Skip to main content

User Overview

Welcome to Multiforum! This guide covers everything you need to know as a user.

Getting Started​

Creating an Account​

  1. Visit the Multiforum instance (e.g., topical.space)
  2. Click Log In or Sign Up
  3. Authenticate with your email or social login
  4. Choose a username (cannot be changed later)
  5. Complete your profile setup

Your Profile​

Your profile includes:

  • Username: Your public identity
  • Display Name: Optional friendly name
  • Bio: About yourself
  • Profile Picture: Your avatar
  • Pronouns: Optional pronouns display
  • Location: Optional location
  • Time Zone: For event time display

Two Identities​

You have two separate identities in Multiforum:

User Profile​

Used for:

  • Creating discussions, events, and comments
  • Upvoting and reacting
  • Personal interactions

Moderation Profile​

Used for:

  • Reporting content
  • Giving feedback (if permitted)
  • Moderator actions (if you become a moderator)

This separation protects privacy and encourages objectivity.

Core Features​

Discussions​

Create and participate in threaded conversations:

  • Post discussions in channels you have access to
  • Comment on others' discussions
  • Upvote content you find valuable
  • React with emoji
  • Share discussions across channels

Events​

Discover and create events:

  • Browse upcoming events by location or channel
  • Create events with dates, locations, and descriptions
  • Create event series for recurring events
  • View calendars by day, week, or month

Wiki​

Collaborative knowledge base:

  • Read wiki pages in channels
  • Contribute to pages (if permitted)
  • View history of changes

Downloads​

Share and download files:

  • Download files attached to discussions
  • Upload your own files (if permitted)
  • Track version history

Channels​

Channels are topic-focused communities:

  • Browse channels from the sidebar
  • Join channels to see their content
  • Recent channels appear in your history

Find content across the platform:

  • Search discussions, events, and users
  • Filter by channel, date, and tags
  • Use advanced search operators

Notifications​

Stay informed about activity:

  • Bell icon shows notification count
  • Click to see recent notifications
  • Configure preferences in settings

Content Interaction​

Upvoting​

Show appreciation for good content:

  • Click the upvote arrow on discussions or comments
  • Your vote is recorded
  • High-quality content rises in visibility

Reactions​

React with emoji:

  • Click the reaction button
  • Select an emoji
  • See aggregate reactions

Commenting​

Join conversations:

  • Reply to discussions
  • Reply to other comments (threaded)
  • Use Markdown for formatting

Reporting​

Flag inappropriate content:

  • Click the action menu
  • Select Report
  • Choose a reason
  • Moderators will review

Account Settings​

Access from your profile menu:

Profile Settings​

  • Update display name, bio, pronouns
  • Change profile picture
  • Set location and time zone
  • Configure emoji skin tone

Notification Settings​

  • Enable/disable email notifications
  • Configure notification types
  • Set bundling preferences

Privacy Settings​

  • Manage your data
  • Review account activity

Permissions​

What you can do depends on channel and server settings:

ActionTypical Permissions
View contentEveryone
Create discussionsAuthenticated users
Create commentsAuthenticated users
Create eventsAuthenticated users
Upload filesAuthenticated users (if enabled)
Edit wikiMay require special permission

Channel owners can customize these permissions.

Best Practices​

Contributing Quality Content​

  • Write clear, descriptive titles
  • Use appropriate channels
  • Add relevant tags
  • Format with Markdown
  • Check for duplicates

Engaging Respectfully​

  • Follow channel rules
  • Be civil in disagreements
  • Give constructive feedback
  • Report, don't retaliate

Managing Your Presence​

  • Keep profile information current
  • Review notification settings
  • Visit channels you're interested in

Getting Help​

If you need assistance:

  • Check channel rules and FAQs
  • Ask in appropriate help channels
  • Report issues to moderators
  • Contact server admins for account issues