Post by speshal on May 24, 2014 13:04:23 GMT
Everyone must please read these. These rules are set into place to create a safe and fun environment for everyone. Forum bans may be handed out on a three-consecutive-strikes-out policy: if you break three general rules in quick succession or all at once, you may get your access to posting in the forums temporarily or permanently suspended.
These rules are always in effect. Punishments are listed at the bottom in greater detail.
This is pretty obvious. Don't spam. Pointless messages, advertisement, frequent one-word replies and "bumping" topics all qualify as spam.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when repeat offender. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
This is also pretty obvious. Be courteous to each other. Don't harass, troll, insult, flame, humiliate or shame other members. If a member was rude to you, contact a moderator instead of starting a flamewar. In the event of a flamewar, there's no "right" or "wrong" for punishment - all flamers get equal treatment.
Punishment: Warn. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
Respect the privacy of other members. Do not post any personal or revealing information about other members, even if you don't name names. You must also not post revealing private information about any person, like name, address, passwords, et cetera. Punishment will also be handed to those who continuously badger other users about personal information. No means no people.
Punishment: Warn or ban depending on the gravity of the situation. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
Mods post warnings publicly. If you get warned, heed the warning. Do not reply with disrespectful remarks. If you wish to argue the warn, contact a different mod about it over PM. Respect mods as you would normal members. We are here to help and maintain order, not to gang up on you.
Punishment: Warn with the offender being put on a three strikes system. Temporary ban after three strikes. Full ban if behavior persists.
Links to illegal contents like MP3s, ROMs, warez, and any other such material are strictly forbidden across the entire site. Similarly, links to content unsuited for minors, pornography and graphic/violent material are also prohibited.
Punishment: Instant full ban.
Pokémon is a franchise mainly directed at younger players, so watch your language while you're in the board. Swear words are okay on occasion, but being polite goes a long way. Derogatory/inflammatory words, racist lingo, and any such vocabulary constitutes a more serious offense, expect a warn or ban depending on the gravity in that case.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn or ban when the behavior continues.
Any form of prejudice is unacceptable. Slurs, racism, homophobia, and any other forms of discrimination are absolutely not allowed.
Punishment: Ranges from verbal warning to temporary ban if done on the forums, full ban if behavior persists.
(Under Construction)
Everything you post must be easily readable. This means no invisible text, no tiny text, no gigantic text through the use of external sites such as textcraft.
Punishment: Verbal warning.
The mods exist for a reason - leave handing out warnings, reminding people of the rules, et cetera, to the mods. If someone broke the rules, report them and the mods will take action - don't take it upon yourself to let them know what they should do.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn or ban when the behavior is malicious.
Spoilers for anything, should come with a spoiler warning and be placed in an actual spoiler. This includes games, tv series, etc. Unlike most forums, the spoiler button is on the far right and looks like a smiley face shushing you.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when the behavior continues.
You're free to post links to your personal sites, but you can't advertise commercial websites or sales. If advertising your website or a non-commercial site, keep images small (smaller than 200x50) or textless. Don't make topics for the sole purpose of advertisement.
Punishment: Verbal warning/deletion of content. Ban if the behavior persists.
Before posting, make sure another similar, active topic doesn't already exist. If a similar topic is found to exist, a moderator will lock your topic.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when repeat offender. Ban when obvious troll.
When posting a topic, make sure you're at the proper subforum. Don't post a role play in the introductions section.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Topic will be moved to the proper subforum.
This qualifies as spam - don't just post a whole new topic to talk about how much you like Pokémon.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Topic gets locked. Spam punishment applies if behavior persists.
Avoid double-posting. The forums have an edit feature - use it to alter your comment if nobody's replied after you. You can only double-post if the topic hasn't seen any new replies in a while and/or there's a justifiable need for an update.
Punishment: Verbal warning.
"Bumping" is not allowed EXCEPT for trade topics, which may be bumped once every 24 hours. If there are no posts other than the original creator's bumps after a week, the thread will be subject to closing/lock.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Spam punishment applies.
When replying to someone else's topic, make sure your comment is relevant to what's being said. Unrelated comments are considered spam.
Punishment: Spam punishment applies.
If a topic is very old, avoid posting a reply unless you have something relevant to say. Topics that have gone over a month without replies fall into this rule. If you are the creator, you may revive the thread by posting without consequence(Archiving feature potentially to be added to prevent this from happening)
Punishment: Verbal warning. Spam punishment applies.
(Unknown at the moment)
Warning - This will be done publicly or privately depending on the mod and severity of the situation. You will be given three of these before any harsher actions will be instated if the warnings are given in rapid succession.
Temporary Ban - This is given to those who do not follow the three-strike rule. The time banned can vary but will be disclosed via PM.
Full Ban - Otherwise known as a Perma-ban. Users who fail to follow the rules with complete disregard will be awarded this status and lose their access to the site permanently.
These rules are always in effect. Punishments are listed at the bottom in greater detail.
Spam
This is pretty obvious. Don't spam. Pointless messages, advertisement, frequent one-word replies and "bumping" topics all qualify as spam.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when repeat offender. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
Trolling/Flaming
This is also pretty obvious. Be courteous to each other. Don't harass, troll, insult, flame, humiliate or shame other members. If a member was rude to you, contact a moderator instead of starting a flamewar. In the event of a flamewar, there's no "right" or "wrong" for punishment - all flamers get equal treatment.
Punishment: Warn. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
Privacy Breach
Respect the privacy of other members. Do not post any personal or revealing information about other members, even if you don't name names. You must also not post revealing private information about any person, like name, address, passwords, et cetera. Punishment will also be handed to those who continuously badger other users about personal information. No means no people.
Punishment: Warn or ban depending on the gravity of the situation. Ban if behavior continues after warn.
Mod Respect
Mods post warnings publicly. If you get warned, heed the warning. Do not reply with disrespectful remarks. If you wish to argue the warn, contact a different mod about it over PM. Respect mods as you would normal members. We are here to help and maintain order, not to gang up on you.
Punishment: Warn with the offender being put on a three strikes system. Temporary ban after three strikes. Full ban if behavior persists.
Illegal/Mature Content
Links to illegal contents like MP3s, ROMs, warez, and any other such material are strictly forbidden across the entire site. Similarly, links to content unsuited for minors, pornography and graphic/violent material are also prohibited.
Punishment: Instant full ban.
Language
Pokémon is a franchise mainly directed at younger players, so watch your language while you're in the board. Swear words are okay on occasion, but being polite goes a long way. Derogatory/inflammatory words, racist lingo, and any such vocabulary constitutes a more serious offense, expect a warn or ban depending on the gravity in that case.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn or ban when the behavior continues.
Slurs/Prejudice
Any form of prejudice is unacceptable. Slurs, racism, homophobia, and any other forms of discrimination are absolutely not allowed.
Punishment: Ranges from verbal warning to temporary ban if done on the forums, full ban if behavior persists.
Foreign Languages
(Under Construction)
Readability
Everything you post must be easily readable. This means no invisible text, no tiny text, no gigantic text through the use of external sites such as textcraft.
Punishment: Verbal warning.
Mod Impersonation/Mini-Modding
The mods exist for a reason - leave handing out warnings, reminding people of the rules, et cetera, to the mods. If someone broke the rules, report them and the mods will take action - don't take it upon yourself to let them know what they should do.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn or ban when the behavior is malicious.
Spoilers
Spoilers for anything, should come with a spoiler warning and be placed in an actual spoiler. This includes games, tv series, etc. Unlike most forums, the spoiler button is on the far right and looks like a smiley face shushing you.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when the behavior continues.
Advertisement
You're free to post links to your personal sites, but you can't advertise commercial websites or sales. If advertising your website or a non-commercial site, keep images small (smaller than 200x50) or textless. Don't make topics for the sole purpose of advertisement.
Punishment: Verbal warning/deletion of content. Ban if the behavior persists.
(Making New Topics)
Repeat Topics
Before posting, make sure another similar, active topic doesn't already exist. If a similar topic is found to exist, a moderator will lock your topic.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Warn when repeat offender. Ban when obvious troll.
Wrong Section
When posting a topic, make sure you're at the proper subforum. Don't post a role play in the introductions section.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Topic will be moved to the proper subforum.
Pointless Topics
This qualifies as spam - don't just post a whole new topic to talk about how much you like Pokémon.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Topic gets locked. Spam punishment applies if behavior persists.
Double-Posting
Avoid double-posting. The forums have an edit feature - use it to alter your comment if nobody's replied after you. You can only double-post if the topic hasn't seen any new replies in a while and/or there's a justifiable need for an update.
Punishment: Verbal warning.
Bumping
"Bumping" is not allowed EXCEPT for trade topics, which may be bumped once every 24 hours. If there are no posts other than the original creator's bumps after a week, the thread will be subject to closing/lock.
Punishment: Verbal warning. Spam punishment applies.
Off-Topicness
When replying to someone else's topic, make sure your comment is relevant to what's being said. Unrelated comments are considered spam.
Punishment: Spam punishment applies.
Necroposting
If a topic is very old, avoid posting a reply unless you have something relevant to say. Topics that have gone over a month without replies fall into this rule. If you are the creator, you may revive the thread by posting without consequence(Archiving feature potentially to be added to prevent this from happening)
Punishment: Verbal warning. Spam punishment applies.
(Unknown at the moment)
Punishments
Warning - This will be done publicly or privately depending on the mod and severity of the situation. You will be given three of these before any harsher actions will be instated if the warnings are given in rapid succession.
Temporary Ban - This is given to those who do not follow the three-strike rule. The time banned can vary but will be disclosed via PM.
Full Ban - Otherwise known as a Perma-ban. Users who fail to follow the rules with complete disregard will be awarded this status and lose their access to the site permanently.