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[FlipTaco]

A warning of some sort will come swiftly to the offending user.

Swift warnings. Sounds threatening 

Nah, "swift warnings" sounds funny but I agree that warnings should be issued ASAP if somebody is doing something wrong, especially if they're unaware of what they're doing is wrong.

Also, sidenote, I'd just like to reinforce that "piracy" should only apply to actual illegal software copying and hardware modification. For example, teaching somebody how to hack their iPod Touch to remove Apple's dumb restrictions would be cool, while further teaching them how to use that hack to install pirated apps would be a no-no.

RULE 3  No spamming.
This should be obvious, but any spam posts (WoW gold, Ugg Bootz, etc) will be immediately removed with the ban hammer coming down swiftly on the offending poster.  If you make a post that is spam-like, the forum staff will assume that you are a spam bot and ban you permanently without warning.

I think this rule could use a bit of work. It's a little unclear and a bit frightening that an average user could be misidentified as a spambot and permanently banned on the spot. I'd suggest tweaking it slightly, like so:

RULE 3  No spamming.
This should be obvious, but any spam posts (advertisements like WoW gold, Ugg Bootz, etc. or repeated unintelligible/unnecessary posts) will be immediately removed with the banhammer coming down swiftly on the offending poster. If you choose to spam, you will receive one (1) single warning; failure to acknowledge the warning and continue spamming will result in a permanent ban.

Please note the Random Thread is the only minor exception to this rule. Post whatever garbage you want in there, but still try to be reasonable.

[kyle]

Made some adjustments.  I want to make the spamming rule clear that it only really applies to  "WOW GOLD UGG BOOTZ NIKE JERSEYS!!!" posts by spam bots and humans paid 6 cents per message.

[FlipTaco]

I'd just like to recommend a few small changes to rule 3 again. Nothing major, but just to make things a bit clearer.

RULE 3  No advertisement spam.
This should be obvious, but any spam advertisement posts (WoW gold, Ugg Bootz, Nike Jerseys, etc.) will be immediately removed with the ban hammer coming down swiftly on the offending poster. If we have any reason to believe that you are a spambot or are being paid to spam us with advertisements, we won't think twice about handing you a permanent ban. You've been warned.

Also, I'd like to recommend a rule to be added, to address what should and shouldn't be done while posting:

RULE X  Post etiquette is important.
We're not asking you to act like fancy pants rich people, but please be reasonable while posting in the forums.

- Posting gibberish or otherwise unnecessary/off-topic posts will result in an immediate ban.
- Regularly posting in ALL CAPS, AlTeRnAtInG CaPs, Every Word Has A Capital Letter, etc. will be met with a warning, followed by a ban if you fail to clean up your future posts.
- This should be obvious, but try to use proper spelling and grammar. Unless English is not your native language, which we understand that it is not for several forum members, there is no excuse for not using proper spelling and grammar.
- Use paragraphs if you're making a large post. Gigantic walls of text are an eyesore to read and will most likely be ignored by the community.
- Try not to post large images directly to the forums (wallpapers for example). If you'd like to share a large picture, just give us the image url.

[electric_shaman]

RULE X  Post etiquette is important.
We're not asking you to act like fancy pants rich people, but please be reasonable while posting in the forums.

- Posting gibberish or otherwise unnecessary/off-topic posts will result in an immediate ban.
- Regularly posting in ALL CAPS, AlTeRnAtInG CaPs, Every Word Has A Capital Letter, etc. will be met with a warning, followed by a ban if you fail to clean up your future posts.
- This should be obvious, but try to use proper spelling and grammar. Unless English is not your native language, which we understand that it is not for several forum members, there is no excuse for not using proper spelling and grammar.
- Use paragraphs if you're making a large post. Gigantic walls of text are an eyesore to read and will most likely be ignored by the community.
- Try not to post large images directly to the forums (wallpapers for example). If you'd like to share a large picture, just give us the image url.

The bolded part should not be a rule at all. I hate those kind of rules in forums, it's unnatural. If you want to make a joke, why the hell not.

The italics part is way excessive. I agree txt speak and random caps shouldn't be used, but just a warning will suffice. I'm sure if the community feels strongly enough, then the member will be mocked to no end until they type properly. I cannot image people getting banned for typing a certain way.
And the rest of that bolded part is pure grammer-nazism. Sure, people should be encouraged to post that way, but it should be a side note to the rules, not an inclusion.

[FlipTaco]

- Posting gibberish or otherwise unnecessary/off-topic posts will result in an immediate ban.

The bolded part should not be a rule at all. I hate those kind of rules in forums, it's unnatural. If you want to make a joke, why the hell not.

I'm not saying that people wouldn't be allowed to make jokes or that the forums would go all 1984, I'm basically trying to say that if somebody were to go around making posts like "JHB54ruhJVR^" or go completely off-topic (for example, in a thread about cleaning the blood off of your saw blade, replying with a rant about why carrots should be blue), they would be banned. Of course people would still be able to make side-discussions and go a little off-topic, but completely derailing a thread with nonsense would result in a ban. As far as posting new topics go, as long as the topic has a purpose and is going in the right forum section, it's all good.

I've changed things up a bit to be a little less grammar-nazist, if nazist is even a word. Behold!:

RULE X  Post etiquette is important.
We're not asking you to behave like fancy pants rich people, but please be reasonable while posting in the forums.

- While off-topic discussion is permitted to a certain extent, completely derailing a thread or posting gibberish (ex. slapping the keyboard and submitting whatever) will garner a warning, followed closely by a ban if you decide to ignore the warning. If you'd like to share some information that is not relevant to any existing, active topics, just create a new one.
- Try not to post large images directly to the forums (wallpapers for example). If you'd like to share a large picture, just give us the image url.
- Please try to use proper grammar and spelling on the forums. While we're not strictly enforcing this as a rule, and we know that English is not every user's native language, you are doing your fellow users a favor by making your post clean and easy to read.

Edit:
-Try not to post immediately after yourself. If you need to say something more or make a correction, edit your original post instead. Habitual double-posters will receive a warning.

[electric_shaman]

Sounds good, the revision cleared up all the worries I had.

How about adding something about double posts? Something like:
"Try not to post directly after yourself. If you need to say something more, edit your original post instead. If you continuously double post, a warning will be issued"

[Zarkith]

I agree, we need a rule on double posting now more than ever.
*Cough* valzi *Cough*

RULE 5  No double posting. (Bumping the current Rule 5 to Rule 6, could be placed elsewhere in the list)
Editing the last post in a thread bumps it, so there is absolutely no need to double post under any circumstance. Use the modify button instead. Double (or more) posts will be merged together and met with a warning. Repeat offenses will result in a temporary ban. (Or similarily suitable enforcement)

[Maruhai]

Two bucks the rule is being planned because valzi did the multi post thing.

[Psychopath]

There are cases where a bump of any sort (even a result of a consecutive post by the same person) is a good one.

As long as it actually is positively inclined (ie to contribute to the discussion, to bring forth news, etc) it should be tolerated.

The only time where a double-post should not be encouraged is if they are in quick succession, there is no excuse to not use the modify button in that event.

There's a line between spam and contributions, remember that.

[kyle]

I think that bumping is okay in some cases, and if it gets too out of control then we'll deal with it.

I made another revision.  I'm pretty sure this is ready to go up as our OFFICIAL RULES unless anyone has any hard core objections or edits still.

[FlipTaco]

I think that bumping is okay in some cases, and if it gets too out of control then we'll deal with it.

I made another revision.  I'm pretty sure this is ready to go up as our OFFICIAL RULES unless anyone has any hard core objections or edits still.

I'd just like to recommend one little change:

"If you see something out of line, please report your posts to the moderation staff with the "Report to moderator" link at the bottom right of the post."

I think that should say something like "please report the offending posts" 

Otherwise, I'm in favor of launching the current draft as the first official rule set. I think we could make it look a little more tidy with some fancy text formatting but I'm in complete agreement with the base rules, especially number 5 :)

[electric_shaman]

Yep, those look like a good set of rules to me, can't think of any other additions right now.


Is there any decision on what's happening with post count and titles? Or just leaving it as is?

[kyle]

I think that bumping is okay in some cases, and if it gets too out of control then we'll deal with it.

I made another revision.  I'm pretty sure this is ready to go up as our OFFICIAL RULES unless anyone has any hard core objections or edits still.

I'd just like to recommend one little change:

"If you see something out of line, please report your posts to the moderation staff with the "Report to moderator" link at the bottom right of the post."

I think that should say something like "please report the offending posts" 

Otherwise, I'm in favor of launching the current draft as the first official rule set. I think we could make it look a little more tidy with some fancy text formatting but I'm in complete agreement with the base rules, especially number 5 :)

Oops, good catch ;p

[juxtapose519]

Looks good to me! 

[Zarkith]

Aparantly you guys skipped over the beginning of my No Double Posting rule.

Editing the last post in a thread bumps it...

Or so I've noticed. At the very least it marks the thread as new. If it's the latter, or even if not, bumping after a while or if a thread is on another page is fine, but posting like this is NOT fine.