetuated by strategic tree huggers.

How do I change the subject I would like to talk about?

You can always change what you want to talk about by clicking the post box.
Just enter the new sentence and click the Talk button to get a list of people interested in talking about something similar.
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Why should I change my post?

Changing your post will give you a new set of people to talk with. It will help you meet other members of the AnybodyOutThere community. But more importantly the more you post the more rewarding your AnybodyOutThere experience will be. So get Talking!
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Where can I find the posts I have made?

All posts you have made can be found under 'My posts'. Click this link to view the posts. You can also see posts by clicking the 'View my profile' link under your username.
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How do I delete a post I made?

To delete a post click the trashcan icon to the right of the post. This will delete the post as well as any comments on the post.
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How do I repost an old post?

You can repost an old post by clicking the 'Repost' icon to the right of the post.
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What happens if I repost an old post?

Reposting an old post will refresh the post and find you the most recent set of users who are also interested in talking about that particular post.
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Is there a limit to how many posts I can submit??

No! We welcome your posts and look forward to connecting you with the most suitable people. No one likes spam, however, and so we have put a limit on the number of posts that will appear in the search results. You'll be relieved to know that this gets refreshed every few minutes.
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How do I refresh the search results?

The Talk button also serves as a refresh button. If you don't change your post and click the Talk button it will refresh the search results. You will be given an updated list of people who are also interested in discussing your post.
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How do I find users who want to talk about something similar to me?

After posting something, click 'Relevant posts' under Live posts. Here you will users who, based on our algorithm's analysis of your post, want to talk about something similar.
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How do I initiate a chat?

It's as simple as clicking the Let's Talk button which appears below the user's profile picture in the search results. You can also initiate a chat from the user's profile by clicking the Let's Talk button below the user's username.
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Can I chat with anyone?

We are here to find you the right people to talk with based on what you post. Using our algorithm we process your post and present you a list of the most suitable users to talk with. But we don't automatically connect you with anyone. You get to pick who you want to talk with.
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How do I know when I have a chat request?

When a user sends you a chat request, you will see a notification on the upper right side of the screen. You have the option to accept or decline it.
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How do I decline a chat?

When you receive a chat request you will have the option to either accept or decline it. If you decline a chat and a user then sends you another chat request you will have option to ignore future chat requests. This means you will no longer receive chat requests from that particular user.
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Can I chat with more than one user at the same time?

We're not about to stop you! So if you think you have the necessary multitasking skills and are up for a challenge, go for it.
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Does the chat support webcam functionality?

Currently we do not support webcam functionality. But as we continue to grow and add features we may consider it. So watch this space.
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Where can I see a list of the chat requests I have sent and received?

The conversation log located under the Dashboard allows you to see your detailed chat request history.

By clicking on the button "by others", you can see the chat requests you have received.

• A green arrow pointing downwards marks the chat requests you have received and answered.
• A red arrow pointing downwards marks the chat requests you missed or declined.

By clicking on the button "by me", you can see the users to whom you sent chat requests.

• A green arrow pointing upwards marks the chat requests you sent that were received and answered.
• A red arrow pointing upwards shows the chat requests you sent and were missed or declined.

You can send a chat request directly from the conversation log by pressing the "Talk" button.
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What do you mean when you say you'll find me the right people to talk with?

We have developed several algorithms which help us understand you as a user; your interests; preferences and what you want to talk about. Using this information we are able to connect you with people who would be interested in talking about something similar to you. And this, we believe makes for the best conversation.
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I couldn't find anyone to speak with on a specific issue. Now what?

We do our best to analyze your post and find the most relevant people for you to talk with; however, our system is still in beta stages. You can try and talk with people about other issues though; try it! It can be fun.
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What is a discussion?

A discussion is a post which has generated public conversation in the form of people commenting on it. Any registered user can add to a discussion. The convenient thing about discussions is they not only give you a sense of what other users are like but are also a way to interact and make your voice heard without having to talk to the user.
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How do I add to the discussion?

You can comment on another user's post by clicking the comment button near the post. Once you have typed your response simply click the comment button and it will be added to the discussion. You need to join to be able to comment.


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Why should I add to a discussion?

Adding to a discussion is a passive way of interacting with a user's post. Because sometimes you don't feel like talking with the user. We felt it was important to give you the option to make your voice heard. And commenting is a great platform to express yourself. It's also a useful way to get to know other members of the community in a safe and non-threatening manner.
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Can I delete a comment I have added to a discussion?

We want to create an environment conducive to debate and discussion. We therefore don't allow users to delete comments.
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How will I know when someone comments on my post or replies to my comment?

You will receive a notification every time a user:

• Comments on your post
• Replies to a comment you made on another user's post
• Adds something to the discussion even if it's not in direct response to something you posted.

These notifications can be found under Notifications on the Dashboard.
You can also access your notifications from the top bar:
If you have confirmed your email address, you will also receive the notifications via email.
Notifications will contain a link to the original discussion and will give you the option to reply to whatever has already been added.
At any point, you can deactivate the notifications by clicking 'settings' on the top bar. Then click 'notifications'. Here you will be given the option to deactivate notifications.
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How do I unsubscribe from notifications?

At any point, you can deactivate the notifications by clicking 'settings' on the top bar. Then click 'notifications'. Here you will be given the option to deactivate notifications. Don't forget to click the update button once you have any changes.
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How do I mute individual threads?

To mute or unsubscribe from an individual thread click the comment button. You will then see an option to unsubscribe from that thread, Click unsubscribe.
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What happens if I mute a thread?

Muting a thread means you will no longer receive inbox or email notifications when someone adds to a discussion.
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How do I subscribe to a thread I haven't commented on?

You can subscribe to receive notifications from a thread you have not commented on. Click the comment button. You will then see an option to subscribe to the thread, Click subscribe.
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Where do I find the posts I commented on?

All posts you have commented on can be found under Posts I commented on. Click the link to view these posts.
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What does it mean if a post has a hot badge?

We have an algorithm which determines whether or not a post is hot. It has to with activity on the post. Our algorithm takes into account factors like the number of comments; the time that elapsed between comments as well as the time of the last comment.
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Why does the hot badge disappear after a while?

Because hot badges are determined by the activity on the post, the badges are gained or lost in relation to this activity.
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What is a troll?

A troll is a commonly used term on the internet to refer to someone who posts off-topic or inflammatory posts or comments that disrupt a community. We are doing our best to weed out such users. And we urge you to report any trolls.
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I am being bothered by a user. What can I do?

You have several options to deal with a user who is bothering you.
While talking you can click on the "Report" button and send us a notification with the reason that you're reporting the user.
You can also rate the user with the following icon: .
If a user continues to bother you, you can click the "Ignore future requests" button on the chat request and block future requests from the user.

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What happens if I give a user a thumbs down rating?

Giving a user a thumbs down rating will alert us to the user. We use this as an indication of who the problematic users are. After more than 4 thumbs down ratings a user will be suspended.
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Why should I give trolls and other abusive users a thumbs down rating?

We do our utmost to ensure AnybodyOutThere is a user-friendly space where everyone feels comfortable, welcome and at home. But there are still users who manage to pass by undetected and that's where you come in. We urge you to draw our attention to such users and a thumbs down rating is one of the ways you can do that.
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When should I give thumbs up ratings?

Thumbs up ratings give a user credibility within the community and serve as an indication that the user is worth chatting with.
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How can I block a user?

You can block a user by clicking the block button which appears on the user's profile. Blocking a user is permanent and means that the user cannot:

• Send you a chat request
• Send you a message
• View your profile or your any of your posts

What do I need to keep in mind before I block a user?

Blocking a user is permanent. If you block a user you will break all contact between you and the blocked user. You won't be able to send or receive chat requests from the user; send or receive messages from the user or view the user's profile. It's extreme and should only be used as a last resort.
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How do I change my availability?

You can change your availability from the top bar. You can
choose from the following options:

I'm available: Visible to all users on the site
I'm busy: Shows you as busy
Invisible: No one will see you, not even your friends
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How do I use the translation feature?

It's very simple! All you have to do is select the language you'd like to talk in, using the drop-down menu located on the upper left side of the chat window. Our system will automatically translate all of the other user's messages to your chosen language.
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How do I mute sound?

Click the sound icon to the right of Sign out. This will mute the sound in any messages received in a chat; from chat requests as well as from inbox messages and notifications received.
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Can I use AnybodyOutThere from my Instant Messenger?

You can connect to AnybodyOutThere; post as well as initiate and accept chats from the comfort of your Instant Messenger (IM). We support all the main IM agents: Yahoo! Messenger; Windows Live Messenger; GTalk; AIM and more. You can add your Instant Messenger under Settings on the top bar.
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Do I have to be on the AnybodyOutThere site to talk with people from the site?

No! Part of the AnybodyOutThere vision is to be anywhere. We want you to be able to connect and interact with AnybodyOutThere users from wherever on the internet you may be. We are developing a button which you'll see on other sites. Clicking the button will find you people interested in discussing the content you are viewing.
There is also our IM agent, as explained above, which gives you the freedom to use AnybodyOutThere without needing to be on the site.
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How old must you be to join?

This site is for general audiences, but you MUST be 13 or over to join. Click here to join.
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Why should I sign up?

Signing up makes you part of the AnybodyOutThere community. It gives you a place to relax, put your feet up and feel at home.

It also gives you access to many advanced features which you wouldn't be able to use and enjoy as a guest. These include things like the interests feature which lets you define and find posts that match your pre-defined interests. You can also send and receive inbox messages and personalize your profile. But that's just a taste. Check out all the advanced features you'll get as a signed-up user.

But don't just take out word for it. Try it out for yourself! Sign up now.
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How do I sign up?

We've tried to make the sign-up process as simple and user-friendly as possible. Click here to join. Complete the sign-up form. And, that's it. We'll soon be welcoming you to AnybodyOutThere.
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Where can I see my personal information?

If you are a registered user you have a profile page containing all of your personal information. You can access this by clicking on the View my profile link below your username.
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Where can I see more information about another user?

Clicking on a username will take you to his/her profile. There you can see the user's personal details, latest feeds, contacts, and profile picture.
You can also send a user a contact request or a personal message from his/her profile.
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How do I change my personal info (picture, bio, etc.)?

You can click on "Settings" at the top navigation bar to access your private information and change any of the following: your personal details, password, profile picture, photo gallery, about me, and notifications.
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Why should I update my personal information?

Updating your profile is an easy way to let the rest of the AnybodyOutThere know a little about who you are; where you're from and what makes you tick. It's a way of introducing yourself and is bound to make more people want to talk with you. So give it a try. Update your profile now.
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How do I set my interests?

You can set your interests by clicking the Add to My Interests link which appears below Popular tags.
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Why should I set my interests?

Setting your interests helps you keep an eye on what people are saying about the things that interest you. Once you've added an interest, it's simple and easy to stay updated and part of the conversation without needing to post about that specific topic.
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What is a bug?

A bug is commonly used internet term to refer to a coding error which causes technical problems and glitches on a website. We're always on the lookout for bugs. Help us kill a bug today!
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What do I do if I find a bug?

As hard as we try to eliminate all bugs, you may stumble across the odd technical problem or glitch. If that happens we ask you to bear with us and tell us about it. You can email a description of the bug to support@anybodyoutthere.com. Don't forget to include the browser you are using as well as an explanation of how you found the bug. And we certainly won't say no to any screenshots of the bug. Whatever information you can provide us with to get to the bottom of it, we'll welcome.
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I forgot my password or my username; how can I retrieve them?

Click on "Forgot Password" at the top of the page and enter the e-mail address you used when registering with the AnybodyOutThere site. We'll send you an e-mail that will help you reset your password. This e-mail will also include your AnybodyOutThere username in case you forgot it.
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How do I deactivate my profile?

To deactivate your profile, send an email to: support@anybodyoutthere.com. We value your feedback and are always looking for ways to improve the site. We would really appreciate it if you could provide us with a reason for wanting to deactivate your account.
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I am still having problems, who can I contact?

You can email our support team at: support@anybodyoutthere.com.
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Do you have a privacy policy?

Your information is safe with us as we do not share any of it with third parties. For further information, please view the privacy policy.
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What kind of content is not allowed on the site?

We want AnybodyOutThere to be a space where everyone feels at home. For this reason we ask you to take a look at our content guidelines. This will give you an idea of the kind of content we don't welcome at AnybodyOutThere.
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Is there censorship?

We do not censor any content. However we have content guidelines which we have implemented to ensure everyone feels at home. Any content which violates these guidelines will be removed. So take peek out our guidelines.
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What kind of behavior will result in my account being suspended?

We only suspend users as a last resort. If a user continuously violates our content guidelines and we have received complaints from the AnybodyOutThere community we will suspend the user. We rely on feedback from the community as we feel this is your space and you should have a role in making it feel like home.
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What can I do to get my account unsuspended?

If you feel your account was suspended unfairly, send an email with your username to support@anybodyoutthere.com.
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What is a top user?

A top user is an AnybodyOutThere user who adds something special to the community. They are users who, in their own way, help make the community what it is. We see them as the example setters who pave the way for the rest of AnybodyOutThere. The badges are our way of thanking and giving these users thumbs up for all they do.
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Where else can I find AnybodyOutThere online?

We're ready and waiting. All you need to do is stop by and say hi. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. And if you have any feedback; suggestions or bugs to report we also have a community forum. We look forward to hearing from you.
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How can I help spread the love?

Thank you for your interest. We have several fun and very easy to use widgets and buttons. Now you can bring the AnybodyOutThere experience to your blog or website without any fuss. Check out our widgets and button.
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