OkieGranny
Retired WS Staff
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2013
- Messages
- 21,516
- Reaction score
- 1,700
Los spoiled us terribly with his diligence and dedication in starting most of our new MP threads and, without him, we're left with a big gap to fill.
Some of you have already begun to step up by starting new MP threads, which is very much appreciated. We'd like to encourage anyone who wants to help out - but maybe aren't quite sure how - so here's a little tutorial on how to start a missing person thread:
1. Use the Search box to make sure we don't already have a thread on that case.
2. Go to the Missing Persons Discussion forum and click Post New Thread (upper right hand corner near the forum header).
3. The Opening Post must contain information from, and a link to, an official source: a Mainstream Media (MSM) news article, a release issued by law enforcement, a NamUs listing, etc. A missing person poster from social media is generally not sufficient.
4. Enter pertinent information into the text box and be sure to copy and paste your source link into the text box.
5. Copy the missing person's image and paste it, including the source link, into your Opening Post.
6. Go to the dropdown menu and select the appropriate country/state/location prefix provided by the menu.
7. Add a title. This is a very specific approved format that you must follow for all Missing Person titles:
(State or Country Prefix - First & Last Name, Age, Last Seen Location, Date). For example you will type:
WI - Crystal Jones, 24, Milwaukee, 16 Apr 2017
When done correctly, your title will actually show as:
WI WI - Crystal Jones, 24, Milwaukee, 16 April 2017
NOTE: The country/state/location WILL show twice (one being the prefix you selected from the dropdown menu, and the other as typed in manually by you. This is important for thread organization purposes within the software.
8. Proofread your post, then Preview it by clicking the Preview feature (that strange little icon that looks kind of like this in the uppermost right corner of your post)
9. Once you're satisfied that your post is accurate and complete, click the Submit button.
Any questions? Ask away!
(Revisions done by Admin June 1, 2022)
Some of you have already begun to step up by starting new MP threads, which is very much appreciated. We'd like to encourage anyone who wants to help out - but maybe aren't quite sure how - so here's a little tutorial on how to start a missing person thread:
1. Use the Search box to make sure we don't already have a thread on that case.
2. Go to the Missing Persons Discussion forum and click Post New Thread (upper right hand corner near the forum header).
3. The Opening Post must contain information from, and a link to, an official source: a Mainstream Media (MSM) news article, a release issued by law enforcement, a NamUs listing, etc. A missing person poster from social media is generally not sufficient.
4. Enter pertinent information into the text box and be sure to copy and paste your source link into the text box.
5. Copy the missing person's image and paste it, including the source link, into your Opening Post.
6. Go to the dropdown menu and select the appropriate country/state/location prefix provided by the menu.
7. Add a title. This is a very specific approved format that you must follow for all Missing Person titles:
(State or Country Prefix - First & Last Name, Age, Last Seen Location, Date). For example you will type:
WI - Crystal Jones, 24, Milwaukee, 16 Apr 2017
When done correctly, your title will actually show as:
WI WI - Crystal Jones, 24, Milwaukee, 16 April 2017
NOTE: The country/state/location WILL show twice (one being the prefix you selected from the dropdown menu, and the other as typed in manually by you. This is important for thread organization purposes within the software.
8. Proofread your post, then Preview it by clicking the Preview feature (that strange little icon that looks kind of like this in the uppermost right corner of your post)
9. Once you're satisfied that your post is accurate and complete, click the Submit button.
Any questions? Ask away!
(Revisions done by Admin June 1, 2022)