We don't guarantee a set amount of time. We presently have one admin who approves accounts and sometimes she sleeps or leaves her computer for coffee. If you join while she's at her computer, you could be up and running in minutes. If you join while she's sleeping, it could be eight hours (Probably not. She's not that lucky.)



While this may seem like a total pain in the rear for newcomers, it helps us handle moderation better. With one admin and only a few volunteers moderating, it would get pretty nutty if anyone could just walk in at any point in time. We don't like playing Whack-a-Mole with accounts we've deactivated either, so we check who's coming in before we unlock the door. It makes for a better experience for our existing members, even though it can take a little while to get in.



It's generally safe to say that if your account has not been activated within 24-48 hours, it probably won't be. If you used privacy software or a proxy when you joined, that's probably why you didn't get activated. If this is the case, withdraw your entry/ close the account, skip the proxy, and sign up again. If you can't figure out why you didn't get in and it's been more than 24 hours, you can use the "Contact Admin" link on the bottom of the page to check with the admin. 

There are usually only three reasons accounts don't get approved...

1) You didn't verify your email address. We send out a confirmation message when you sign up. If you didn't see yours and click the link in it, check your spam folder.

2)You used a proxy, privacy software, or other obfuscation program when signing up.

Start by signing up.  There may be a brief period of time while your account is waiting authorization from an admin before you can begin posting, but you will receive an e-mail as soon as you're approved. Once that happens, jump in wherever you'd like. It's not a bad idea to browse the FAQ some more and review the tutorials while you wait.