What does //name// or //open// mean?

[Dave McKelvey]

I see these on a lot of threads, and I'm not sure what they mean. I'm certainly not new to role playing, but I am new to the style where you post a new thread whenever you start something new in a new location.

Anyways, what do they mean? Do they have something to do with like who can and cannot join a thread? I saw one earlier that said //Ron//, so does that mean only Ron and the OP are allowed in there? If one is //open//, does that mean anyone can join in? I'm not sure, which is why I've been apprehensive to join any threads except for in the classrooms.

If I'm right about the code things, about how they show who can and cannot join a thread, is there a way to say one person can't join? If I was ever to make a thread, I'd certainly want to make sure Professor Felloutofhistree couldn't poison it. Just kidding, I think.

[Kaitlin Cooper]

Ok well when someone has a name in a thred like //Ron// it means that that thred was made for him only and when in says //open// thats means anyone can join in.

[Headmaster Albus Dumbledore]

Kaitlin is correct. Also, if there is no specification in the title, it's assumed to be open. If you want to post in a closed thread, you can always ask OOC or in a PM. You technically can lock out a specific person, but I wouldn't recommend it since it can cause silly enmity (the karma issue). It's better to be more vague as in //Ravenclaws// or //Students// or something of the like.

However, professors may enter any closed thread as long as rules are being broken.

EDIT: I've added this topic to the How To.

[Dave McKelvey]

Karma issue? What ever do you mean?

[Lamira Florian]

Like having negative karma, or having people smite/hex you ^^ Never a good thing...

((Karma here is known as Renown.))