Oddworld Forums - Rules Enforcement Scheme

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Rules Enforcement Scheme

Yeah, I just wanted to spice up the title.

But, the content within is serious. A number of Moderators have expressed their disgust at the current state of law enforcement, and general chaos with members. As such, the rules will be enforced to their maximum. If I warn or ban you, it will be of a just nature, and any backlash will result in a swift: "I don't give a crap" from yours truly.

For those who have recently spammed, chit-chatted, threatened, or been an absolute idiot, be forewarned. I don't care if you're staff, I don't care if you're a friend of mine, if you break the rules, you'll be dealt with accordingly. I hope you'll have the sense and intelligence to realise I'm doing my job.

For those who need a pick-me-up-reminder on the rules, they as follows:

The Oddworld Forums are a community of Staff, Fans of Oddworld and everyday web surfers. While everyone is different, yet equal in their moral rights, we expect all members attending these forums to follow a set of rules. These rules exist for the sole purpose of maintaining forum peace and harmony between our members. Please take the time to read these rules thoroughly.

Rules In Short

Respect other members, and their opinions.

Use the search feature before creating new threads.

Post threads in the correct forum.

Spamming is not tolerated.

You may not register multiple accounts.

Do not threaten the safety of the forums or server.

Do not discuss bans with others.

Do not post anything directed at single members.

There are regulations regarding signatures:

One image, three lines of text per signature with an image.

Six lines of text per signature without an image.

Avatars can be used if they are under 5 kilobytes in size.

If a rule is broken, the member is given warnings as such:

First Warning - No ban

Second Warning - No ban

Third Warning - Temporary Week Long Ban

Fourth Warning - Temporary Two Week Long Ban

Fifth Warning - Permanent Ban

Warnings are removed by the discretion of an administrative staffer.

Ultimately, the administrative staff have control over everything.

Rules In Full

Respect is a key issue here. We expect that every member will be considerate of other members’ feelings and opinions. Everyone has the right to express his or her opinion, as long as it isn't posted with malicious intent. Such things as offensive language, flaming, using vulgarities or posting sexually explicit material is deemed as a spiteful attack against the receiving member(s). You can discuss or challenge members' opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully.

Before deciding to create a thread, use the search option. More than likely you'll find the answers in past threads. However, do not reply to old, outdated threads. If it is a thankyou to the member who helped you in the old thread, send them a kind Private Message.

Before posting a new thread or replying to a thread make sure you are in the correct thread and / or forum. By looking at the forum title it is easy to check you are posting in the correct area. For example, General Oddworld Discussion is for Oddworld related topics only. Off-Topic Discussion is where topics of any nature not pertaining to any other forum present, are to be posted.

Do not, under any circumstances spam. Spam can be defined as posting excessively, flooding, excessive advertising, double posting, posting irrelevant replies or posting replies containing the bare minimum of words. As a result of spamming, the offender(s) will be dealt with by staff members, in one of two manners, these being: warnings and / or post deletion.

Registering with two or more accounts is considered both illegal and deceitful. Members found with multiple accounts will be questioned and dealt with accordingly. Registering multiple accounts will often find all accounts banned, except for the primary account. The primary account will be banned temporarily.

Members accusing to threaten the safety of the forums or compromise the safety of the server with which it is hosted on will instantly be banned permanently.

If a member has knowledge of another member being banned, refrain from discussing his or her banning. Threads and / or posts found to have such information will be immediately deleted, and the offending member(s) contacted. Whether or not the offending member(s) are dealt with is a judgment decided upon by staff members.

If your thread and / or post are relevant to only one member, use the Private Message system to contact them instead. Threads and / or posts directed solely to one member are considered spam, and will be dealt with in the same manner as spam.

These forums allow the use of a signature, however there is a set of rules that must be complied to when using a signature.

Concerning signatures with an image:

There is a limit of one image per signature including smilies.

The dimensions of the image must not exceed 400 pixels in width, and 125 pixels in height.

The image itself must not exceed 35 kilobytes (35840 bytes).

The image cannot be hosted as an attachment on the Oddworld Forums.

There is a maximum of four lines of text.

Concerning signatures without an image:

There is a maximum of six lines of text.

These forums also allow members to upload an avatar. Avatars appear under a member's name basically throughout the entirety of the forums, with a few exceptions. When uploading an avatar, make sure that the dimensions do no exceed 100 x 100 pixels and 5 kilobytes in size (5120 bytes). Any avatar found to be offensive or the like, will be immediately stricken from the offending member's profile(s).

If a rule is broken, a staff member may decide to discipline the offending member(s). In this case, a staff member may issue warnings, and depending upon how many warnings the offending member(s) may already have, the following structure is used:

First Warning - No ban

Second Warning - No ban

Third Warning - Temporary Week Long Ban

Fourth Warning - Temporary Two Week Long Ban

Fifth Warning - Permanent Ban

Warnings depreciate at an administrative staff member’s decision. If an administrative staff member feels a member deserves to loose a warning they have gained, so it shall be.

While these forums are based upon a democratic society, in which we listen and learn from our members, there are times when an administrative staff member must take control in an undemocratic manner. In the end, an administrative staff member has ultimate control over the forums, but will rarely exercise this control unless necessary.

If you have any queries, suggestions, complaints or doubtful points please feel free to contact either Abe Babe or Alcar with your concerns.

Alcar...

Ok thanx for that warning Alcar, I will be on my bets behaviour this time ;).

It's about time someone took action. Good job, Alcar.

Of course, I have nothing to worry about. I'm a glowing example of the perfect member! :p

-oddguy

Thank you very much Alcar...
this was realy needed

Yes, much thanks are owed to Alcar. Acting on behalf of the Moderators, and all. ;) It's truely irked me to see levels of intollerance and flaming rise. One thing - what is the correct view on swearing? I believe it has its place, but a lot of the time it just seems uncalled for.

Thanks alcar....maybe now DI wont keep annoying me...

it's about time we have more strict rules and maybe i'll shutup one day because of them.......

Wow. That's a nice way to carry on with the campaign. Delete 3 posts from the thread about it. Anyways, I s'pose I'll keep my eyes open. Or something. And create an everlasting peace and prosperity for the forums.

Or something.

It's about time someone took action. Good job, Alcar.

Of course, I have nothing to worry about. I'm a glowing example of the perfect member! :p

-oddguy

Ahem.....

"Oh, you are such a kiss ass"

Yes.....

Anyway, thanx for the intel Alc, i'll behave.

Me? A kiss ass?

I wasn't the only guy thanking Alcar for taking action ya know. ;)

-oddguy

Now that I realise Adder is Chaotic Neutral, the rules don't matter!

But I'm not Adder, I'm the SIG.

I'll repect these rules as best I can, which should be pretty good. (And glad to see you sorted out the "1KB = 1024bytes" error)

Wow, Syd did this, and alcar bitched and moaned.

Alcar does it, and everyone applauds. What an interesting turn of events.

I don't remember bitching and moaning about cracking down on spam, or breaking of rules. As far as I remember, I was the one who didn't want any sort of swearing on the forums. Others scalded me when I mentioned it. However, if you have anything further to say on the matter, private message me. It has nothing to do with the topic, other than to disrupt and create more havoc.

On-topic, the enforcement is going well. The staff members are continuing discussion on a few pivotal matters, and we'll discuss some more before we get the opinions of the general population. Although, you can probably guess what we're discussing, it's not that difficult :p

Alcar...

Respect other members

Wha...?
But what if someone is being a right dickhead, surely we have the right to tell him in a unneccessarily harsh manner?

You can. Although, harsh words using mean the other person will respond in an even harsher manner. Usually it's best to tell them, but also contribute to the topic at hand. Sort of a split post, one telling the member, and one continuing the actual thread topic.

Although it usually gets very messy once someone tells someone what he's / she's done wrong. Then it ends up in one huge argument, and then, etc, etc.

Alcar...

Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

You see I reserved comment on this matter as I thought "Hmmmm... we'll give the young Peter a chance." But after the rash closing of the spam thread and the mindless deleting of posts which go against his opinion in this very thread... I am very sorry to say that as I thought this is being taken to the nth.... and even those who posted here intially in agreement with the new strategy have posted comments to the contrary in light of the sam thread closure...

Not a popular move Alcar.

What mindless, contradictory deleting of posts are you talking about, ClaireBear? I've only seen posts removed which are themselves mindless.

The...er... posts that suggest that those "members" who are in agreement with Peter over this issue are "ass lickers and kisses"... I think that although a childish format was making a valid point!!!

Hmmm, if that's a valid point, it's a somewhat short-sighted one. Unfortunately, outside of GD and the Spoiler Forum I don't have the ability to see the content of posts that were deleted, so I have to trust that they were of unsatisfactory nature. One point would be that they are offensive, another that they are directed at just one person.

But in reply to whoever said those things, I'm sure whoever was accussed can see the logic behind the rules and what we're doing, and wouldn't be so petty as to enthrall favour with someone on a fan-based Forum.

The problem with having such stiff rules on spam is that our last three posts are by this forums definition spam!!!!

You addressed me directly I answered you directly.. messages for one member are spam are they not? So by such a definition normal, deviating conversation is a warnable offense? :confused:

Actually, the posts you are referring to which are supposedly spam, aren't, because they contribute to the discussion at hand. While Max is asking you a question, he's asking you to clarify something intended to promote this thread.

Does anyone have anything constructive to say. A perfect example of contributing is Mac's last post in this thread. Otherwise, you're just moaning with the same old content.

Alcar...

Giving the topic a brief instant of contemplating, I thought maybe the rules were unclear or ambiguous, so I went up and checked. Truthfully, I was surprised by how coherent they were regarding the 'addressing only one member' concept.

Then I looked again and saw there is indeed an element of confusion there.

If your thread and / or post are relevant to only one member, use the Private Message system to contact them instead. Threads and / or posts directed solely to one member are considered spam, and will be dealt with in the same manner as spam.

The first part makes it clear that it is only posts that are relevant to one person that should be kept off the Forum. Then later it says that posts directed at one person are spam. While your post was directed at me, it was relevant to all who read this thread. So the upshot of all this is that (hopefully) we've begun to clear up that little matter.

Good pick-up Max :)

I've modified the rule in question to make it clearer, so that it now states:

If your thread and / or post are relevant to only one member, use the Private Message system to contact them instead. Threads and / or posts that fit this criteria are considered spam, and will be dealt with in the same manner as spam.

Alcar...

Law enforcment? Cack. I should say well done to Alcar then I suppose.

DI has got a point. When Syd did this everyone went apeshit. Now Alcar acts completely draconian deleting posts left and right and everyone just bends over and takes it without lubrication? Un freaking believable!

80% of the people here weren't even around when Sydney was here. You can't compare the two at all, it's an entirely different group of people.

Yes, as Mac explained, the demographics of the Oddworld Forums at this point in time are completely different. So you can't expect the same responses. However, one major point you've overlooked, Statikk, is that back then, hardly anyone actually spammed. There was the occasional newbie, who was set straight very quickly, but other than that, not much in the way of rule breaking.

However. There is a lot of rule breaking and spamming now.

Alcar...

However. There is a lot of rule breaking and spamming now.

Alcar...

And the problem with that is?

I still don't get it you know... does it cause anyone pain, suffering etc etc etc... no!

But as I said before... the demographics must have changed here... there seems to be a Hell of a lot more younger posters here who probably don't understand what the Hells going on having perhaps not posted in other forums a great deal to compare your "regime" to theirs or maybe too scared to oppose your "views"...

It appears to be the older members (me, Statikk, Nate) that are having difficulty with this.

Basically spam commeth with immaturity... but your regime cometh with an obsessive, excessive attempt at maturity... the two shall never lie down well together!

Spam is related to immaturity? You've been one of the worst offendors in the past. The only thing that comes with age is stubbornness to see your own contradictions.

Who does it hurt? It hurts all of us in the end, when there is nothing but spam to reply to. Who else? Oddworld Inhabitants. I've said it many times, and I'll say it again. The Oddworld Forums have a duty to Oddworld Inhabitants. We are, actually a great promoting ground for the Oddworld series. Not only that, but we have many fansites that are prominent in the Oddworld Forums community.

We earn nothing from Oddworld Inhabitants. We do this because we want to. Which means we have a cause, other than greed. And you've got to contend with both Abe Babe's and I's passion. We aren't going to do anything that jeopardises the Oddworld Forums. And we see spamming / rule breaking something that could jeopardise them.

Alcar...

Spamming is mostly cause by Old threads/Resolved threads.If someone has something on thier mind but its too little/dumb to make a thread about it they can't resist talking about it.We may be good at promoting OW alcar but half of the people who come to the forums are stuck on the game so they just ask ''Hey blabla how do you complete it?'' and once its answered they are gone.These extreme rules dont help either.For example once a thread is resolved and it isnt closed yet.People will begin the ''spamming'' with a conversation.That is why I don't see why a I got a warning for saying ''Yes you are my irish cousin'' on a resolved thread which STILL isnt closed.The fact most of us actually speak like that in real life with changing the topic constantly that is how we act on the internet.Almost everyone does it.And if you have noticed why is it always the 11/14 year odls who are getting warnings?I have 2 warnings.Smell had 1 warning.And brewmaster is on a 1 week ban.I know BM did spam allot so that's understandable but this rule ''enforcement'' is more like ''Do this or else we'll ban you''.Its too strict.and if people keep getting warnings the way they are now half os the members who bother to come on shall be banned....

Spam is related to immaturity? You've been one of the worst offendors in the past. The only thing that comes with age is stubbornness to see your own contradictions.

Hmmmmm... really I think my absolute lack of warnings for such begs to differ... under MY definition of spam... people posting in MEET (or whatever it is) posting random pictures, advertising, etc.... then I have done none of that!

Who does it hurt? It hurts all of us in the end, when there is nothing but spam to reply to. Who else? Oddworld Inhabitants. I've said it many times, and I'll say it again. The Oddworld Forums have a duty to Oddworld Inhabitants. We are, actually a great promoting ground for the Oddworld series. Not only that, but we have many fansites that are prominent in the Oddworld Forums community.

Well here's the actual clincher... you will actually find little to no spam even spam of your definition (anything that doesn't stick rigidly and anally to topic :rolleyes:) in the OddWorld boards and threads... The only "spam" by yours and mty definition is found in the off-topic... how that would effect OWH... I dunno?

We earn nothing from Oddworld Inhabitants. We do this because we want to. Which means we have a cause, other than greed. And you've got to contend with both Abe Babe's and I's passion. We aren't going to do anything that jeopardises the Oddworld Forums. And we see spamming / rule breaking something that could jeopardise them.

Why bring Abe Babe into this?

You don't see her running around closing this, deleting that, posting grandiose reminders on "The rules"...

I personally see this as a one man crusade...

Cyber-Slig, we don't close threads, because there is no need to close mass hordes of threads. If members obeyed the rules properly, most threads would never have to be closed. And, by posting in a dead thread where the thread has been answered is considered spam. Because you're posting for no reason at all.

There was a lot of spam in General Discussion. Just ask the Moderators of the said forum. As for our duty to Oddworld Inhabitants, that duty means keeping the entire forums in tact. One forum (in this case Off-Topic) allowed to go rampant can have a serious affect on the entire forums. We have the rules to protect each forum, and each member. These rules are applied to all forums.

Why bring Abe Babe into this?

You don't see her running around closing this, deleting that, posting grandiose reminders on "The rules"...

I personally see this as a one man crusade...

I didn't bring Abe Babe into this. I merely mentioned that she and I have the same passion for Oddworld. Not only that, but we share common ideas and opinions about matters such as these. The reason she hasn't been very active, is because up until a day or two ago, she was away at an Anime Convention.

One man crusade? I have the backing of every Moderator who has posted in this thread, bar one. As well as that, I've got members who believe this is the right thing as well. The actual truth is, that it is the same minority of members who disagree. Personally, I see your retaliation as a one woman, same small group opposition. It's been like that through most arguments too.

Alcar...

Common ideas and opinions maybe but I think your beliefs on implementation differ greatly!!!!!!

I actually have never seen her comment on the spamming in the open board or threaten to "really enforce the rules" since I logged on here! Even though this isn't the first time you've had problems with spamming!

So I think you're bringing Abe Babe into this as justification for your own personal rampage... thats how I see it and I'm sure I'm not alone in my assumption. Your presentation is quite clear even if it is not the case!

One man crusade? I have the backing of every Moderator who has posted in this thread, bar one. As well as that, I've got members who believe this is the right thing as well. The actual truth is, that it is the same minority of members who disagree. Personally, I see your retaliation as a one woman, same small group opposition. It's been like that through most arguments too.

Its not the mods that you need backing from its the average joes... the bread and butter posters!!!!!

At the moment there's a, as you say minority devide and as Confucius say "A happy forum that won't make"

I made my opinions on this forums ridiculously thorough and binding rules quite clear when I first registered here... my opinions haven't changed... therefore I will continue to voice them if and when the need arises I merely decided to stay... I have actually not moderated my posting style either... the only thing I no longer do is double post!!!

You don't have to be so graphic mate. I feel sick now. What happened to Syd anyway? I heard Alcar banned her after she made him into a super mod.

Lucifer, Sydney and others left the Forums because their interests grew away from Oddworld. No point in sticking about an Oddworld Forum if you're not an Oddworld fan.

It appears to be the older members (me, Statikk, Nate) that are having difficulty with this.

And it's the even older members that believe this is a good thing.

ClaireBear, it looks to me as if you're the one who has now brought Abe Babe into this. Alcar already said that his mentioning of her was regarding devotion for Oddworld, but it's you who is now saying that Abe Babe has had no word in the matter, as if that's some kind of arguement against the Rules Enforcement.

Its not the mods that you need backing from its the average joes... the bread and butter posters!!!!!

Is that supposed to imply that my worthiness as a poster on these boards is irrelevent? Because I can assure you I get sickened by the spam on these Forums, and it's not just the mods, other members do agree. It has already been noted that the opposition here are a somewhat small band, and it is my own observation that for the large part these people are falling out of their love for Oddworld, meaning they cannot share the same passion for which the Admin are basing their actions on. But it doesn't take an Oddworld fan to see that levels of spam are rising. It was one foul trudge through the Welcomes and Birthdays Forum that brought to my attention the disgraceful levels of off-topic and downright nasty posts that were going about.

It's been said before that the Mods weren't doing their jobs. Suddenly we are and the complaining starts from a different angle. Yes I know the two groups are the same, but if it's all the same with you I'd rather do my job and keep the boards clean of spam. This isn't so much as a crackdown but a kick in the pants for the mods and admin, and a reminder to everyone that we're doing our duty once again.

And it's the even older members that believe this is a good thing.

No daftie! :rolleyes:

I mean I'm 8 years older than you... Nate is 6 and Statikk that guy could be as old as the hills...

The older you get, the more relaxed you become surrounding issues of rules and regulations. Its like a kinda "wait! I'm not in school no more!" kinda realisation! Not just with forums but with life in general... you will slowly begin to bend and manipulate rules and regs you encounter in everyday life to suit your own personal morality forged after x y z years... its a commonality!

ClaireBear, it looks to me as if you're the one who has now brought Abe Babe into this. Alcar already said that his mentioning of her was regarding devotion for Oddworld, but it's you who is now saying that Abe Babe has had no word in the matter, as if that's some kind of arguement against the Rules Enforcement.

Please read carefully...

Which means we have a cause, other than greed. And you've got to contend with both Abe Babe's and I's passion. We aren't going to do anything that jeopardises the Oddworld Forums. And we see spamming / rule breaking something that could jeopardise them.

Now to me that reads like Peter is suggesting that she is in agreement with his methods of enforcing the rules.

I raise this issue as although I agree that forums should have an AUP.. I repeat for the terminally stoopid...I think rules concerning posters conduct is necessary but I also think that this forum's is far far too stringent and that Alcar's mrthods of "enforcement" would be better suited in Nazi occupied Poland!

That is my point... I am pointing out Abe Babes silence as perhaps her waying of staying out of something she doesn't condone!

No what I'm saying is that Peter using the "the mods agree with me card" is the same as Hitler saying "Himler and Gerbles think the same way too!" Of course mods will comply with a need for less spamming that exactly why they became mods!!!! We need to see which average posters agree with Alcars excessive methods!

It's been said before that the Mods weren't doing their jobs. Suddenly we are and the complaining starts from a different angle. Yes I know the two groups are the same, but if it's all the same with you I'd rather do my job and keep the boards clean of spam. This isn't so much as a crackdown but a kick in the pants for the mods and admin, and a reminder to everyone that we're doing our duty once again.

Bulls**t its not what you do but how you do it... posting a HUUUUGE reminder and handing out bans and warnings in hignsight is nothing more than shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted....

what should have happened was a quiet private discussion between alcar and the rest of the mods to tighten their belts implemented without the general posting public aware of the change... as it is we now know that Smell and Smitz have a warning and Brew has been banned! Which actually is stated in the rules somewhere... lengthy that they are.. :rolleyes:

I mean I'm 8 years older than you... Nate is 6 and Statikk that guy could be as old as the hills...

A simple misunderstanding. I have been a member of these Forums for longer than you. I thought that you yourself were alluding to your own party being here longer than our supporters.

Now to me that reads like Peter is suggesting that she is in agreement with his methods of enforcing the rules.

Read what you will, but that's not what Alcar said. He said Abe Babe shares a passion for Oddworld, will not allow the Forums to become jeopardised, and sees breaking the rules as just such a thing. You've still brought Abe Babe into this by your suggestion that she does not support our method. If she doesn't support our method, she will have said something on the matter.

Bulls**t its not what you do but how you do it... posting a HUUUUGE reminder and handing out bans and warnings in hignsight is nothing more than shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted....

So you're saying that we shouldn't have reminded the Forum members of the rules, and let them continue spamming unaware of our 'crackdown'... which have lead to even more spamming, even more warnings, and maybe even more banning. Warnings were not handed out in hindsight - they were only issued to members who broke the rules after the reminder was posted.

And your comparisons to Nazi occupation are ridiculous. The staff here do not go about seizing control of other Forums, kill their members and use their remains for our own gain. We are not a country or a political party, we are a discussion Forums that does not tolerate spam. If you want to use political ideas in your arguements, then you are the one who has just suggested swift decisive action and punishment without the public's knowledge.

And I had 2 warnings in instantly in one day CB...Anyway CB and Max I think you should PM this.Then try alcar and then we shall all know the come of it...

If you want to use political ideas in your arguements, then you are the one who has just suggested swift decisive action and punishment without the public's knowledge.

Yeeees! But we would all know about it eventually when our mates PM us to let us know they've been slapped with a warning!