If you've been around HSA for a while you probably already have a well developed sense of what kind of content goes where, but for our new members and those who may be looking for a little clarification, this document is intended to provide a little direction to help keep things organized.
The Primary Forums
The Roundtable is intended to host substantive discussions and debates. Posts in this forum don't have to be scholarly, but should contribue some insight, inquiry, information or perspective. Topics that are focused on issues and perspectives unique to homeschool graduates are especially relevent.
The Foyer is where more casual and non-serious topics are discussed. Compared to the Roundtable, Foyer topics are a little more for the sake of conversation than a deep discussion. The topics, however, are still intended to be topical so if you're just looking to hang out and visit about nothing in particular, checkout Rambles. You can also use the forum to introduce a new member or share well-wishes from the entire forum (Birthdays, Anniversaries, Births, etc), but consider using your blog for generally personal posts (e.g. a topic recounting "what I did today").
Rambles is the place if you just want to hang out with a group of friends. Topics in here don't necessarily have to be topical, in fact if you've got something specific you want to talk about, head over to the Foyer or Roundtable and start a topic. Or if you just want to share the days reflections or events with your friends, consider starting a new post in your personal blog. Read the rambles primer for a little more info.
The Library contains reviews, thoughts, and commentary on books, film, music and media.
Reunions and Events are happening all across the country – and the world! Topics here contain information on upcoming events and reports from past events that involve homeschool alumni.
The Article Responses forum is designed for members to respond to the author and/or content of articles posted on HSA. Try to keep these discussions focused as a response to the article. If you'd like to explore a side-topic or take the discussion down another path, a Roundtable topic may be more appropriate in some cases.
Suggestions, Problems, and Complaints is the forum where you can offer suggestions, report problems, air complaints about HSA or contribute ideas for the community.
Personal Communication
Your Personal Blog is your own personal writing space. The perfect place for sharing a bit about your life, a thought, or a reflection on anything you'd like. If you're writing something that is specifically "about you" it belongs in your blog (e.g. "my vacation pics", "do you think I should…?", "my personal testimony", etc.). However, if it's a subject matter discussion (focused on a specific topic or issue), you might consider posting it in one of the main forums. Your blog can be configured to be publicly accessible or only accessible by those on your friends list. You can also customize your blog's design to give it a personalized look and feel.
Friend Notes are a quick and easy way to send a greeting or share a comment with a friend. They're available for all to see and not as well suited for conversation as Personal Messages. You can post a friend note on your own page if you want, but it's more common to reply to friend notes on the profile of the person you're responding to.
Personal Messages are for one-on-one communication with other alumni.
Occupational Interest Groups
Occupational Interest Group Forums are intended to facilitate networking and discussion for folks involved in their respective occupations. Visit the groups page for more information.
