Forum rules

[Bryan]

First, I want to say that I hi-jacked these rules. I found them on ABS Forums and I'm hoping they don't mind me borrowing them. I realize they are likely a bit intense for the people who will likely end up here, but I feel it's better to go ahead and lay out these kinds of rules now instead of waiting until there's a problem.

---

Welcome to the Choose Up Mvment forums! While you're visiting here, consider this to be your home. As such, I would hope you'd want your home to be as pleasant, comfortable, and trash free as possible.

In order to accomplish this, we do have a few rules for the forums. These are in place to make sure that not only are YOU happy here, but everyone around you can be happy too. Any violation of these rules is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including a permanent ban from the forums.

Images
This is forum is intended to be PG-13 in nature. There will occasionally be some risqué language and/or topics, but nothing your 13-year-old brother shouldn't see. However, I know we have to be more specific.

• No Pornography ~ No images, links, text, etc. that are sexually explicit in nature. If you can't see it on prime-time television or hear it on the radio, you can't have it here.


• No disgusting or gory images or links ~ If the image, flash, video, etc. contains images meant to turn your stomach, they are not welcome here. (tubgirl, goatse, mutilated corpses, gore, scat, etc.)


• Minors ~ NO SEXUALLY SUGGESTIVE IMAGES OF PERSONS EVEN THOUGHT TO BE UNDER THE AGE OF 18. This is serious. If your intent is to sexualize a minor, even if the image itself is innocuous, you will be banned IMMEDIATELY. Child porn is no joke and will not be tolerated.


• Avatars ~ Avatars should bear the above rules in mind. As an aside, overly obnoxious avatars will be removed. (i.e.: ones that could induce seizure) Show some class; it's not hard.


• Signatures ~ Signatures must follow all the rules listed above. Also, be considerate in sizing (do not affect the appearance or layout of the forums themselves).

Threads

• In many forums, you cannot begin a thread until you have a minimum of 20 posts.


• Before posting a thread, spend time familiarizing yourself with the forums to make sure your thread doesn't already exist. People will like you better and not think you're a worthless n00b if you spend a few minutes just making sure what you're thinking to post hasn't already been done within the past week.


• Make sure your thread is relevant to the forum you're posting in. There are several different forums for a reason. Make sure the thread you're creating BELONGS in the forum you're trying to post it in.


• Put some thought into your thread. Not only does it need to be relevant, but it needs to be worthwhile. If it's a lame thread, it will be removed. Think about your thread before you post it. Ask yourself "Is this actually interesting? Will people want to participate? Is this going to generate a good conversation? Does this thread actually have enough meat to become worthwhile and go on for days?"

Posting

• Do not spam. Spamming is: flooding images, posting 1 word comments to raise post count, disrupting a thread with nonsense, posting comments irrelevant to the topic, etc. If the post has no purpose within a thread except to entertain YOU or one of your stupid friends, it's spam.


• Color. Do NOT post in color. It's annoying. We can read your posts JUST fine, even in the default color scheme. There's no reason to think you're special because you post in something other than the default. You don't need to do it, it doesn't need to happen and it's generally irritating, not to mention stupid. You post in color, you get warned. You do it again? You get suspended. So don't DO IT.


• No flaming. A debate with another member is one thing, but vicious belittlement intended to personally hurt another member will not be tolerated. DISAGREEING WITH SOMEONE AND EVEN SAYING AN IDEA IS DUMB IS NOT FLAMING. Telling someone they're a total retard for their idea, is.
  If you and another member don't like each other, take it to PMs (post messages). A "Flame War", where you and someone else call each other names repeatedly, is stupid and wastes everyone else's time. Constant flaming will get you permanently banned.


• No Flooding. Posting over and over just to post and raise your post count is against the rules. Flood control exists to slow this down, but if you're posting every time your flood control refreshes, you're flooding the forums and behaving inappropriately.
  This includes posting multiple threads in a short period of time. This also includes believing you should post a reply to every single thread on a page in quick succession. There's no reason to believe you should comment on every topic in a given page. Read more, post less. It's really unnecessary to comment on everything, that will qualify as "post count raising".


• Harassment ~ Do not follow another member around just to disagree with them. Again, if you don't like someone, take it to PMs. Posting after them, just to disagree or tell them their taste in music sucks, their thoughts on a video sucks, or that you hate their avatar, is ridiculous. There's no reason to bother someone repeatedly just because you don't like them.


• Post count raising ~ This is a rather sketchy one, but I will use my best judgment. If you're posting, not to contribute to a conversation, but only to raise your post count, you will be suspended and your post count will be removed. You may think you're subtle about it, but everyone can tell post count raiser posts. So don't do it. If you THINK your post count is important, it's not; and I'll make it even less so if you try to inflate it.

Miscellaneous

• Advertising - Don't. You can post a link to something in your sig, that's fine. If you're trying to put in a large ad or posting threads trying to gain traffic to your website, action will be taken. These forums are not intended to further business pursuits. Moreover, this is a free message board which likely does not allow advertising.


• Username - Pick something [appropriate] you like. You're stuck with it.


• Spelling and Grammar- AIM speak, 1337 speak, and anything similar to this: "omg y r u not likin my flsh i spend sooooooooooooo much tim on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" will not be tolerated. We shouldn't have to try to figure out what you're trying to say. Just say it in plain english.

FINALLY...and this is last because, really...it's not pleasant.
Consequences

• Warnings - These don't *DO* anything per se, but they're notification that something you're doing is wrong. Listen to them and you'll have no future problems.


• Suspensions - You will be unable to post on the forum for a period of time. The severity of your suspension will be based on what it is you've done. Minor spamming can get you a day or two "vacation" from the boards; serious or repeated activity can get you all the way up to 30 days.


• Troublemaker group - This is the last resort. If you've been suspended a few times, we'll throw you in troublemakers. This group cannot have avatars, signatures, and cannot post threads. They can respond, but not much else and they have a longer flood control. This is the last step before a permanent ban. If you end up in this group, you're on your way out the door. However, you can redeem yourself by showing improvement. Over time troublemakers *can* revert back to regular membership.


• Banning - Permanent removal from the forums. You can't see them, you can't post, you can't do anything. You're gone. We don't want you and you've proven yourself to be such a nuisance drastic measures were taken. You will not be allowed to return.

Sections may have additional rules tailored to their specific topics. Each section's rules act in concert with these rules and do not cancel them out.

This is, by no means, a complete list. This is just a general idea on how to behave on the forums. If you follow these general guidelines you'll be just fine and you'll have a good time around here. The forums have a wide variety of fascinating characters, unique individuals, and very...interesting, folks. Have FUN, but not at the expense of others. Thanks and welcome!

Again, credit and thanks to Danse Macabre and ABS Forums.

[JoeRich]

I agree to follow, now lets use this awesome site you have built!!

[Bryan]

Thanks for joining and reading the rules!

[Sponsored content]