Forum Posting Guidelines
Last Update: August 23th, 2020

These are forum specific guidelines that you should follow to ensure a positive experience and to avoid sanctions and/or having your posts deleted. The rules also apply when using the shoutbox (mainly rules 1 & 9, 15); if you receive a PM that violates the guidelines, forward it to Seth.

Personal Attacks and starting flame wars. Attacking other members personally, while in debate with other members the discussion must remain civil. We do not allow tolerate rudeness, insulting posts, personal attacks, purposeless inflammatory posts and attempt to start a flame war on the forums.

Power-posting. Over-posting or Posting empty, nonsensical or useless threads/posts. Such posts are subject to be moved to the Spam & Drama category or deleted.

Bumping. Posting a single word or useless messages to bring are attention to a thread. Bumping is allowed if preformed by owner and admins to bring new attention to previous server rule threads, changes to policy, etc. If you're bumping to get attention to a post that already gets attention to begin with, the bump message and/or thread will be deleted.

Necro-Bumping. Posting a message on an old discussion topic. For example, Posting on a thread that are older then 90 days and is no longer inactive. (If the thread is stickied, and you have something to contribute to it, then you may post in it)

Thread Hijacking. Replying on an existing thread with a different topic. For example, posting a ban appeal on a topic that's not for that purpose. The post is subject to removal or moved to a proper location.

Misplaced Posts. Posting a message in the wrong board. For example, posting a ban appeal in the General Discussion category.

Cross-Posting / Duplicate Posts. Posting the same message in multiple boards and duplicated posts are self-explanatory.

Usage of vulgar language is allowed, avoid personal attacks and/or starting a flame-war.

Spamming. Using the forum features for trolling and/or spamming. that includes the forum, email, visitor messages, blog comments, picture comments, private message systems.

Your forum display name must be alpha-numeric characters although you can use a non-alpha/numeric at the beginning or end of the name (e.g. HappyPerson). You can also use one underscore in the middle of the name (e.g. Happy_Person^). Avoid use of fonts that are difficult to read or otherwise annoying (e.g. backwards).

Annoying Signature blocks & Avatar. While this is subjective guideline, an over-sized signature block, an animated GIF/video, or a blinking /scrolling / flashing signature block /avatar are very annoying to most other members or even potentially dangerous for those with epilepsy.

Plagiarizing. Numerous examples and such posts are subject to being deleted. One that's happens too frequently here on this forum is copying somebody else's admin application or the example application.

Posting URLs that contains viruses, malware, phishing, IP-Grabbers, NSFW content or any link that could be used secretly and purposely collect personal information which could be used to DOX or DDOS.

Shoutbox Specific Guidance: In addition to no form of moving / flashing animation or other obnoxious and distracting formatting.

Avoid sharing personal information on the forums. (Example: Real Names, Addresses, School, and/or Workplace names/locations, or any other personal information that could identify you)

Other. Anything not covered above that is causing general annoyance and disruption. Examples (not all-inclusive): Fake quoting (falsely attributing a quote to somebody else), posting multiple correction messages instead of posting just one or editing the original, posting RL pics of other people or oneself unless obscured, trolling, obnoxious formatting in text or tile (e.g. using all-caps, using max size font for the entire post, difficult to read font or colors, etc), posting in languages other than English (use Google Translate if needed), tag spamming (only tag when essential), e-begging (legitimate charity requests excepted), inappropriate profile pics, spamming likes, and when quoting somebody else, don't include their pics or other media in the quote. As this is very subjective, the forum mod will normally PM to advise of the problem.

Category 1 - Bannable Offenses: Bans that restrict the user from accessing the forums as a registered user depending on the severity of the offense . Users who are banned from the forums are able to appeal via email (here)

a. Repeated Offense from Category 2
b. Impersonation of other members of the community (Including Staff Members)
c. Posting suspicious URLs (Rule 13)
d. Being involved in DOX or DDOS of any member.
e. Repeatedly breaking Zero tolerance policy on the forums. (here)

Category 2 - Minor Offenses: Such Offenses wouldn't result in a 24-hour forum ban or a permanent ban unless done repeatedly.

a. Personal Attacks and starting flame-wars.
b. Power-posting, Unnecessary Bumping, and Necro-Bumping.
c. Thread Hijacking
d. Mis-posting threads.
e. Other minor offenses (Rule 16)

Those who violate the above guidelines are subject to a range of sanctions including warnings, deletion of offending posts without comment, temporary forum ban, purging of all posts and post count reset to zero, permanent forum ban, and admins who violate guidelines are subject to suspension in addition to other sanctions. If you receive a warning, take immediate steps to comply with these guidelines to avoid more permanent sanctions.