Post by Robillard on Apr 8, 2014 20:59:02 GMT -5
Section One: Respect
The first and foremost rule of this message board is RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. As a member of this forum, you are expected to show respect at all time to your peers, staff, and R.A. Salvatore.
The rules under this section can be broken down into four categories:
Hints and Tips
Section Two: Inappropriate Behavior:
This is a diverse community that brings together people of all ages, from different walks of life and backgrounds. For this reason, we believe that this message board should be suitable for everyone and strive to keep things clean and friendly.
The following categories elaborate on what is considered inappropriate:
Hints and Tips
Section Three: Prohibited Topics and Actions
While we would prefer there be no prohibited topics, there are some that trigger moderation frustration or elicit unnecessary conflict among members. More topics may be added later if certain discussions fail to remain civil. Prohibiting certain actions are, however, necessary to maintain the safety and sanity of the board and its members.
Topics
Actions
Avatars and Signatures:
Conclusion:
Members (including Staff) found evidently to be in violation of any of these rules may be subject to punishment up to and including permanent banning from this site. Warnings may be issued by members of the Staff and under certain circumstances a warned member may be placed under Quarantine, requiring staff approval for all posts. Infractions will be dealt with impartially on a case by case basis.
The first and foremost rule of this message board is RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. As a member of this forum, you are expected to show respect at all time to your peers, staff, and R.A. Salvatore.
The rules under this section can be broken down into four categories:
- Personal Attacks: Attacks on any member for any reason will not be tolerated. There is no excuse for shaming, public humiliation, and/or harassment.
- Moderation Responsibility: If you believe that a member is out of line, report the offending post or communicate privately with a staff member. Members may not take it upon themselves to correct the issue.
- Trolling: Bored? Instigating contention for your own amusement is the quickest way to get banned. Trolling relies and thrives upon disrespect and will not be tolerated.
- Apologize: If you inadvertently offend someone or make a mistake, the best action to take is to admit it and apologize. You may not consider what you said offensive, but you are not the judge of what others consider offensive. Listen and learn and respect one another.
Hints and Tips
- If you have a problem with a member who is not breaking the rules, please make use of the ignore function. If you cannot avoid turning a thread into a back-and-forth argument no matter the topic, the ignore function means we will not have to step in and take action. We don’t like banning and quarantine only gives us more work to do.
- Always read your posts and private messages over before submitting or sending them. If something sounds insulting to you, then it will likely sound insulting to others. Don’t post it.
- Respect, especially in regard to the art and writing of others, including R.A. Salvatore, includes knowing the difference between criticism and an attack. If you hate a book or story or piece of art that appears on this site, you are free to say as much. However:
Section Two: Inappropriate Behavior:
This is a diverse community that brings together people of all ages, from different walks of life and backgrounds. For this reason, we believe that this message board should be suitable for everyone and strive to keep things clean and friendly.
The following categories elaborate on what is considered inappropriate:
- Pornography: Any text, images, or video containing nudity, disturbing images, or excessive violence and gore are prohibited. Action will be taken for any of the above appearing on the forums and, if reported, through the private messaging system.
- Language: Language is not a major concern. The terms of service has a minimum age of 13+ (even if people are free to ignore it), there is a filter in place, and we will edit anything big that slips through. Though we may be somewhat slack in this regard, members are not given free reign to creatively bypass the filter and are encouraged to write posts that do not include curse words instead of relying on the filter to catch them. Images and videos containing inappropriate language may be removed.
- Threats: If you threaten a person with violence, rape, or death you will be immediately banned. The same goes for suggesting a person commit suicide. This is a serious matter and there is zero tolerance.
- Spamming and Advertising: Have something that you want to share? Feel free to create a thread in either Artist’s Alley, Roleplayer’s Retreat, or Community Board. Posting repeated or similar content outside of dedicated threads in an attempt to share or advertise will result in post deletion and possible further action.
- Harassment of Staff: The staff works together to ensure that the decisions we make and actions we take are appropriate. We ask that you trust our decisions, but if you disagree with something we have done and feel as though you must speak up about it, please contact an admin via PM. Calling out or antagonizing staff on the forums for a decision made will not be tolerated.
- Impersonation: Will be treated as trolling.
Hints and Tips
- Anything you post here should be something that would not embarrass you in front of your children, parents, grandparents, boss, idol, deity, or Old One. If it would make you wince when your life flashes before your eyes, don’t post it.
- Posting several times in a row when an edit would suffice is discouraged unless each post contains significantly different content. Relocated members might be tempted to take back a slice of their old posts counts and new members might be tempted to catch up with them, but quality is treasured over quantity. Make your posts count and help the staff out by not forcing them to waste their time merging posts.
- If the staff consults one another again on the decision that you disagree upon and come to the same conclusion and you still disagree, ask them to explain their reasoning. Still disagree? Try approaching the situation from a different point of view. Some decisions are made to prevent an altercation. Most are made after. All are made in the hopes that they will benefit the board.
- Worried that your story or art might conflict with the language or pornography rules? Consider it against other works posted to the board and use your best discretion. If you are still unsure of whether or not it can be posted, discuss the matter with a staff member.
Section Three: Prohibited Topics and Actions
While we would prefer there be no prohibited topics, there are some that trigger moderation frustration or elicit unnecessary conflict among members. More topics may be added later if certain discussions fail to remain civil. Prohibiting certain actions are, however, necessary to maintain the safety and sanity of the board and its members.
Topics
- “I QUIT!” - If you create a thread for the sole purpose of airing your grievances to the world and rage quitting, your thread will be deleted. If you must go, please leave without making a scene.
- Publicizing Private Messages - Unless you have the permission of the other party, you may not post private messages to the board. If someone sends you an inappropriate private message, notify a staff member.
- Targeted Topics - Do not create a thread to call out another member. If you wish to attract or direct the attention of a board member, please make use of the private system or report function.
- Petitions, Ultimatums, and Hostile Demands - Three ineffective, exhausting routes toward quarantine or banning. We are happy to discuss any issues that you might have, but strong-handed attempts to force your way will get you nowhere.
Actions
- Do not provide links to any illegal copyrighted materials (media, software, etc) or malicious sites or software.
- Cross Posting - Do not post threads directing people to other threads unless it is relevant to the creation and discussion of a new topic.
- Thread Necromancy - If a thread is dead and buried, keep it that way. Time is weird on the internet and even a few months can strip a thread of context, intent, and relevance. While it can suck to see the same topic crop up time and time again, it allows for participation and discussion among newer members and may encourage older members, who may have participated before, the chance to explore their previous answers. If, after a few pages, you do not find a thread covering the topic you wish to discuss, feel free to start a new thread.
- CAPS RAGE - Don’t do it. You aren’t the Hulk and our patience has limits.
- Banned Member Representation - Members are banned for a reason. Do not represent them.
Avatars and Signatures:
- Avatars and signatures must follow the rules listed above.
- Please do not “hotlink”--link directly from another site. We have a file system in place (add attachment button in full reply). You may also use an image host site such as Photobucket, Imageshack, TinyURL, etc.
- Staff members reserve the right to remove any avatar or signature considered in violation of any of these guidelines.
Conclusion:
Members (including Staff) found evidently to be in violation of any of these rules may be subject to punishment up to and including permanent banning from this site. Warnings may be issued by members of the Staff and under certain circumstances a warned member may be placed under Quarantine, requiring staff approval for all posts. Infractions will be dealt with impartially on a case by case basis.
