New Rules - Your Input Needed

[Alcar]

Hello fellow members,

I have finally completed rewording the current rules into the new version. I've also added in some requested rules. Basically I'd like to know your feelings and opinions on the new rules.

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.

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 However, do not reply to old, outdated threads.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, expect for the primary account. In which this 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 (35480 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 60 x 60 pixels and 5 kilobytes in size. 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.

Please keep in mind that these rules are not in affect at the moment. At current, the old rules remain our source for control

Alcar...

[Hobo]

They sound good to me, but didn't you leave out the bit about 50% of your earnings must go to the moderation staff?

[oddguy]

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.

Guilty!


Anyway, that sounds like a good list of rules. I hope they are implemented and you aren't too nice like you are now, Alcar!

Another rule you might add would be certain threads that will be immediatly shut down if started. Example: New Name thread and pointless ones like that. If you give a list of annoying threads that are unnacceptable, it will really help.

-oddguy

[Wil]

Inspired by recent happenings, it might be prudent if the staff include what warning they're giving (1st, 4th etc.) to reduce confussion. I agree on oddguy's micro-rules ideas: no "What do you look like" topics besides the current one, asking simple OW questions in the Oddworld Q&A topic, et cetera.

But otherwise looks super. A bit iffy with the not bringing back old topics thing, as is the perculiar decision not to allow members to delete their own posts. I remember when the idea was first proposed, and no one agreed with it. I mustn't have been paying attention to what happened next, because... well, obviously.

[Alcar]

Originally posted by oddguy
Another rule you might add would be certain threads that will be immediatly shut down if started. Example: New Name thread and pointless ones like that. If you give a list of annoying threads that are unnacceptable, it will really help.

I kind of implemented that in the "search before you post" rule. As the rules shouldn't be specifically aimed at one or a number of threads. Such a thing would best be suited to a OWF Faq

Originally posted by Max the Mug
But otherwise looks super. A bit iffy with the not bringing back old topics thing, as is the perculiar decision not to allow members to delete their own posts. I remember when the idea was first proposed, and no one agreed with it. I mustn't have been paying attention to what happened next, because... well, obviously.

Some old threads can be revived safely, but most cannot. As they are, well, old. As for members deleting their own posts, that was a decision made before I was a Moderator. However, I like that option the way it is

Any other suggestions, peoples?

Alcar...

[The Red Muse]

Oh yes-- they're very sweet. Nice rules ya got there Petey-mah-boy, can I pat them?

[oddguy]

I think if you give someone a warning, it should pop up the words "1st Warning" next to their avatar. If the warned person wants to get rid of the embarassing title, they should be a better member. This would premote good members to be better.

-oddguy

[Alcar]

Good point oddguy. It was yesterday that I was trying something similar on the OWF vB3 test forums.

Allow me to attach an image. This image is of User Notes in vB3. It'll allow Abe Babe and I to keep track of user's much easier, and it'll act as a log of bannings / warnings / notes / etc.

Alcar...

[Mac the Janitor]

Oo, that reminds me of the old reddish OWF layout w/ Munch holding a can on the logo...

Speaking of which, would it be possible to make that layout still available? Cuz I thought it was really cool lookin'...

[oddguy]

Originally posted by Alcar
Good point oddguy. It was yesterday that I was trying something similar on the OWF vB3 test forums.

Allow me to attach an image. This image is of User Notes in vB3. It'll allow Abe Babe and I to keep track of user's much easier, and it'll act as a log of bannings / warnings / notes / etc.

Alcar...

Hmm, very cool. Are you and Abe Babe the only ones able to see this? Or are you going to make it so everybody can see it. Like an official "OWF offence" page. All the warnings and such could be displayed for everyone to see.....and if members wanted their names off the list, they would have to show some good behavior. I hope this is implemented. I think it would do nicely.

-oddguy

[Alcar]

Originally posted by Mac the Janitor
Oo, that reminds me of the old reddish OWF layout w/ Munch holding a can on the logo...

Speaking of which, would it be possible to make that layout still available? Cuz I thought it was really cool lookin'...

We could, but I'd have to seek Sydney's permission beforehand. If she decides against it, then that is her final decision. Also, that style you're seeing in that image is the Honey Bee style, not the Munch's Oddysee style

Originally posted by oddguy
Hmm, very cool. Are you and Abe Babe the only ones able to see this? Or are you going to make it so everybody can see it. Like an official "OWF offence" page. All the warnings and such could be displayed for everyone to see.....and if members wanted their names off the list, they would have to show some good behavior. I hope this is implemented. I think it would do nicely.

I'd think it'd be best if only staff members could view the user notes. In our rules it states that knowing of member bannings is illegal, so we can't exactly go against our own rules

Also, I've just completed a new style for the Oddworld Forums. It'd be most likely the Wildlife style, even though the current name is 'Creamy Goodness'. However, it's only working on the vB3 OWF at the moment.

Alcar...

[Facsimile]

I don't think stupid people will understand it. And we all know they sometimes, unfortunately find the forums.

[Joshy]

Increase signature size, i want to put in a bigger sig anyways a couple of people here has over size sig ^.^

And a rule that state that anyone name Josh should be made admin coz Josh is l33t.

[Alcar]

Stupid people don't understand them at the moment either. By warning them and redirecting them to the particular rule(s) they've broken they'll eventually learn

All members with the username Joshy will be made Supreme Administrator.

Alcar...

[Cloverfield]

Good work Peter!!! You've put a lot into writing all of those up. I'd recommend some kind of short contents up the top though, so that people can quickly view an overview of the rules, as they might get put off reading all of those.

Originally posted by Joshy
Increase signature size, i want to put in a bigger sig anyways a couple of people here has over size sig ^.^

*is guilty of an oversize sig, but is allowed to cause she's admin*

I was thinking maybe a small increase could be made, seeing we've had those sizes for a while now. But definately nothing over the width of the post area in the industrial layout, otherwise it would stretch all the time tha person posts.

Abe Babe...

[Adder]

Other than a few easily seen grammer/spelling mistakes (just run it through MSWord) I have this to say:

Taken from the rules listed above
do not reply to old, outdated threads

Um... what if you have a genuine opinion about the thread, that has not currently been posted? And how long must it be from the last post to be "outdated" ?

Taken from the rules listed above
If a member has knowledge of another member being banned, refrain from discussing his or her banning.

Not too sure about this. I haven't been able to come to a full decision on either for or against it.

Taken from the rules listed above
Registering multiple accounts will often find all accounts banned, expect for the primary account. In which this primary account will be banned temporarily.

Grammer mistake. You'd need to read it to find it as MSWord ignores this fragment. Maybe if you remove the "In which this" for just "The".

Taken from the rules listed above
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.

How will members be able to see how many warnings they currently have?
Also, how often do you expect to be giving out warnings?
(1 per every {20/50/200} members a day/week/month?)

You say no double posting. Apart from not being able to double post, I've found I can't delete my own posts if they are the last ones on a thread. Is this just me, or is there a reason for this?

Other than that, I have no large complaints about following these rules or about the restrictions that these rules imply.

I'm glad to see you've updated the signature size. My voice was heard, it would seem!

[The Red Muse]

I have good rule right here, fresh from the oven--just like you wanted it Peter :
No religious babblings.

[Joshy]

Originally posted by The Red Muse
I have good rule right here, fresh from the oven--just like you wanted it Peter :
No religious babblings.

Dammit, now i cant bag out those catholics....

Go Protestant!!! they = rox

But the main point is, i dont think it will work. Since it goes against the freedom of speech... the universal declaration of human rights by the U.N created after WWII...

But anyways, its fun watching people fight ova their religion.

[Alcar]

Originally posted by Adder
Um... what if you have a genuine opinion about the thread, that has not currently been posted? And how long must it be from the last post to be "outdated" ?

PM the people involved. Although, if the thread is really old, and the opinion is genuine, you can usually post a new thread with the opinion in it. Making it a new similar thread to the old, with newer members replying to it.

Originally posted by Adder
Not too sure about this. I haven't been able to come to a full decision on either for or against it.

That rule has been in our rules since the time of Sydney. It isn't something new. We do it to keep the forums at rest, and not have countless childish arguments spring up about such bannings. You just have to trust us I'm afraid, and if that's something people can't do, well, we do have a door marked 'exit' somewhere.

Originally posted by Adder
Grammer mistake. You'd need to read it to find it as MSWord ignores this fragment. Maybe if you remove the "In which this" for just "The".

Funnily enough I did put it through MS Word... But as you say, it didn't pick up on it, as I made all possible corrections before posting. I'll edit the file I have on my computer now, with the change.

Originally posted by Adder
How will members be able to see how many warnings they currently have?
Also, how often do you expect to be giving out warnings?
(1 per every {20/50/200} members a day/week/month?)

Members don't know how many warnings they have, unless they count each one they've recieved. Warnings are given out according to how the rules are broken, it is limited to anything.

Originally posted by Adder
You say no double posting. Apart from not being able to double post, I've found I can't delete my own posts if they are the last ones on a thread. Is this just me, or is there a reason for this?

Double posting is to cut down on spam. With vBulletin 3 installed, we'll eliminate the need for double posting with the introduction of multiple attachments per post. Again, not being able to delete a post is something that was in place in the era of Sydney. It was just realised after the port to vBulletin 2 from UBB that it had somehow been enabled, and it was once again disabled. This is to stop members from going on massive post deleting sprees.

Alcar...

[Hobo]

Originally posted by Joshy
the universal declaration of human rights by the U.N created after WWII...

A totally unrealted thing here, but any country that doesn't allow gay marriage is in breach of that declaration, because it states everyone has the right to marry. And I'm not talking about religious marriages, I mean registry office and other government run marriage facilities.

[oddguy]

Originally posted by The Red Muse
I have good rule right here, fresh from the oven--just like you wanted it Peter :
No religious babblings.

I second that motion! I'm tired of getting involved in religious debate. Don't get me wrong, I'm religious, I just prefer not to argue about it and be left alone. Anyway...I have a good idea to solve this problem, but I'm not sure you guys will go for it. How about a "Religion and Philosophy" forum. You could make it a forum by itself, or make it a sub-forum of off-topic. And...any religious stuff plauging off-topic can be moved nicely over to "Religion" without any fuss. That way, if you wanted to avoid religious babblings, you just stay clear of the "Religion and Philosopy" forum.

-oddguy

[Mac the Janitor]

All of these stupid religious arguments are pointless. You'll never be able to make someone question their religion...it's the way they're brought up. There's no point in trying to change their views.

[oddguy]

I totally agree, that's why I just stopped posting in "Gayometer". It was just a vicious circle of arguments that was going nowhere. And religion fights spoil a lot of good threads. For instance, "Gayometer" was just harmless fun(at first). It was just a goofy quiz...that's all. I wasn't offended by the quiz, since I know I'm 100% straight. Then, all of the sudden a debate starts and I see someone posting something I dissagree with, so I jumped in. Next time I'm just going to avoid all religion arguments because they are pointless.

-oddguy

[Cloverfield]

I know we wouldn't impliment the no religous debate rule, as people can talk about that kind of stuff it they wish. But I totally agree... it' really pisses me off when I see a topic go way off it's original course and turn into a religious debate.

Like the Gayometer one that OddGuy said. I went back to it to see if anyone had said anything about what I posted (as I had put a slightly funny remark), and one person had, but just after that it had turned into a massive religous debate, so it was useless to quote the person who had made a comment as the religous stuff had gone on for lots of posts

Abe Babe...

[paramiteabe]

I am with you on that this religion debate stuff thats been going on for weeks now is really being blown way out of proportion. I am like Oddguy I jump into these things and state my opinion and then it just blowes up into a religious onsomble or debate. It really has to stop and maybe a seperate religous debate might work. Thats a good idea Oddguy. It would defenilty clean that up thats for sure. Other than that the rules are fine for me.

Paramiteabe...

[Facsimile]

You can't really talk PA, half of the time you start them, like the Gayometer one.

[paramiteabe]

Big deal I said what I believe whats good for me not you for me and everybody gets all bent out of shape here.
I think I will just keep my mouth shut and avoid it completely. That is probabaly the most smartest thing I said all week!

[Joshy]

Why dont we make a thread called religious thread and sticky it... so everyone can post their religious opionion in it.

[oddguy]

I have an idea for GD. Every month someone starts a "OW updated" thread, then it's quickly forgotten. Instead of creating a new thread everytime, how about make an "Important: OW Updated" sticky thread, so that when the new month of info comes, a new thread doesn't have to be created every month.

-oddguy

[Facsimile]

Or you could just make one, and bump it every month. Surely something like that wouldn't be looked down on? There are to many Importants.