We don't have any official rules posted yet so we thought we would draft some and give you guys an opportunity for feedback before they become official. Your comments, good, bad or ugly, are welcome.
1. This is not a bastion for your civil liberties. You should have no expectation of freedom of speech or an infallible right to post. You are our guest. We expect you to respect our rules. We reserve the right to exclude or limit you at our whim for any or no reason whatsoever.
2. Do not break the law. Any material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where The Blue Cashew is hosted or International Law will result in loss your post and possibly of posting privileges. This includes hate speech, threats, child porn, copyright material without permission, etc.
3. Posting personal, private or identifying information about another poster is prohibited. We encourage you not to share information from private message as a measure of good taste.
4. Posts containing pornographic, gory or gross content, images or links are prohibited. Posting such material could result in loss of posting privileges. What constitutes as pornographic, gory and gross is what we say is pornographic, gory and gross. Admins have a weak stomach.
5. If we believe your intention here is to be irritating, obnoxious or make the board less fun for others we will limit or revoke your posting privileges.
6. Spammers and disruptive trolls will be given the boot. The definition of spam is an irrelevant or advertising post and a spammer is the person who posts spam. A troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages on a forum with the deliberate intent of disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
7. Please stick to one account. We don't need 10 versions of you when one will do. That said, if you want to create another account for shits and giggles by all means do so but if you are doing it to troll, it will be removed.
8. Although you remain responsible for the content you post, we reserve the right to delete or edit text from your posts for any or no reason whatsoever.
9. Please do not backseat moderate. Nothing is more annoying than someone who sits there telling admins what to do. If you have a comment or suggestion please PM it to an admin and where we can ignore it without an audience. That said, from time to time, we will ask you or your opinion or perhaps give it to you depending on our mood.
10. Admins and moderators will enforce rules based on the severity and frequency of the offense. Punishment will range from warnings to restricted posting privileges to permanent banning and everything in between.
I'd give some constructive criticism but I don't want to be seen as a backseat moderater ac_biggrin .
See "from time to time we will ask for your opinion". This is that time :)
Looks good RW.
:smiley_thumbs_up_yellow_ani:
You want my opinion....here it is and please excuse my frankness....
You sound like a complete tyrant.
No offense but the way these rules are worded, it makes this place look completely uninviting. For example....telling potential members that their posts are subject to removal or editing for no reason other than.....
I thought I was being funny. Well, I actually borrowed these from all sorts of sources but I'll take another look at it from a tyrannical dickhead perspective.
Quote from: "RW"
Let's put it this way....if I recognize the dickhead/tyrant factor.....it's pretty bad. :laugh3:
It's supposed to be more BOFH - like sarcastic asshole but maybe I didn't take it far enough or maybe I took it too far.
Thanks Renee :)
Quote from: "RW"
1. This is not a bastion for your civil liberties. You should have no expectation of freedom of speech or an infallible right to post. You are our guest. We expect you to respect our rules. We reserve the right to exclude or limit you at our whim for any or no reason whatsoever.
2. Do not break the law. Any material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where The Blue Cashew is hosted or International Law will result in loss your post and possibly of posting privileges. This includes hate speech, threats, child porn, copyright material without permission, etc.
3. Posting personal, private or identifying information about another poster is prohibited. We encourage you not to share information from private message as a measure of good taste.
4. Posts containing pornographic, gory or gross content, images or links are prohibited. Posting such material could result in loss of posting privileges. What constitutes as pornographic, gory and gross is what we say is pornographic, gory and gross. Admins have a weak stomach.
5. If we believe your intention here is to be irritating, obnoxious or make the board less fun for others we will limit or revoke your posting privileges.
6. Spammers and disruptive trolls will be given the boot. The definition of spam is an irrelevant or advertising post and a spammer is the person who posts spam. A troll is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages on a forum with the deliberate intent of disrupting normal on-topic discussion.
7. Please stick to one account. We don't need 10 versions of you when one will do. That said, if you want to create another account for shits and giggles by all means do so but if you are doing it to troll, it will be removed.
8. Although you remain responsible for the content you post, we reserve the right to delete or edit text from your posts for any or no reason whatsoever.
9. Please do not backseat moderate. Nothing is more annoying than someone who sits there telling admins what to do. If you have a comment or suggestion please PM it to an admin and where we can ignore it without an audience. That said, from time to time, we will ask you or your opinion or perhaps give it to you depending on our mood.
10. Admins and moderators will enforce rules based on the severity and frequency of the offense. Punishment will range from warnings to restricted posting privileges to permanent banning and everything in between.
Not exactly the welcome mat is it RW.
Are rules supposed to be?
Quote from: "RW"
Are you trying to be uninviting?
I thought they could be countered by your warm personality.
Quote from: "RW"
:laugh:
Okay, I have taken in consideration your feedback and done a second cut. Please let me know what you think.
Welcome to The Blue Cashew. We are so glad to see you here and look forward to your insightful contributions to our board. While here, we ask that you please respect a few simple, straightforward rules so we can all enjoy our time here.
1. Like all moderated forums, you should have no expectation of infallible freedom of speech or an irrevocable right to post. Although you remain responsible for the content you post, we reserve the right to exclude or limit your posting abilities as necessary to maintain harmonious discourse on our board.
2. Please do not break the law. Any material that may violate any laws be it of your country, the country where The Blue Cashew is hosted or International Law will result in removable of offending posts and possible loss your post and possibly of posting privileges. This includes hate speech, threats, blackmail, child pornography, posting copyright material without permission, etc.
3. Anonymity on discussion forums is important to many posters. Posting personal, private or identifying information (PI) about another poster is strictly prohibited. We also encourage you not to share information from private message as a measure of good taste.
4. Posts containing pornographic, gory or gross content, images or links is not allowed. We ask if you are going to post material that is questionable for purposes of contextual discussion or for artistic purposes that you please provide a link to the image with a disclaimer rather than posting the image itself.
5. If we believe your intention is to be irritating, obnoxious or make the board less fun for others we will limit or revoke your posting privileges.
6. Spamming is prohibited.
7. If you are going to troll, please do so in the Reject Rodeo section of our board. The creation of sockpuppet accounts or impersonating other posters is discouraged. Creating alts to circumvent bans or account restrictions will result in the accounts being deactivated and a ban issued or extended.
8. Please respect our moderators and administration staff while doing their forum duties. They are volunteers and don't get paid enough to take abuse from posters for doing a service to the board.
9. From time to time a circumstance will arise that we find unacceptable but is not outlined in these rules. The administrators and moderators will discuss the issue and decide on an appropriate course of action to be taken.
10. Admins and moderators will enforce rules based on the severity and frequency of the offense. Punishment will range from warnings to restricted posting privileges to permanent banning and everything in between.
Much better, very professional.
I like the second Draft all lot better RW/Fash
No jokes/sarcasm, straight to the point.
:smiley_thumbs_up_yellow_ani:
Condensed version.
Rule 1. Don't be a douche.
Defn; a douche is someone who posts offensive, pornographic, threatening or illegal material, or who is wilfully and deliberately disruptive and disorderly in the forum.
Rule 2. Administrators and moderators can and will, act to prevent any such conduct occurring. They may choose to remove offensive material, and restrict posting privileges of douches as they see fit.
Simple really.
As we know from the other forum, rules don't mean much. They are open to the whims of the admins/mods.
Come on Shen. Do I look like the kind of person who would twist rules to mean all sorts of crazy things???
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Moreso the proprietor.
Hey! Fuck you!
:D
Quote from: "RW"
Whether I think anyone is a nutjob or not is besides the point. The admins/mods of every forum I have been on interpret the rules as they see fit.
Which is why they are pointless.
Which is why my "rules" are better.
Your rules eh? I came up with that too!
There are certain things hat should be laid out but no one looks at them anyway so they kind of just a formality. There will always be situations that arise that rules don't cover.
I'll also likely do up a mod guide as well for consistency.
AGH!!!
This is NOT a government statutory authority.
You do not NEED this level of control, because we are a small and close knit community.
Its like a family appointing a sheriff...silly.
Come and talk to me when you understand the legalities of forum moderation.
Until then, don't worry about some rules tucked away in some link that no one reads.
"For the most part, though, forum owners and moderators in the United States are protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which states that "[n]o provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."
Lighten up.
UNLESS the space is moderated.
My husband did this for a living when he was working in the US so don't lecture me on this stuff.
Not to mention we are in Canada.
I thought and correct me if I'm wrong. The rules are there for
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Quote from: "Keeper"
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Exactly, they are there so the administration can point to the rules when some douche acts out...gets slapped for their poor behavior and then has the unmitigated gall to complain that their posting rights (whatever they are :laugh3: ) are being violated.
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "Keeper"
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Exactly, they are there so the administration can point to the rules when some douche acts out...gets slapped for their poor behavior and then has the unmitigated gall to complain that their posting rights (whatever they are :laugh3: ) are being violated.
Mel Gibson?
Quote from: "Herman"
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "Keeper"
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Exactly, they are there so the administration can point to the rules when some douche acts out...gets slapped for their poor behavior and then has the unmitigated gall to complain that their posting rights (whatever they are :laugh3: ) are being violated.
Mel Gibson?
Yes but fuck heads in general
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "Keeper"
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Exactly, they are there so the administration can point to the rules when some douche acts out...gets slapped for their poor behavior and then has the unmitigated gall to complain that their posting rights (whatever they are :laugh3: ) are being violated.
Exactly.
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "Keeper"
1. To protect and moderate the people on the forum
2. To protect the forum owners.
For example, How would a new user know that swearing or racial slurs are not allowed if they are not listed in the forum rules.
Just sayin
Exactly, they are there so the administration can point to the rules when some douche acts out...gets slapped for their poor behavior and then has the unmitigated gall to complain that their posting rights (whatever they are :laugh3: ) are being violated.
Newsflash.
Nobody has posting "rights". People post at the whim of the forum owner.
Thus no "rights" can be violated. If the poster is not acceptable to the code of conduct required, the owner simply removes the posting privileges.
Thus, rules are redundant and unnecessary, if not the sign of anal retention.
The genesis of forum mayhem, Consumption Junction, only had one rule. What the mod says, goes.
Did your Heat forum not have rules?
Do you think TBC compares to CJ in any fundamental way?
Damn near every forum has rules/guidelines. Are we THAT special as to not need them?
I do not have retention issues. Thank you for your concern.
I didn't say you did. You're just mimicking the anal retentive techniques of a thousand other forums.
In my view, "forum rules" are more about the proprietor trying to demonstrate how managerial they are than to serve any suitable purpose.
It's just something to point to when some asshole can't behave himself despite being a fucking grown up.
Do the rest of you feel we should have a rule set or just have nothing?
We have what...eight or ten committed members, and a few occassionals?
We need rules to tell us how to interact? Seriously?
The ONLY issue that causes grief is the problems created by Mel and Odinson, who wilfully and maliciously do all they can to disrupt the forum.
You do not need rules to kick them out, and keep them out.
ALL we need is the owners/moderators to work together towards a common understanding of forum etiquette, and then rely on the judgment of those people to use sense and discretion in managing posts, posters and threads.
If moderators require a set of legislative tomes which actually do NOTHING to stop the pests from gathering (in fact give them a shield to hide behind..."I ain't broke no rules") then there is something wrong. I expect that mature, reasonable and sensible adults have the capacity to exercise reasonable judgment...and so far, I have no reason to believe they generally cannot.
There are easily implementable adjustments that can be made to prevent these nuisances from constantly registering and creating childish mayem, viz;
24 cool off period for registration.
Members cannot start a thread until they have either been approved by the mods, or reach a certain number of posts, or both.
Where a new registration is received, ENQUIRE as to where the new member is from, how they found us, and what they are looking for in a forum.
There are others.
Throwing up a set of commandments because you don't have the plums to BAN those fucktards is ludicrous.
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
We need rules to tell us how to interact? Seriously?
The ONLY issue that causes grief is the problems created by Mel and Odinson, who wilfully and maliciously do all they can to disrupt the forum.
You do not need rules to kick them out, and keep them out.
ALL we need is the owners/moderators to work together towards a common understanding of forum etiquette, and then rely on the judgment of those people to use sense and discretion in managing posts, posters and threads.
If moderators require a set of legislative tomes which actually do NOTHING to stop the pests from gathering (in fact give them a shield to hide behind..."I ain't broke no rules") then there is something wrong. I expect that mature, reasonable and sensible adults have the capacity to exercise reasonable judgment...and so far, I have no reason to believe they generally cannot.
There are easily implementable adjustments that can be made to prevent these nuisances from constantly registering and creating childish mayem, viz;
24 cool off period for registration.
Members cannot start a thread until they have either been approved by the mods, or reach a certain number of posts, or both.
Where a new registration is received, ENQUIRE as to where the new member is from, how they found us, and what they are looking for in a forum.
There are others.
Throwing up a set of commandments because you don't have the plums to BAN those fucktards is ludicrous.
One of the two you mentioned was given a one week time out.
Why?
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
The usual reasons.
Because she used her all mighty judgement even without the implementation of rules. That's what you want isn't it? Moderators using their own sense to mod this place without guidelines or restrictions?
I guess that would make the answer "because she did". End of discussion, n'est-ce pas?
Then I would suggest that the mod/admin who made that decision did not act in the best interest of the forum.
No rules will change that mindset.
That's all good and well but what was asked was your feedback on the rules not on the judgement calls of admins.
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
No rules will change that mindset.
I feel I did.
I concur.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
No rules will change that mindset.
I feel I did.
Then you did.
Its your popsicle stand, and if you're happy you made the right call, then you made the right call. Whether I agree with it or not is utterly insignificant.
Quote from: "RW"
There are certain things hat should be laid out but no one looks at them anyway so they kind of just a formality. There will always be situations that arise that rules don't cover.
I'll also likely do up a mod guide as well for consistency.
I think you came up with this one too. It still makes me laugh. :laugh:
Quote
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
No rules will change that mindset.
I feel I did.
Then you did.
Its your popsicle stand, and if you're happy you made the right call, then you made the right call. Whether I agree with it or not is utterly insignificant.
Agreed, but so is sending the person in question away for a week. If he's not begging for attention here, he'll do it elsewhere.
Quote from: "easter bunny"
Quote from: "RW"
There are certain things hat should be laid out but no one looks at them anyway so they kind of just a formality. There will always be situations that arise that rules don't cover.
I'll also likely do up a mod guide as well for consistency.
I think you came up with this one too. It still makes me laugh. :laugh:
Quote
Sounds like something I'd say hahahaha
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
No rules will change that mindset.
I feel I did.
Then I think you owe it to those who contribute positively to this place to explain why, in your judgment, the ongoing presence of this deranged clown is in the best interests of the forum.
You and everyone else post here on my dime and through the efforts of Fash and I and you have the gall to say we are indebted to you in some way?
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
Is that so?
Well, no...you don't owe me a debt. I cannot recall where I actually said you did.
What you do owe me is a reason that I should stay and contribute, rather than go elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you feel that no such justification is required, perhaps you should return to Van, where you'd feel more at home...oh, wait...you can't.
See, Vesna held the contemptible view that she could act without concern or consideration of her members.
See where that got her?
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
Well, no...you don't owe me a debt. I cannot recall where I actually said you did.
What you do owe me is a reason that I should stay and contribute, rather than go elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you feel that no such justification is required, perhaps you should return to Van, where you'd feel more at home...oh, wait...you can't.
See, Vesna held the contemptible view that she could act without concern or consideration of her members.
See where that got her?
I think it was more because she actually perpetuated bad blood within the membership by saying all sorts of heinous things to posters. I could be wrong but considering she's still doing it a year later to the same people who aren't even there any more, but I doubt I am.
Having learned a bit from her moderating mistakes, we have put the rejects up in one corner of the forum out of
Once again, we don't owe you a reason as to why you should keep posting here. That's for you to decide for yourself but I think we've tried to be pretty fair and reasonable in our approach to moderating and hope you not only recognise that, but continue contributing the meaningful content we appreciate so much.
You have not answered my question.
Where is the benefit in enabling these weasels to post her at all?
You claim you owe good members no reason, yet you seem to think you owe these scoundrels a place to post. I'm still waiting for an answer to that question.
Sorry but I don't have that answer for you.
Then, before you discuss "rules" and moderation, I suggest you find the answer.
Honestly, I think people like having a couple kickballs to boot around.
Then, ask them.
Poll thread, please.
Quote from: "Mr Crowley"
If no answer is found, no fucks will be given.
Quote from: "RW"
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
:signes-smileys-emoticons174:
Even though I fully realize that you and Fash owe us nothing. I never thought I would have it slammed in my face like that.
Thanks for the learning experience. ac_unsure
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "RW"
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
:signes-smileys-emoticons174:
Even though I fully realize that you and Fash owe us nothing. I never thought I would have it slammed in my face like that.
Thanks for the learning experience. ac_unsure
It was more slammed in Crow's face. I will never shy away from keeping it real Renee and that is the reality of that reminder. When the word "owe" gets chucked in my face or Fash's face, I have no problem setting the record straight.
In no way does that mean I don't love and value you as posters. We are having this discussion because I care about what you have to say about how a place you invest your time in is run. Please keep that in mind before you get too pissed at me.
Quote from: "RW"
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "RW"
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
:signes-smileys-emoticons174:
Even though I fully realize that you and Fash owe us nothing. I never thought I would have it slammed in my face like that.
Thanks for the learning experience. ac_unsure
It was more slammed in Crow's face. I will never shy away from keeping it real Renee and that is the reality of that reminder. When the word "owe" gets chucked in my face or Fash's face, I have no problem setting the record straight.
In no way does that mean I don't love and value you as posters. We are having this discussion because I care about what you have to say about how a place you invest your time in is run. Please keep that in mind before you get too pissed at me.
No need to explain. It is what it is.
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "RW"
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "RW"
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
:signes-smileys-emoticons174:
Even though I fully realize that you and Fash owe us nothing. I never thought I would have it slammed in my face like that.
Thanks for the learning experience. ac_unsure
It was more slammed in Crow's face. I will never shy away from keeping it real Renee and that is the reality of that reminder. When the word "owe" gets chucked in my face or Fash's face, I have no problem setting the record straight.
In no way does that mean I don't love and value you as posters. We are having this discussion because I care about what you have to say about how a place you invest your time in is run. Please keep that in mind before you get too pissed at me.
No need to explain. It is what it is.
I don't think it is. I think it is me countering language, not slapping you in the face. And it's especially not me saying I don't value all of you decent folks.
I never take the rules personally, since I don't usually break them, and if I do then they probably needed to be broken. =)
And to the people who pay the rent and keep the place nice and clean..
acc_hugz
Quote from: "Renee"
Quote from: "RW"
She and I both don't owe you or any one else who posts here a damn thing. I want to be very clear about that.
:signes-smileys-emoticons174:
Even though I fully realize that you and Fash owe us nothing. I never thought I would have it slammed in my face like that.
Thanks for the learning experience. ac_unsure
OK.
Let me address this attitude. Forum proprietors too often adopt a position of "its MY forum, so fuck you". See Van at Memebee for more information.
That is, in my view, erroneous and a recipe for failure.
Forums are as dependent on their contributors as they are on their proprietors. One does not exist without the other. Proprietors, if they wish their forum to survive and grow, need to accommodate the general wishes of their contributors in terms of what sort of forum environment they prefer.
We are here on your dime...but you have a forum because of our collective dimes. Don't forget that. Otherwise...no forum.
I was countering YOUR language, not rubbing my ownership in your face. I wasn't suggesting you OWE me anything either. I understand the symbiosis of the relationship. More importantly, I RESPECT your contributions.
I know. I think it needed clarification, because Renee took umbrage when I know that wasn't your intent.