User blog:TheKorraFanatic/Community Central Chat: Frequently Asked Questions

Hi, I'm TheKorraFanatic. I've written this blog today to hopefully answer some commonly asked questions on Community Central chat. I came up with the idea for this blog after reading RansomTime's 2015 blog. I'd like to thank Aiihuan, EarthlingnAkumi, and Icier for giving feedback and coming up with great suggestions.

What is Community Central chat for?
Community Central chat is a help chat for FANDOM. Its main purpose is to provide answers and guidance for users seeking or needing help with FANDOM issues. The users of the chat are a diverse group from various communities that are knowledgeable in a lot of topics and are willing to help any user with any on-topic (relating to FANDOM or discussion of fandoms) question. So if you have a question, don't be afraid to ask it. Just ask it!

What are the rules for the chat?
The guidelines for CCC are linked in the welcome message whenever you join the chat. However, a link to the guidelines can be found here. After reading them, if you have any questions about them, you could probably ask a moderator or administrator in a private message. If you have any feedback about the guidelines though, it would be best to message Staff using Special:Contact/feedback.

What is the difference between a kick and a ban?
While this is a fairly simple question to explain, I've seen a lot of newer users ask this. Kicking and banning are moderator actions laid by chat moderators and higher. A kick will simply remove a user from chat, forcing them to reload if they wish to rejoin. A ban will prevent a user from returning to chat for a certain amount of time.

Can I change my username?
Yes, you can change your username using Special:UserRenameTool. However, be aware that you can only rename once and you should choose wisely on your new name.

How can I upload a profile picture?
If you go to Special:MyPage and hover under the profile picture section, you will see an "edit avatar" option appear. After clicking it, a small interface will appear with two options showing. The "Avatar" section will be shown first by default. Depending on the device you are using, you should see an "Upload an avatar" option. After clicking it, you can then choose a profile picture from the files saved on your device. Side note: You cannot upload profile pictures when using the Safari browser on Apple devices.

I've been blocked on a wiki and I want to appeal it. How can I do that?
The first thing to remember about being blocked on a wiki is that local administrators are allowed to block for any reason they see fit, as long as it doesn't violate FANDOM's ToU. With that being said, if they have blocked your message wall rights on the wiki, you are allowed to leave one polite message here on Community Central appealing your block. However, the administrator reserves the right to keep the block in place and/or not response to your message if they choose to do so. Further details can be read here.

Are there any global admins? I need help.
I've seen this question get asked numerous times by many users. The answer is: No, there aren't any global administrators. However, there are several global user right groups that you could easily ask for assistance from, depending on the help you need. If you're needing guidance in portable infoboxes, you could contact a Vanguard member; Vanguards are a global group focused on making FANDOM's content available on a wide range of devices. If you notice a wiki with active Discussions, but a lack of local moderation, you could ask for assistance for that wiki from the Global Discussions moderator team using this form. If you discover spam or need assistance with vandals, then the VSTF would be the best people to contact as that is their purview. As a side note: you can report vandalism and spam on the VSTF Wiki, just be sure to follow their guidelines when reporting. If you are experiencing an issue outside of the purview of these global groups, FANDOM Staff would be the best choice to contact. You can contact them using Special:Contact/general.

Can I talk to a Staff member on chat?
Once a week, FANDOM Staff holds an event called Office Hours where a FANDOM Staffer joins the chat and answers questions from the community. This is a great opportunity for users to interact with Staff, as well as inquire about updates on FANDOM's development. Be aware, though, that there is a high chance of Staff directing you to use Special:Contact/general on certain questions.

Conclusion
In conclusion, I hope this blog will provide a helpful experience for newer users and anyone looking for the answers to these questions in general. If anyone notices a commonly asked question that I forgot to add, feel free to mention it in the comments below.