Request for comment. Forum Rules Draft DocumentFollow

Hmm, I have seen quite a few of these around, not gonna quote them, tho, but what is the reprimand for posting one of these? Will the admin lock the thread, nuke it, ban the user(s) who started/abused it? Just curious because the rule isn't actually explicit.

P.S. I was hereby gonna request the actual changelog, but just noticed this is the initial draft 1.0.0. (Didn't we have forum rules already?)

Edited, Apr 30th 2008 1:01am by OmegaVegito

I'm not sure if this would be the right thread for it, but this seems an opportune time to once again request the reenabling of embedded [img] tags in posts for the masses. Apply rules with similar verbiage to that used for avatar images ({"...must not exceed PG-13 standards as defined by the Motion Picture Association of America. Prohibited {image} content includes, but is not limited to nudity, obscene or indecent language or visual content, animations containing sexually suggestive motions, and content that causes excess controversy. {Images} that deliberately include excessive blinking, flashing or other intentional annoyance devices are also prohibited."}) and enforce them. Standards maintenance through moderation, not hindrance.

One of your 'clarifications' under the RMT section appears to have been accidentally broken up into two bullets. The rest looks good. I'll give it a closer look when I have had more sleep.

I was aware they existed, but was under the impression that they were only enabled for admins.

Enabled for all premium users. Admins have an additional tag that doesn't show the approve box thing.

Donkey balls to no swearing rule, I mean if it is directed at someone in derogatory manner then yeah go back to rule 1 and take appropriate measures. If I say "I could give two sh'its about proposed changes to arena gear in season 4 being rating intensive" thats not really worthy of any form of moderation.

Oh and bring back numbers, think of the children (and that sh'itbag Neph)

Bringing back numbers would be cool.

It would be funny to filter "Karma" to something as well.

Edited, Apr 30th 2008 12:51am by Timelordwho

I'll have to think about that one. I agree that some signatures get annoyingly large, but im not sure where to draw the line.

* V. Uploaded Images
"All uploaded images are viewable by other site users." - for more clarity I would change this to: "All uploaded images in the "Your Images" page are viewable by other site users."


* VIII. Forum Sticky Rules
It was at this point that my attention started to flag. Stickies, while wonderful things, just don't come up in my day to day usage of the site. They are glamorous and important when they are used, but they are rarely used. So information on stickies didn't rivet my attention like the rest of the information that applied to the site as a whole, and my general conduct while on the site. If I hadn't already committed myself to making this feedback post, I probably would have stopped reading at the stickies section.

I know that the "XV. Administrator decision appeals process" section makes a wonderful conclusion to the Forum Rules, but I seriously advise you to consider removing the Stickies section from section number 8, and bumping it all the way down to the end.


* X. Karma
For new users of the site, under "X. Karma" I would have: Karma-camping is not allowed.

The following two paragraphs are pretty self-explanatory of what the process of karma-camping is, even if the new user is still hazy on the concept of karma...especially since the new user has no access to the rating system themselves, and might not be scholared for a very long time. Perhaps, for further clarification, you might include the sentence: "Only posters rated at "Scholar" and above have access to the rate-post buttons." Maybe this line can go on it's own at the bottom of this section.

Also, spelling error twice in this section, it's rating not rateing.


* XIII. Ratebots
Posters might have limited technical knowledge of how the internet works. I, myself, only know about IP addresses because I have had a partner who is a programmer, and it came up in conversation one day, and he explained them to me. I think you need one more sentence in this section, for clarification for the non-techies. Sadly, because I'm a little hazy on the details, I can't suggest with confidence a good and correct sentence, but I'll give it a try.

I would shape this section this way:
"Creating a secondary account for the purpose of bolstering your own karma, bypassing a norate flag, or doubling your rate capability on others is considered creating a ratebot. Ratebots will be removed. If you happen to have two people sharing an IP address, please inform a moderator so no misunderstandings occur. Accounts sharing an IP address should never rate each other up.

Computers hooked into the internet from the same street address or organization are likely to share the same IP address. People living together or working together should never rate each other up, unless they have predetermined that their accounts do not share IP addresses."



* Generally speaking: reading "Forum Rules" might be as appealing as reading a TOS to most people. Under the major heading of Allakhazam Forum Rules, I would have this sentence: "Taking ten minutes to read the forum rules could save you much annoyance or grief later."

Also: I liked reading the column of grey panels. It was a LOT less intimidating than reading a Wall Of Text like most TOSs usually are. I could also see at a glance that most sections were very short, which was an encouragement to keep reading, in the expectation that the whole wouldn't take very long. Also there was something about the format of the grey panels that made it all "nice" or "easy" to read.

Have you considered also putting the introduction and table of contents in a grey panel each? would it look better, or is it better as it is?

Anyway, congratulations you all on a job well done. Everything was straightforward, easy to read, succinct and complete. I had very little to argue against, it all seems perfectly reasonable.

(my only little "awwwwwww" moment is that I'm quite fond of reading quote pyramids myself. I think they are most amusing in and of themselves.)

Edited, Apr 30th 2008 1:28am by Aripyanfar

Out of curiosity, will these rules be strictly enforced in all forums (including the Asylum)?

I like, it's clear and simple.

Just one suggestion:

Will you have people, when they create a new account, have to click a button saying that he or she accepts these rules before they are allowed to post?

Honestly, I think this section deserves more attention:



As far as the OOT forum is concerned, a lot of people post there with the intention of avoiding getting blasted in their respective game forum for an off-topic post, and get blasted anyway. There's too much of a pack mentality and I find that innocent newbs are often ridiculed for invalid reasons, something which may or may not drive them away from the site entirely.

So it only took you like what, 7 years to draft up some clear, concise rules? Bravo I say.