Post by Captain Ventris on Aug 13, 2010 20:53:05 GMT
To put this gently, you guys have not been acting like you're more than 4 years old, and it's starting to tick me off.
So, from here on out, the Staff (Damage, Mik57, and myself) are going to crack down on off topic posting and general idiocy. So, here are the official forum rules. Yes, it's totally a reworking of the Skulltag forum rules. Cowboy up and deal w/ it.
General Rules: Read, and Despair
Violating any of these rules can get you banned from both here and IRC - what happens on one, does not necessarily stay on that particular one! Any violation can cause a ban anywhere else.
Ways to be instantly banned
If you break these rules, you'll earn an instant ban regardless of which Staff member sees the activity. I'm serious. Don't even joke around about this.
* Impersonating any of the Development Team in-game in a serious manner. I'll still be majorly ticked if you do it as a joke, so DON'T DO THAT.
* Evading and/or boasting about being banned (temporary or permanent).
o If you get banned unfairly or accidentally, talk to us instead of creating another account (ban evading).
* Posting on the board with commercial advertisements or malicious content or warez. (Exception: The site host is allowed to serve ads to generate site revenue and pay for hosting expenses, if necessary because this is a free forum)
* All illegal content is strictly prohibited.
o Don't post images or links to pornography, shock images, pirated software, or any other disturbing/illegal content.
* Heavy harassment of users/moderators/administrators.
* Attempting to smartass your way around any these rules lends no leniency. You will be treated as if you violated the rule itself. If you think it's a loophole, it's not. Don't even try it.
* Literally anything else that seriously ticks me off.
-------------------------------------------
General Rules.
If you break these rules, you'll earn a warning percent or a temporary ban regardless of which moderator sees the posts. The percentage gained is NOT something we have to justify to you, but I will say that it will most likely be proportional to how un-funny we're feeling. Hitting 100% puts you straight into The Blazing Colosseum.
* Read/search before you post. See if someone is already talking about it. Duplicate threads about the same topic aren't that useful. See below for rules about thread necromancy (threads MAY be revived if you have compelling content to contribute).
* Discussion of bans in public. This only cause fights and whining. Simply put people are warned/Made into Gladiators/banned for breaking the rules, you don't need to know the specifics. If you want to know, talk to them. If you're trying to help them, you are only hurting them, and talking to us will put us in a bad mood and make it worse for them. Talking to us about your friend's ban can and sometimes does EXTEND the length of their ban. We will not appeal bans unless THEY talk to us DIRECTLY.
* Trolling/flaming/baiting/harassing/whining. We don't want fights, even if you didn't start it.
o Stay out of flame wars. If somebody is being a jerk, either ignore them or respond calmly. Don't post just to provoke others (trolling).
o What if somebody insults me? Let it go. Bringing yourself into a big argument only makes you look like a buffoon, and will most likely make whatever they say about you come true. Instead, relish your self-control and Report their post instead.
* Harassing other users, including Skulltag Staff, especially in public. Take it to PM's. PM buttons and forum PM's are enabled for a reason. Use them. I swear to God, if you keep callin' me Captian Potatohead or whatever, I will start ramping up your warn percentage.
* English only. We don't want people to exclude others since the majority read English. There are many people who do not read or understand others' native languages, and using a language that we do not all have in common is not fair to them. This is not something that you will get warned for if it's a joke or something, but do refrain from doing so.
* Posting in ALL CAPS. This is like shouting at people on the internet, and makes you look even dumber than whatever you may be typing.
* Spelling & Grammar. Use proper punctuation and line breaks when making your post. Make it easily readable. Spellcheck it if you're really bad with spelling. Skulltag staff is not responsible if you incur the wrath of grammar nazis, i.e. Slyfox (though they will be handled separately from your situation). If you post a wall of text, expect nobody to read it. It doesn't have to be perfect, but please make SOME effort to help others understand what you're saying.
* Going excessively off-topic. Some have a bad habit of doing this far too much. Make a new thread. Keep. The. Custard. In. One. Place.
* Bumping. If people are interested they will post. If they don't, then don't try and shove it in their faces. If you ask a question and no one responds, please don't bump it just to get it noticed. Ask it on IRC or another site - maybe another person who hasn't seen your topic yet will be willing to help.
* Thread necromancy. If a topic has been dead for 2 weeks, don't bump it. Period.
o Exception: If you have relevant content which ADDS or ENHANCES to the topic, CONTRIBUTES to the flow of the discussion, and otherwise helps the community, then you may revive a dead thread. BUT DON'T PICK UP ON DEAD CONVERSATIONS!
o Thread necromancy rules do not apply to stickies - you may post to any unlocked sticky - even one that's been inactive for years. That's why it's stickied. Even so, what you post had better contribute.
o Projects: Project threads (like Banjoster's Colored Monsters thread) may be revived by the author when a project is inactive and becomes active again. However, please use screenshots or something to prove that you are now making progress once more.
* Use the stickies. We have stickied topics for informational purposes and to help you find the information and assistance you need, as well as to house discussion topics in a centralized place.
* Colored fonts. Having a few words here and there colored are fine, but don't go overboard.
* Report spammers. DON'T REPLY TO THEM.
* Report posts. Do not reply to threads or posts that break the rules - even (especially) if it is to inform the user that they have broken a rule. Report it, and let the Staff take care of it.
o If you see a topic that needs to be locked, or a post deleted contact the Staff.
* Do not SPAM. What is SPAM? SPAM = Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages. This includes but is not limited to: One word posts; Posts in which any point being made from the poster's point of view is obscure or completely nonexistent to others; Image-only/Smilie-only posts; "Quote Pyramids"; Not adding anything of any merit or value to the conversation or topic being discussed. You can avoid SPAMing by making a constructive, thought-out post.
o Don't post repetitive or useless topics, smiles, quote pyramids, or messages (spamming).
o New topics should have some value that you think other people might be interested in.
* Signatures & Avatars: Don't use a flashy or distracting signature/avatar. Animations and colors are fine, but keep it subtle.
* Don't ask, don't tell. While the Skulltag Staff aims to be tolerant and open to all peoples, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, background, etc, we aren't delusional, and we know you can't expect this type of tolerance from every single person.
* Attempting to smartass your way around these rules could earn you warning percentage, being cast into The Blazing Colosseum, or a ban.
* And anything else I don't like.
If a staff member warns you about something you're doing, you'd better listen.
So, from here on out, the Staff (Damage, Mik57, and myself) are going to crack down on off topic posting and general idiocy. So, here are the official forum rules. Yes, it's totally a reworking of the Skulltag forum rules. Cowboy up and deal w/ it.
General Rules: Read, and Despair
Violating any of these rules can get you banned from both here and IRC - what happens on one, does not necessarily stay on that particular one! Any violation can cause a ban anywhere else.
Ways to be instantly banned
If you break these rules, you'll earn an instant ban regardless of which Staff member sees the activity. I'm serious. Don't even joke around about this.
* Impersonating any of the Development Team in-game in a serious manner. I'll still be majorly ticked if you do it as a joke, so DON'T DO THAT.
* Evading and/or boasting about being banned (temporary or permanent).
o If you get banned unfairly or accidentally, talk to us instead of creating another account (ban evading).
* Posting on the board with commercial advertisements or malicious content or warez. (Exception: The site host is allowed to serve ads to generate site revenue and pay for hosting expenses, if necessary because this is a free forum)
* All illegal content is strictly prohibited.
o Don't post images or links to pornography, shock images, pirated software, or any other disturbing/illegal content.
* Heavy harassment of users/moderators/administrators.
* Attempting to smartass your way around any these rules lends no leniency. You will be treated as if you violated the rule itself. If you think it's a loophole, it's not. Don't even try it.
* Literally anything else that seriously ticks me off.
-------------------------------------------
General Rules.
If you break these rules, you'll earn a warning percent or a temporary ban regardless of which moderator sees the posts. The percentage gained is NOT something we have to justify to you, but I will say that it will most likely be proportional to how un-funny we're feeling. Hitting 100% puts you straight into The Blazing Colosseum.
* Read/search before you post. See if someone is already talking about it. Duplicate threads about the same topic aren't that useful. See below for rules about thread necromancy (threads MAY be revived if you have compelling content to contribute).
* Discussion of bans in public. This only cause fights and whining. Simply put people are warned/Made into Gladiators/banned for breaking the rules, you don't need to know the specifics. If you want to know, talk to them. If you're trying to help them, you are only hurting them, and talking to us will put us in a bad mood and make it worse for them. Talking to us about your friend's ban can and sometimes does EXTEND the length of their ban. We will not appeal bans unless THEY talk to us DIRECTLY.
* Trolling/flaming/baiting/harassing/whining. We don't want fights, even if you didn't start it.
o Stay out of flame wars. If somebody is being a jerk, either ignore them or respond calmly. Don't post just to provoke others (trolling).
o What if somebody insults me? Let it go. Bringing yourself into a big argument only makes you look like a buffoon, and will most likely make whatever they say about you come true. Instead, relish your self-control and Report their post instead.
* Harassing other users, including Skulltag Staff, especially in public. Take it to PM's. PM buttons and forum PM's are enabled for a reason. Use them. I swear to God, if you keep callin' me Captian Potatohead or whatever, I will start ramping up your warn percentage.
* English only. We don't want people to exclude others since the majority read English. There are many people who do not read or understand others' native languages, and using a language that we do not all have in common is not fair to them. This is not something that you will get warned for if it's a joke or something, but do refrain from doing so.
* Posting in ALL CAPS. This is like shouting at people on the internet, and makes you look even dumber than whatever you may be typing.
* Spelling & Grammar. Use proper punctuation and line breaks when making your post. Make it easily readable. Spellcheck it if you're really bad with spelling. Skulltag staff is not responsible if you incur the wrath of grammar nazis, i.e. Slyfox (though they will be handled separately from your situation). If you post a wall of text, expect nobody to read it. It doesn't have to be perfect, but please make SOME effort to help others understand what you're saying.
* Going excessively off-topic. Some have a bad habit of doing this far too much. Make a new thread. Keep. The. Custard. In. One. Place.
* Bumping. If people are interested they will post. If they don't, then don't try and shove it in their faces. If you ask a question and no one responds, please don't bump it just to get it noticed. Ask it on IRC or another site - maybe another person who hasn't seen your topic yet will be willing to help.
* Thread necromancy. If a topic has been dead for 2 weeks, don't bump it. Period.
o Exception: If you have relevant content which ADDS or ENHANCES to the topic, CONTRIBUTES to the flow of the discussion, and otherwise helps the community, then you may revive a dead thread. BUT DON'T PICK UP ON DEAD CONVERSATIONS!
o Thread necromancy rules do not apply to stickies - you may post to any unlocked sticky - even one that's been inactive for years. That's why it's stickied. Even so, what you post had better contribute.
o Projects: Project threads (like Banjoster's Colored Monsters thread) may be revived by the author when a project is inactive and becomes active again. However, please use screenshots or something to prove that you are now making progress once more.
* Use the stickies. We have stickied topics for informational purposes and to help you find the information and assistance you need, as well as to house discussion topics in a centralized place.
* Colored fonts. Having a few words here and there colored are fine, but don't go overboard.
* Report spammers. DON'T REPLY TO THEM.
* Report posts. Do not reply to threads or posts that break the rules - even (especially) if it is to inform the user that they have broken a rule. Report it, and let the Staff take care of it.
o If you see a topic that needs to be locked, or a post deleted contact the Staff.
* Do not SPAM. What is SPAM? SPAM = Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages. This includes but is not limited to: One word posts; Posts in which any point being made from the poster's point of view is obscure or completely nonexistent to others; Image-only/Smilie-only posts; "Quote Pyramids"; Not adding anything of any merit or value to the conversation or topic being discussed. You can avoid SPAMing by making a constructive, thought-out post.
o Don't post repetitive or useless topics, smiles, quote pyramids, or messages (spamming).
o New topics should have some value that you think other people might be interested in.
* Signatures & Avatars: Don't use a flashy or distracting signature/avatar. Animations and colors are fine, but keep it subtle.
* Don't ask, don't tell. While the Skulltag Staff aims to be tolerant and open to all peoples, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, background, etc, we aren't delusional, and we know you can't expect this type of tolerance from every single person.
* Attempting to smartass your way around these rules could earn you warning percentage, being cast into The Blazing Colosseum, or a ban.
* And anything else I don't like.
If a staff member warns you about something you're doing, you'd better listen.