Board Rules

Board Rules
To help us all get along on these forums, and alleviate problems of people not knowing what they can, and can’t post, these guidelines are what the moderator team will use to make judgements about how they will do their job. A lot of discussion has gone into these and I thank the mod team for their time and input. No one set of guidelines is ever going to cover every circumstance, so you must be aware that the moderators will exercise their own discretion at various times. I want to make this clear; the moderators are acting as part of a team... If you have something to say about any decision made by a moderator, understand that it is endorsed by all of the moderators. We will take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for any action or decision made by any of the moderators on the DSA-Moderators team. Therefore if there is something that you are not happy about, direct it to either of the admins (Ingram or lexielab)..... We don't wish to be reading childish comments and complaints throughout the forums because you may have had a thread deleted or locked. If this happens, get over it. However, this does not mean that you may not raise issues with us, and decisions can't be reversed (though this will only be done after discussion with the mod team). We are all human, and sometimes might make a decision that might be wrong. Now for the point of this thread, the guidelines: Inappropriate Posting Behaviour These Forums are here for your assistance and enjoyment. Please help to keep them a fit place for others to visit. The following document outlines the forms of behaviour which are considered unsuitable for these Forums. Excessive Spam or otherwise unsuitable content This is an infringement that is subject to discussion between the Moderator panel before an action is taken. Basically "excessive spam" should be seen as the cumulative contents of a member's contributions to the forum. It includes: - Frequent or continued off-topic posts - Frequent or continued accusations directed at other members that their comments are "spam" or "postcount+" - Frequent or continued comments which denigrate other forum members - Frequent or continued short comments which simply indicate the message "I agree", "LOL" or similar remarks. - Frequent or continued comments of any other form which add nothing to discussions or which invite conduct in conflict with the smooth operation of the forums as a whole - Complete or almost complete failure to contribute otherwise to the forums as a whole. Action will be taken in response to this infringement only where the Moderator group as a whole agrees that it is warranted, and action taken in response to it may comprise a Warning, Temporary Ban or even Account deletion depending upon circumstances and severity. Off-Topic is the "Relax" section of the Forum Board. Off-topic remarks and general fun is permissible, but that fun has limits. Members have a responsibility to monitor their own behaviour there, not the behaviour of others. Comment about the behaviour of other forum members is not appropriate on the open forum – If you have an issue with a member then PM a moderator or admin. Complaints regarding administrative decisions that have been taken are not appropriate on the open Forum - please use the Private Message function to communicate your concerns to Administrative Staff. Multiple consecutive posts by a Forum Member are not permitted. Unless someone else has already posted, or a suitable period of time has passed since the comment was made (generally a period of at least 12 hours), additions to a comment should be made by use of the 'Edit' function. Non-permissible content is simply that which is prohibited by Forum rules and Guidelines. The following conditions apply: Obscenities The 'f' and 'c' words are expressly prohibited and are subject to a 'swear filter' which is in place. This swear filter exists to minimise extreme offensive language on the Forums. Techniques which seek to evade this filter, including the substitution of letters with asterisks or symbols, are strongly discouraged. Excessive offensive language is unacceptable regardless of the words used. Your moderators have the discretion to take action in regard to the use of obscenities should they consider it warranted. It is your responsibility to ensure they don't need to. Sexual comment and innuendo This is a difficult subject area to monitor, particularly in a community which is predominately teenagers and young men. The rules expressly prohibit content or language which is "obscene or sexual" and therefore we have to adopt a strict approach. No "smut" at all. The rule of thumb I'd suggest for making decisions about content is what I'd like to call the "Your Mum" rule: "If it would make you feel hesitant or reluctant to present it to your Mum for her to have a giggle at, then it's not good enough" Please remember, it is the Moderator viewing your post contents who must make the judgement decision. Perhaps it is his or her "Mum" you should consider before adding your comment to a discussion. Piracy Admitting to owning/downloading ROMS is not permitted on the forums and your posts will be deleted and a warning may be given. Posting links to ROMS is also not permitted and you will most certainly be given 1-2 Warnings in the one hit. Listing sources where you can acquire bootleg copies of games is also not permitted. We prefer to adopt the stance were we presume no guilt on your part. If you wish to discuss television shows/movies or games that may or may not have become available yet in the country then you may do so. However any references to how you did so will not be tolerated. We will assume you're not guilty of anything and take it no further. Racism/Intolerance/Sexism Expressions of hatred and intolerance, whether explicit or implied, are completely forbidden. Associated terms which are offensive are also completely forbidden. This includes terms which are offensively derogatory on the basis of Race, Nationality, Gender or Religion. Any such terms which are not obviously so at first sight should be deemed offensive as soon as they are objected to in a discussion, either via Post Report or via a comment made in response in the topic. It shall not be considered an excuse that the person making the comment did not see an earlier objection, regardless of whether the topic is 1 page in length or 100 pages in length. It is the forum member's responsibility to ensure that their "fun" or "jocularity" isn't hurtful or offensive to other members. Harassment Comments made expressly to denigrate, upset or annoy another forum member are prohibited, as are streams of comments between two or more particular Forum members which contain no content other than belligerent and personal remarks. Non permissible content in other forum sections A light-hearted, jocular contribution to a topic is permitted when made by a participant in that discussion, off-topic Spamming of the topic is expressly forbidden. This does not include genuine discussion which is exploring associated lines of thought and content. Topics duplicated elsewhere on the Forum Board by the topic originator are expressly forbidden. All comments in breach of Forum Rules are expressly forbidden. Infringements against these guidelines are subject to action by your Moderators. Such action may include: * Editing out of offensive portions of a post. * Removal of offending posts from open view * The issuing of Warnings or Bans * The locking of topics Should action be taken in response to breaches of these guidelines, your Moderators may, at their discretion, leave explanatory comment in the topic in question. Please do not expect to receive personal communication in relation to the editing or removal from view of all or part of a comment you have made. These guidelines are clear, and it is your responsibility to ensure that they are followed. Above all, please remember: Your presence here is valued by the Forum Community. Your post count is not. Usernames Accounts with usernames that contain anything offensive will be deleted. White Text The use of white text is ONLY to be used when hiding spoilers. Using it otherwise is not tolerated and merely serves as being an annoyance for the forum staff who have to probe every post for hidden messages. If you are found out to be using white text for hidden messages you will receive a warning.

To help us all get along on these forums, and alleviate problems of people not knowing what they can, and can’t post, these guidelines are what the moderator team will use to make judgements about how they will do their job. A lot of discussion has gone into these and I thank the mod team for their time and input. No one set of guidelines is ever going to cover every circumstance, so you must be aware that the moderators will exercise their own discretion at various times. I want to make this clear; the moderators are acting as part of a team... If you have something to say about any decision made by a moderator, understand that it is endorsed by all of the moderators. We will take FULL RESPONSIBILITY for any action or decision made by any of the moderators on the DSA-Moderators team. Therefore if there is something that you are not happy about, direct it to either of the admins (Ingram or lexielab)..... We don't wish to be reading childish comments and complaints throughout the forums because you may have had a thread deleted or locked. If this happens, get over it.

However, this does not mean that you may not raise issues with us, and decisions can't be reversed (though this will only be done after discussion with the mod team). We are all human, and sometimes might make a decision that might be wrong.

Now for the point of this thread, the guidelines:

Inappropriate Posting Behaviour

These Forums are here for your assistance and enjoyment. Please help to keep them a fit place for others to visit. The following document outlines the forms of behaviour which are considered unsuitable for these Forums.

Excessive Spam or otherwise unsuitable content

This is an infringement that is subject to discussion between the Moderator panel before an action is taken.

Basically "excessive spam" should be seen as the cumulative contents of a member's contributions to the forum. It includes:

- Frequent or continued off-topic posts
- Frequent or continued accusations directed at other members that their comments are "spam" or "postcount+"
- Frequent or continued comments which denigrate other forum members
- Frequent or continued short comments which simply indicate the message "I agree", "LOL" or similar remarks.
- Frequent or continued comments of any other form which add nothing to discussions or which invite conduct in conflict with the smooth operation of the forums as a whole
- Complete or almost complete failure to contribute otherwise to the forums as a whole.

Action will be taken in response to this infringement only where the Moderator group as a whole agrees that it is warranted, and action taken in response to it may comprise a Warning, Temporary Ban or even Account deletion depending upon circumstances and severity.

Off-Topic is the "Relax" section of the Forum Board. Off-topic remarks and general fun is permissible, but that fun has limits. Members have a responsibility to monitor their own behaviour there, not the behaviour of others.

Comment about the behaviour of other forum members is not appropriate on the open forum – If you have an issue with a member then PM a moderator or admin.

Complaints regarding administrative decisions that have been taken are not appropriate on the open Forum - please use the Private Message function to communicate your concerns to Administrative Staff.

Multiple consecutive posts by a Forum Member are not permitted. Unless someone else has already posted, or a suitable period of time has passed since the comment was made (generally a period of at least 12 hours), additions to a comment should be made by use of the 'Edit' function.

Non-permissible content is simply that which is prohibited by Forum rules and Guidelines. The following conditions apply:

Obscenities

The 'f' and 'c' words are expressly prohibited and are subject to a 'swear filter' which is in place. This swear filter exists to minimise extreme offensive language on the Forums. Techniques which seek to evade this filter, including the substitution of letters with asterisks or symbols, are strongly discouraged. Excessive offensive language is unacceptable regardless of the words used. Your moderators have the discretion to take action in regard to the use of obscenities should they consider it warranted. It is your responsibility to ensure they don't need to.

Sexual comment and innuendo

This is a difficult subject area to monitor, particularly in a community which is predominately teenagers and young men. The rules expressly prohibit content or language which is "obscene or sexual" and therefore we have to adopt a strict approach. No "smut" at all.

The rule of thumb I'd suggest for making decisions about content is what I'd like to call the "Your Mum" rule: "If it would make you feel hesitant or reluctant to present it to your Mum for her to have a giggle at, then it's not good enough"
Please remember, it is the Moderator viewing your post contents who must make the judgement decision. Perhaps it is his or her "Mum" you should consider before adding your comment to a discussion.

Piracy

Admitting to owning/downloading ROMS is not permitted on the forums and your posts will be deleted and a warning may be given. Posting links to ROMS is also not permitted and you will most certainly be given 1-2 Warnings in the one hit.

Listing sources where you can acquire bootleg copies of games is also not permitted.

We prefer to adopt the stance were we presume no guilt on your part. If you wish to discuss television shows/movies or games that may or may not have become available yet in the country then you may do so. However any references to how you did so will not be tolerated. We will assume you're not guilty of anything and take it no further.

Racism/Intolerance/Sexism

Expressions of hatred and intolerance, whether explicit or implied, are completely forbidden.

Associated terms which are offensive are also completely forbidden. This includes terms which are offensively derogatory on the basis of Race, Nationality, Gender or Religion. Any such terms which are not obviously so at first sight should be deemed offensive as soon as they are objected to in a discussion, either via Post Report or via a comment made in response in the topic. It shall not be considered an excuse that the person making the comment did not see an earlier objection, regardless of whether the topic is 1 page in length or 100 pages in length.

It is the forum member's responsibility to ensure that their "fun" or "jocularity" isn't hurtful or offensive to other members.

Harassment

Comments made expressly to denigrate, upset or annoy another forum member are prohibited, as are streams of comments between two or more particular Forum members which contain no content other than belligerent and personal remarks.

Non permissible content in other forum sections

A light-hearted, jocular contribution to a topic is permitted when made by a participant in that discussion, off-topic Spamming of the topic is expressly forbidden. This does not include genuine discussion which is exploring associated lines of thought and content.

Topics duplicated elsewhere on the Forum Board by the topic originator are expressly forbidden.

All comments in breach of Forum Rules are expressly forbidden.

Infringements against these guidelines are subject to action by your Moderators. Such action may include:

* Editing out of offensive portions of a post.
* Removal of offending posts from open view
* The issuing of Warnings or Bans
* The locking of topics

Should action be taken in response to breaches of these guidelines, your Moderators may, at their discretion, leave explanatory comment in the topic in question. Please do not expect to receive personal communication in relation to the editing or removal from view of all or part of a comment you have made. These guidelines are clear, and it is your responsibility to ensure that they are followed.

Above all, please remember:

Your presence here is valued by the Forum Community. Your post count is not.

Usernames

Accounts with usernames that contain anything offensive will be deleted.

White Text The use of white text is ONLY to be used when hiding spoilers.
Using it otherwise is not tolerated and merely serves as being an annoyance for
the forum staff who have to probe every post for hidden messages. If you are
found out to be using white text for hidden messages you will receive a warning.