by Emufarmers » July 22nd, 2007, 11:00 am
I'm calling these "guidelines" rather than "rules," simply because I'm only in charge here insofar as the site and forums are concerned, and because I think people will appreciate suggestions more than dictates.
1. Remember that we're all humans here: You don't have to be friends with or even like everybody, but you must treat others with respect. It's ok to disagree with someone, and it's ok to make your disagreement known, but don't be unnecessarily harsh or cruel.
2. Keep things reasonable: Signatures shouldn't be so large that they stretch the page, nor so garish that they distract from the post. There are limits on image sizes, but don't try to get around them. Avoid unnecessary colors, smilies, links, or formatting in your posts. All those things have uses, but they can also be disruptive if misused. No obnoxious or irritating avatars.
3. Listen to staff: Don't make a scene. If a moderator or administrator tells you to do or not do something, you should comply. If you disagree, then say so in a private message (not in a post). If you can't resolve the issue with a given moderator, or if you feel he or she is treating you unfairly, PM an administrator. You can PM any administrator at any time, but remember that DarnYak would probably prefer not to get involved in personal disputes—I would contact him for such matters only as a last resort.
4. Remember that we [try to] treat everybody equally. If you're in the clan, don't use that to bully outsiders, and if you're a shaman, don't bully clan members with your status.
5. Remember that people outside the clan visit these forums: We don't want to make a bad impression on visitors.
6. Don't do something just to try to get around these guidelines: They're intentionally elastic and short. Don't take advantage of that.