FAQs - Top 10

Q:What are the risks of joining Cinnaminta or being an active member of Cinnaminta?

A:Please read the guidance notes on safety.

Q:What do I do if I want to keep the copyright to an original piece of work or a reading?

A:You should refer to the Cinnaminta web site terms and conditions

You will need to agree any other terms with the person who offers to read or with the requester.

Q:How can I filter out offensive material which I do not want to see when searching the archives / requests?

A:Most people will see Cinnaminta as a wonderful opportunity for sharing a unique service. Unfortunately, a few people might try to shock members by exposing them to material that they might find offensive.

The Cinnaminta archive search engine has a set of default filters that you can set to prevent you from seeing text with obscene words or words which are related to offensive material. You can add your own list of words that you would not like to see, e.g. if you have a phobia about specific insects or events. This will filter out requests, petitions or archived recordings which contain those words in the written text. You can get set your personal filters via a link in the member's preferences section which can be accessed using the tab with your Cinnaminta public name (in the top right margin of the page).

However, the use of language is extremely complex and the search engine cannot filter multi-media returns so Cinnaminta cannot guarantee that all inappropriate material will always be filtered out. You must be prepared to occasionally come across material that might be offensive, especially when you first use the search engine. Whilst we will do our best, you will have to accept / have accepted in the Terms and Conditions of Service that this is unavoidable when accessing material on the internet. If this happens whilst searching, you don't need to read it in detail - just go to the page with your personal preferences and add the offending words to the search filters. However, if something grossly offensive has been deliberately provided for you by a reader then please report it as an abuse.

Q:How can I block messages from somebody who is annoying me?

A:Easy...

If the person is already in you address book then start at 1 below.

If the person is not already in your address book then go to the annoying message and pick the option "Add to address book" and then "Bookmark this member" and then "Save and go to address book" and continue at 3 below.

1. Click on the tab with your Cinnaminta public name (in the top right margin of the page).
2. Click on 'Address book' and then 'Members'.
3. Find the annoying member and click on the small square box to the left of the annoying member's name (this will now show a tick / check).
4. Now got to the action box "Tick member public name(s) and pick action..." and select the option "Move to Exclude from All Listings".
5. Click on "Apply action".

...and you should see nothing from them again.

If the annoyance continues, e.g. through other members, then we suggest that you contact the Cinnaminta Administrator via the messaging systems who will try to help.

Q:What does the terminology in this site mean?

A:Cinnaminta public name: This is your alias, non de plume or nickname which you chose at registration. It is the name that members and other users of Cinnaminta will see. You can change it but this is not recommended. Note: If you do change your Cinnaminta public name then all uses of the name including those in other members' address books will be updated to show the new Cinnaminta public name in an attempt to minimise confusion.

User name: This is the name that you use to log in and should be kept secret. Initially, it is the random name that the Cinnaminta system will give to you during registration. You can change it to make it easier to remember but we suggest that you keep it totally different to your Cinnaminta public name to minimise the risk of somebody else logging in as you.

Password: This is the text which is only known to you for logging in and should be kept secret.

Tabs: Tabs are links to sections. Click on the tabs to go to the relevant section. There are two main sets of tabs visible around the top and right hand margin of each page:

• The white tabs across the top of the page set into the magenta Cinnaminta banner ('home', 'reading', 'assistance', 'what is Cinnaminta?' and 'archive') are for access to general information and "public" activity.
• The yellow shaded tabs down the right hand margin are for access to your activity within Cinnaminta, e.g. your requests, readings, setting font sizes, email address, etc. You can set the font type using the 'T T' tabs and the font size using the 'a a a' tabs.

There are also tabs within pages like the ones near the top of this FAQ page ('Top 10', 'Making a request', 'Performing readings' and 'Cinnaminta') which link to sub-sections.

Links: Red text which is underlined, such as how to request a reading is a link. Click on the link to go to the section, perform the task, etc.

Upload: Transfer computer files (videos, digital pictures and digital recordings) from your computer across the internet to the Cinnaminta system.

Buttons: The buttons in pages cause actions to occur, e.g. 'Add request', 'New message'. Click on the button to perform a task or action. Note that some buttons are located under a box for the password, in which case you need to enter your password before the button will work properly.

General internet terminology: There are whole web sites dedicated to explaining internet terminology. One example is http://www.netlingo.com/. Paste this link into a new window or tab in your browser address bar. The search box is in the top right hand corner of the page that this link takes you to. When the netlingo page opens up enter the word you don't understand into the search box under "Search Netlingo" and click on "Go". The netlingo system might provide a few underlined options to pick from. Pick one, read and then return to Cinnaminta, please.

Q:How does the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Service work?

A:The basic form of the Cinnaminta Reading Out Aloud Service is a reading of a short piece of your original writing. The process, at its simplest, is as follows:

1. you join Cinnaminta (we don't ask for ID - you can have any on-line name you like - and there are no charges);
2. you write your text into the request form, specify the preferred reading location and style and submit your request;
3. a member who can get to your specified location reads it aloud at that location and makes a recording of the reading;
4. the reader puts the recording on the Cinnaminta web site and you share it with your family and friends.

There are lots of options, for example:

• you can search the profiles to choose a specific reader who will turn the reading into a special performance;
• you can share the recording with your family and friends only through your private archive or you might want to share it with the whole world in the public archive;
• you can ask for an audio recording and a digital photograph rather than a video recording;
• you can become a reader and, if you want to, you can record yourself reading your own texts and put them in the public archive.

Before you start we suggest that you read the following:

• how to request a reading
• how to perform a reading
• guidance notes on safety
• FAQ on how to filter out material that you might find offensive

Q:How does the Cinnaminta Petitions Service work?

A:The basic form of the Petitions service is delivery of a petition which has been electronically supported (signed) by a large number of Cinnaminta members. The process, at its simplest, is as follows:

1. You join Cinnaminta - we don't ask for ID and there are no charges.
2. You search the petitions and add your Cinnaminta name to one or more petitions that you agree with.
3. You are alerted when the petition is delivered and can then access the multi-media recording of the delivery.

There are lots of options, for example:

• if you don't see a petition that you agree with then you could start one yourself;
• you can offer to deliver a petition message yourself if you have access to the target;
• you might send the petition message to the target person / organisation with a link to the location in Cinnaminta.com which contains the list of people who signed the petition and the recording of the delivery of the campaign massage.

Before you start we suggest that you read the following:

• how to support or start a petition
• guidance notes on safety
• FAQ on how to filter out material that you might find offensive

Q:What are the risks of joining Cinnaminta or being an active member of Cinnaminta?

A:Please read the guidance notes on safety.

Q:How do I do recordings?

A:This is explained in the guidance section Performing a reading

Q:How do I upload recordings?

A:You can use your phone or video software to upload the recordings into your computer and then use the upload feature in Cinnaminta to upload the recording to the Cinnaminta systems.

The uploading process in Cinnaminta is explained towards the end of the guidance section Performing a reading