FAQ

FAQ

The most popular questions:

I forgot my password! What do I do now?

To recover a lost password, click here and enter the e-mail address with which you registered. Your password will be sent to you shortly.

What kinds of stories are allowed?

See our Submission Rules.

How do I contact the site administrators?

You can e-mail us via our contact form.

How do I submit stories?

If you have not already done so, please register for an account. Once you've logged in, click on Account Information and choose Add Story. The form presented there will allow you to submit your story.

The rest of the questions and Answers

To find an answer quickly use the reference number (example. "BB05") and use "Ctrl-F" (Find) to locate it.

AA - About the site

  • AA00 - Why don't the questions in this FAQ link directly to the answers?
  • AA01 - How can I get in touch with you?
  • AA02 - I really love this poet/artist. Can I post his stuff on TheMasque? How about a YouTube song?
  • AA03 - I get an error message that says *** Couldn't log in. Try again ***
  • AA04 - I hate that I have to register for each section. Can't you fix it so I don't have to? It would be way easier to navigate.
  • AA05 - What's the age limit on the site?
  • AA06 - What is TheMasque.net

BB - About the Archive/Stories section

  • BB01 - Can I use HTML?
  • BB02 - How do I add a story?
  • BB03 - How do I add a chapter?
  • BB04 - How much control will I have over my stories and art?
  • BB05 - I don't understand your categories. Where do I put my story?
  • BB06 - What is tinyMCE and why does the upload page look funny.
  • BB07 - Why didn't my story get featured?
  • BB08 - What, exactly, is copyright?
  • BB09 - I uploaded my story but it's not showing up.
  • BB10 - How do I upload a photo to my profile?
  • BB11- How do I upload a photo to my story?
  • BB12- What do the star ratings translate to?
  • BB13 - Published Writer Policy
  • BB14 - There's already an essay about my topic. Now what?

EE - About the Ballroom

  • EE01 - How do I know what's going on in chat?
  • EE02 - Why don't you use another chat/my favorite chat program?
  • EE03 - Why isn't there anyone ever in the chat room when I go in?

FF - About the Forums

  • FF01 - Who are Three Chicks and a Dude and what qualifications to they have to give other people advice?
  • FF02 - What kind of things can I post on the Forum Boards?
  • FF03 - How do I know what the postings on the Calendar are?
  • FF04 - Why doesn't The Garden have a dedicated Forum?
  • FF05 - May I chime in any thread, or am I restricted to the Garden?

  • FF06 - Should I respond to an article in the article's reviews or on the Forum?

AA - About the site

AA00 - Why don't the questions in this FAQ link directly to the answers?

The database was being picky the day the FAQ was written and wouldn't accept the links. However, the web designer was smart enough to come up with this clever workaround.

AA01 -How can I get in touch with you?

Every page has a link to email Benevolent Goddess at the bottom. Either I or an admin will reply as promptly as possible.

AA02 -I really love this poet/artist/guy who wrote this awesome essay. Can I post his stuff on The Garden? How about a YouTube song?

Not without his direct and absolute permission and only under his name, not yours. Please don't post YouTube stuff or photos that you didn't create anywhere on TheGarden. I don't want to get sued for violating someone's copyright.


AA03 -I get an error message that says *** Couldn't log in.

Try again *** Don't panic. You're trying to get in to a section of the site that you haven't registered for. The site is built in many separate sections. Each section requires a separate registration and log-in. You may register for each section using the same information as they are all separate databases, but you will need to register for each. If you haven't, you will not be able to move from one section to the next. If you are still having problems after registering for each section, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll be happy to dig deeper into it.

AA04 -I hate that I have to register for each section. Can't you fix it so I don't have to? It would be way easier to navigate.

Here's the thing - I totally wish that I could. However, the backbone of the site is a script called eFiction. While eFiction is amazing and super-great at handling stories (it is, actually, the best out there, that I've seen), it's way not so great with playing well with other scripts - like BBS's, chatrooms or galleries. The system, as wonderful as it is at handling stories, can't and won't allow multiple databases with a single sign in. So, the site is built in separate databases and separate log ins. To fix this, I would have to spend many thousands of dollars to rebuild the site from the ground up using all new programming that rips eFiction apart and uses it for the basis of an all new kind of content management system. No existing CMS, that we've found, can match the look, feel and functionality of eFiction for handling what we feel is the most important part of the site - the stories. There is vague plan to do that, but to be honest, there's been a vague plan to do that for several years.

AA05 -What's the age limit on the site?

Eighteen (18) for all purposes, for all visitors, all characters, all subjects, all sections and categories of TheMasque.net and all subdomains. Please do not violate this. I could be sued, or worse, jailed.

AA06 - What is TheMasque.net?

TheMasque is the parent site for The Garden. It covers TheMasque, an erotica site for stories, poetry, and artwork; The WIKtT Archives is a library for fanfiction and fanart focused around Hermione Granger and Severus Snape from JK Rowling's Harry Potter; and Goddess Masks, a showcase for the artwork of the site owner.

BB - About the Archive/Stories section

BB01 -Can I use HTML?

I'd rather you didn't, but you may. The HTML tags that you are able to use are listed here. Please do NOT upload anything written in Microsoft products as HTML. They have far too much junk embedded in their files and the make the system unhappy.

BB02 - How do I add an article?

To submit stories, log into your account. On the page that immediately pops up, called the Member Account page, select "Add a New Story" and follow the instructions on the Add New Story page. Once you get to the submission form, it's fairly well explained and fairly intuitive. If you need help, send me an email at cis@themsque.net

BB03 - How do I add a chapter?

Log into your account. On the Member Account page, click the Manage Stories link. Next to your story title, click the "Add New Chapter" link. Toward the bottom of the "Add New Chapter" page, add your chapter title, any notes and your story text.

BB04 - How much control will I have over my articles, stories, and art?

All the control in the world; your articles, stories, poetry, and art are yours in every way. All we do is give you a new and beautiful place to archive them. You are in total control of your work from start to finish. All we ask is that if you do get published and need to take your work down, you provide us with a how-to on getting published, too!

BB05 - I don't understand your categories. Where do I put my article?

If your story is about getting around in the lifestyle, i.e. munches, clubs, meetings, or history, put it in The Lifestyle. If it's about being a Dom/me or Master, put it in Dominance. If it's about being a submissive or slave, put it in Submission. If it's about Gor, put it in that section. If it's about online only BDSM or moving from online to off, put it in Online D/s. If it's about how to use equipment properly, BDSM safety, or how to do something scene related, put it in How-To. If you have further questions, send me an email at cis@themasque.net.

BB06 - What is tinyMCE and why does the upload page look funny.

TinyMCE is a powerful WYSIWYG editor control that enables the user to edit HTML contents in a more user friendly way. As an author uploading stories, you have the ability to directly manipulate the layout and appearance of your story without having to type in any HTML commands. If you like your HTML already, feel free to turn off tinyMCE and upload your document as it stands. Please do preview and play with each as you experiment to discover which you prefer. Feel free to let me know if you need help. It seems as though each person's computer and document needs something a wee bit different.

BB07 - Why didn't my story get featured?

I only have so much room. I can't showcase every story I like. I promise that it's not because I hate your stuff or am playing favorites with my friends.

BB08 - What, exactly, is copyright?

Copyright laws provide that only the person who created something has the right to use it, publish it, change it or create derivative works from it. Links to copyright information websites may be found here:
Copyright Information from Library of Congress's Copyright Office
What is Copyright?
10 Big Myths about Copyright
Copyright information, specifically for Bloggers is here: https://blogging.com/copyright-dmca/

BB09 - I uploaded my story but it's not showing up.

When you upload your story and click "Submit", if you see the text of your story on the next screen, scroll down to the bottom of the page. You'll see the submission form. This means that one of the required fields was not filled in. Make sure every blank is filled in correctly and click "Submit" again. The trickiest place is in the Category menu, where you place your story on the site. Go as deep as you can into the category to select a place for your story before clicking the arrow. Many sections will not let you upload something into the wrong place - you need to go deeper into the section. How to use categories. When in doubt, email me,

BB10 - How do I upload a photo to my profile?

Log in to your account.
On the User control panel, click Manage Images
Upload a new image. Please do not use someone else's copyrighted image or a "public domain" image.
Copy (Ctrl-C) the text under "HTML code to use image in story" and between the Quotation marks. (Example: stories/5/images/filename.jpg )
Go back to your user control panel and click Edit Bio

  • Confirm that the information is still correct as sometimes the information defaults when revisited.
    Near the bottom of the page, in the box next to Image, paste (Ctrl-V) in the file path that you copied on the other page.
    Click Submit.

BB11 - How do I upload a photo to my story?

  • Log in to your account.
  • On the User control panel, click Manage Images
  • Upload a new image. Please do not use someone else's copyrighted image or a "public domain" image.
  • Copy the text under "HTML code to use image in story" and copy (Ctrl-C) something that looks like this: < img src="stories/5/images/filenamet.jpg" mce_src="stories/5/images/filenamet.jpg">
  • Paste (ctrl V) that into the body of your story, wherever you want the picture to go.
  • Label the story as "illustrated" in the summary.

BB12 - What do the star ratings translate to?

The numbering system on the review form is 1-10. Each number represents half a star. A review of 10 would show five stars. A review of 9 would show four and a half stars.

BB13 - Published Writer Policy

To read the Published Writer Policy please click here.

BB14 - There's already an essay about a topic that I would like to write about. Can I write another one or should I append to the one you have?

Please, write another essay. We want to get several viewpoints and opinions so that our readers can form their own opinions.

EE - About the Ballroom

EE01 - How do I know what's going on in chat?

There's a calendar on the site in the forums for chat activities and birthdays/events.

EE02 - Why don't you use another chat/my favorite chat program?

After a lot of research, we found that the chat room software that we use currently is better than the rest in terms of looks, adaptability, modifications, CM/Mod/OP ability, and price. It is incredibly stable and it is consistently superior to other chat programs which have other features and more downtime than is acceptable. We've also found that most people tend to prefer a certain room format out of habit more than any dislike of our setup.

EE03 - Why isn't there anyone ever in the chatroom when I go in?

We wish there was someone - a lot of someones - in there 24/7. There are several scheduled chat times and more are always being planned. Feel free to bring friends into chat any time of the day or night. Feel free to start your own topics, games or use the chatroom for your event space on a day that doesn't have something going. We're happy to share! Also, feel free to wander the rest of the chat server. We chose it because people are nice!

FF - About the Forums

FF01 - Who are Three Chicks and a Dude and what qualifications to they have to give other people advice?

They are simply four practical people who have no bias and no stake in the outcome of a situation, therefore can offer an outside viewpoint in a crisis. None of them is a professional counselor and all advice given should be taken with a grain of salt nor are they responsible for any outcome resulting of the use of their advice. 

FF02 - What kind of things can I post on the Forum Boards?

We welcome almost any and all kinds of input on the forum boards. Feel free to start a thread, comment on an existing one, join in the salon games. We will not tolerate hateful remarks, racism, inflammatory statements, underage, bestiality, or rape threads.

FF03 - How do I know what the postings on the Calendar are?

The Calendar on the forums are for just about anything! Birthdays, anniversaries and chat events are posted on the Calendar. If you click on the event title, you will be taken to the forum post about that event!

FF04 - Why doesn't The Garden have a dedicated Forum?

Until the site really gets rolling, I'm saving server space by sharing a Forum with the rest of the site. Also, TheMasque's Forum comes with built-in Admins that love to meet new people and keep conversations rolling.

FF05 - May I chime in any Thread, or am I restricted to the Garden section if I haven't even been to the other sections of the site?

Jump on in! You're welcome to join in any thread on the Forums.

FF06 - Should I respond to an article in the article's reviews or on the Forum?

Reviews are great, but to engage in a dialogue, use the Forums. You're also welcome to add another essay on the same topic, with a different viewpoint or opinion.

Specific Room Rules - Know the Rules for Your Room

• To view the rules for all Chats, click here.
• To view the rules for The BDSM Garden, click here.
• To view the rules for the Il Solaio, click here.
• To view the rules for the sub haven, click here.
• To view the rules for the pets and littles room, click here.
• To view the rules for Moderators and Admins, click here.

Event Etiquette and Rules
• To view the rules for the Hot Topics chatroom, click here.
• To view the Etiquette during Purposeful Topics, click here.
• To view the rules for Orgies and Play Parties, click here.

Site Links 
• To view the chat calendar, click and register here.
• To view the website Privacy Policy, click here.
• To view the website Terms of Use, click here.
• To view the website FAQ, click here.
• To view the website Guidelines, click here
• To view the website Cookie Policy, click here.

Social Media
• Like us on Facebook here.
• Follow us on Twitter here.
• Friend us on LiveJournal here.
• Friend us on Fetlife here.
• Follow us on Tumblr here.
• Follow us on BDSMlr here.

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