Now that the site has reached over 50 users, new users are default set at Level 0. This is an automatic change from Discourse to make it harder for spambots or similar to cause problems.
HOW DO I QUICKLY GET UP TO LEVEL 1 / BASIC USER (so I can start using the forum properly)??
You have to spend at least 2 minutes reading posts, and view at least 5 posts. Then the system should bump you up a Level. (edit: although this seems to happen a bit too slowly, as some users are above this but not yet bumped up) Pardon the inconvenience guys!